Gaining Perspective in Italy: Everett Artist Elizabeth Person Gets Sketchy Overseas

Our pal Elizabeth Person recently returned from a watercolor class in Italy. After reading her beautiful recap in her latest newsletter, we thought you may enjoy seeing what this local artist has been up to as much as we did. Thanks to Elizabeth for letting us share her travels. Enjoy!

Watercoloring in Italy!

Last summer I got a text from my mom - "Stephanie is teaching that Civita class in summer 2019 again! Want to go?" Immediately I wrote back "yes!"

Above: My sketch of the stunning ancient hill town of Civita di Bagnoregio

So, at the end of May, my artist mom and I took off for Italy! For me it was part vacation and part investment in my work. We took an on location sketching and watercolor workshop focused on creating "good bones" for your drawings—like understanding perspective, watercolor technique and the joys/perils of on-site art making.

Stephanie Bower, the instructor, is a dynamite teacher and artist. I actually first saw her work when I was on a walk, on a giant sign announcing the future renovation of the Port of Everett (see one here). The colorful and interesting rendering was breathtaking. I went home and looked her up and have followed her work ever since. She specializes in architectural renderings of buildings way before they are ever constructed, and, chances are, if you live in Seattle you've seen her work and didn't even realize it! She is also involved with the Urban Sketchers global movement, which began here in Seattle.

First Stop: Venice

Mom and I began our trip in the fascinating, nothing-else-like-it Venice. Every step led us to interesting views of this compact city. It was a fun challenge to paint it's topsy-turvy roof lines, decaying walls and sloping pathways.

Above: Travel setup at the ready! We sketched our way around Venice for 3 days, including the Rialto Bridge, Cafe Florian and from the terrace of our Air BnB.

My sketchbook page of San Marco square on a drizzly afternoon

Left: Unlocking our Venetian Air BnB home with a giant iron key.
Right: Sketching the Grand Canal while trying to avoid raindrops and crowds.

And then to our main destination: the hill city of Civita di Bagnoregio

We took the train for a five hour journey southwest to central Italy, about 75 miles north of Rome.

Why fly to Italy for an art class? You might be wondering.

Here's one reason... check out the tricky perspective below. Italy is so old and made of different materials than our modern homes in the United States. We probably learned twice as much while sketching these old, character-filled buildings than I would have sketching most anywhere around home.

Second reason: It's soooo beautiful. It's inspiring!

Third reason: Its tremendously motivating to be surrounded by a culture that values and preserves art. Italy has been the center of western culture for thousands of years and it shows. Like, everywhere. Even the trash cans are pretty.

The workshop begins!

Above: I mean, just look at all the angles going on in this view! This is some very difficult perspective to capture on paper. (Note: The broken columns that are supporting the flags are made of granite, which is nowhere to be found in the region. They were presumably "brought in" by Romans centuries ago!

Above: One of my guided perspective drawing from the workshop. I learned about depicting sun/shade/shadow and how to convey the texture of the buildings more effectively in this four hour exercise.

We sat in clusters with our portable travel stools and would set up in multiple locations throughout the day. Hi Mom!

Left: My morning guided sketch.
Right: Critique by teacher Stephanie Bower. She was very frank, direct and constructive with her feedback. Pretty sure she's telling me to "knock it off with the yellow ochre already" here.

Above: Afternoon demo by Stephanie in "Tony's Garden" - a home owned by a former University of Washington Architectural Professor and now used by the Civita Institute.

Left: Delightful homemade meals with our housemates Naomi (of Australia) and Jessica (of Vancouver, BC).
Right: an actual Roman Artichoke growing in the garden!

Sketching the dusk views from the garden, into the valley below

So, what did I learn?! So much, I thought my head might explode.

In watercolor, you work from light to dark. I learned to leave more white bits throughout my drawings, at the very beginning, to account for how light interacts with objects
It's okay to edit my view to make a stronger composition. Distracting trees? Paint them a cool color so they recede into the background.
Color: Stephanie pretty much uses just four colors to create all of her paintings. Having a limited palette is more efficient and lively.
Stephanie erased part of a bell tower that I was drawing (quite well, I thought) to show me how a varied, broken-up pencil line would convey not only the material, but also the age of the crumbly brick building far more than my very straight smooth line had! How I draw a line matters as much as what I'm drawing.
Layers: This was the biggest takeaway as I've been scared of layers for years. In my mind they always turn a pretty painting into mud very quickly. However, Stephanie showed us how using layers can actually brighten up an image and be very time efficient (see photos below). See the "two pass" approach I learned below.

Left: Large washes of Blue, Ochre and Gray (most of the work was done in this one pass!).
Right: I went back through and added select areas of darker paint and shade/shadow.

I feel like I can paint faster and more efficiently now. I have a better process and can be more strategic with how I paint! That might sound like the opposite of the images "art making" conjures up, but as I once heard, "drawing is a thinking man's game."

Even though I make art full time, I was both humbled and inspired with how much further I can take my art. I still have so much to learn.

Thank you, Stephanie! If you are interested in her work, look at her Instagram and portfolio. She has a book out called Understanding Perspective and two online classes. She teaches all over the United States and abroad, so catch her if you can!

How did I do? Should I have drawn myself holding a sketch into this sketch? Hate my hat? Feel free to write me a note!

Here are some of my upcoming events:

Shoreline Arts Fest
Saturday, June 29 from 10-5 p.m. and Sunday, June 30 from 10-6 p.m. at Shoreline Community College

I'll have lots of framed art, including some special originals I've been hanging onto.

Edmonds Farmers Market
Saturday, June 29 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

A lively market in the heart of charming downtown Edmonds. All the beets. I mean deets.

Wedgwood Art Festival
Saturday, July 13 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, July 14 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

This will be my second year at this bite-sized art festival in northeast Seattle. Great assortment of vendors and more personal than the really big festivals in high summer. Come check it out then go for a bike ride through Magnuson Park.