Bella Venezia

I just returned from a magical vacation in Venice.  What a dreamy place. There are many drawings and memories to share. But for now, here's a slice of a 360-degree panorama of Venice from the rooftop of newly-refurbished Fontego dei Tedeschi - a luxury department store, former post office. The building was constructed in 1228(!) The renovated department store opened in 2016. Building exterior remained unaltered, as all of facades in Venice are part of UNESCO world heritage property. That's why the skyline of Venice looks like an old engraving. There are no new buildings. 

Here are the rest of my drawings >

Day Tripper

...I only had a couple of hours in these magical fairytale-like places. It's simply not fair to find oneself *there* and not be able to stay longer! But I'm so glad to have visited, because now I KNOW! And will return one day to explore. So much beauty.

Salzburg, Austria

Prague, Czech Republic

Village of Hohenschwangau near Füssen in southwest Bavaria, Germany

Neuschwanstein Castle in southwest Bavaria, built by Kind Ludwig II.
Walt Disney's Cinderella Castle was modeled after it.

Vienna, Part 2: Wiener Kaffeehaus Encore!

...continuing from my previous post about Vienna's beautiful cafes. Here are all the other ones I visited.

‪Café Landtmann‬, once upon a time frequented by Freud. I was sitting outside, facing Burg Theater.

. . .

 "Part of what made the cafes so important [a century ago] was that 'everyone' went. [...] So there was a cross-fertilisation across disciplines and interests, in fact boundaries that later became so rigid in western thought were very fluid."

  (Quote taken from a BBC article by Andy Walker entitled "1913: When Hitler, Trotsky, Tito, Freud and Stalin all lived in the same place")

. . .

 

Cafe Central.  Grand interior, with live piano music. Opened in late 19th century, and became the key meeting place for Viennese intellectuals. Notorious for having Lenin, Trotsky, Hitler and Freud, among others, as patrons and regulars.

"The [ Café ] Central-people are always attracted like the murderer to the scene of the crime, to where they killed so much time, wiped out entire years.” – Alfred Polgar: “Theory of the Café Central”

Cafe Central.

Cafe Central.

Café Frauenhuber, oldest in Vienna, Mozart's favorite. Very cozy.

Café Schwarzenberg. Proximity to Viennese Opera House drives colorful, touristy crowds. Here's a dapper waiter rushing back and forth.

Café Schwarzenberg. Lady behind the sweets counter.

Café Schwarzenberg. Proximity to the Opera House drives diverse touristy crowds. Here's a group of international businessmen having late-night wine.

Cafe Tirolerhof. Best Gulaschsuppe in town! Here, it's mostly locals, who come to read newspapers and spend time with friends.

Drawings of Cafe Sperl are here >

Vienna, Part 1: Killing Time in Wiener Kaffeehaus (Viennese Coffeehouse)

Volksgarten. Public park in Vienna, part of the Hofburg Palace.

If you ask me what was most memorable about my recent vacation in Vienna, I'd first think of Klimt's paintings from up-close. Unforgettable impressions.  Then, the Secession Building, which I visited right upon arrival. Of course I would mention the grandeur and Art Nouveau splendor of the architecture, and all the museums.  But then…then I would settle on my memories of cozy, quiet cafes with endless apple strudels, arched windows and crystal chandeliers, worn-out velvet upholstery of Victorian furniture and mannerly waiters in bow ties. Some of these lovely Wiener Kaffeehäuser go as far back as 18th century.

 “An asylum for those who want to kill time without being killed by it.” -Alfred Polgar

I lingered for many unhurried hours in Vienna's most beautiful cafes, sipping wine or having tea and pancakes with cranberry jam, people-watching and drawing. This series of drawings is from Cafe Sperl. I went there more than once. Its ornamental interior and predominantly Austrian patronage created a very special atmosphere. Some of the other cafes I visited were frequented by Mozart and Freud (drawings coming soon.)

Since 2011, Wiener Kaffeehaus is listed with UNESCO as "Intangible Cultural Heritage", with the following description: "[a place] where time and space are consumed, but only the coffee is found on the bill."

Cafe Sperl.

Cafe Sperl. The waiters.

Cafe Sperl.

Cafe Sperl.  Lady in the niche.

Cafe Sperl.
A local patron who came in for a cup of espresso and news. It's customary to offer daily
newspapers that are fitted into large wooden frames in every cafe.

Drawings of other cafes in Vienna are here >

My (mini) Vacation in DR

I just spent 3 dreamy beautiful days dozing off on the beach in Dominican Republic's Punta Cana resort. I can still hear the hum of the ocean...these few lazy drawings that I brought back with me are shedding sand. I feel warmer just looking at them in the dead of this endless New York winter. Maybe they will bring some warmth to you, too.

Resort's plaza

Vacationers

Amazing Dominican Republic clouds

Sunbathers

Posing for Facebook, naturally

The beach

The resort

Resort's architecture

Purple sunset

USK Barcelona 2013

Prior to the Italian vacation, captured in two previous posts, there were 4 intense and exciting days in Barcelona. I attended the 4th International Urban Sketchers Symposium USK Barcelona 2013. Once I found out that my beloved art teacher Ronnie (aka Veronica Lawlor) is teaching one of the workshops for the USK this summer, I began packing the bags in my mind months in advance. So glad I went...What a great event-bringing artists from all over the world and letting them share influences, techniques, tastes and practices, while roaming one of the most gorgeous cities in Europe and drawing together. I met some fantastic people while there, and made new friends.

Here are a few drawings done in various workshops, as well as thumbnails of Her Majesty, La Sagrada Familia. I've got to return to Barcelona just to spend a few more days with La Sagrada alone...

 . . . . .

 

"Designing Barcelona" Workshop by Veronica Lawlor on Mansana de la Discòrdia, Passeig de Gràcia, or "Block of Discord" in English

Thumbnail excercise, left to right: Black Line, Color Line, Marks, Color Shapes.

Bigger drawing using the four graphic approaches from the thumbnails above.

Bigger drawing using the four graphic approaches from the thumbnails above.

 . . . . .

 "Channeling Picasso" Workshop by Melanie Reim on Pla de la Boqueria, Rambla

Marks, marks, marks!

 . . . . .
 "Hither, Thither and Yon" Workshop by Barry Jackson on Plaça Universitat

Thinking about and drawing personal space + action space + vista space in one drawing.

Thinking about and drawing personal space + action space + vista space in one drawing.

Barcelona, 6 years later...

2007 stamp design for Spain

I'm very excited to be on my way to Barcelona, Spain, this year. Yes. Butterflies and all. It's been 6 years since my first solo reportage trip to this gorgeous Catalan province. You can check out the 2007 reportage drawings here. This time around, I'm attending the 4th International Urban Sketching Symposium. Stay tuned for more on that and my other European summer travels. Adéu for now!