Tuscan Style - The Art of Handmade Marbleized Paper

Welcome to Il Papiro in Florence.
 Photo © 2010 Karen F Rose

Showing me a sample of marbleized pape
Photo ©  2010 Karen F Rose

"Mr. Boots, my studio assistant cat received excellent care from friends during my recent trip overseas. So great, in fact, I'm not sure he even missed me!


As a thank you, to repay the kindness of his caregivers, I wanted to bring home just a little something from Italy for these friends.
I was  pleased to discover a charming and inviting paper shop, Il Papiro where gift giving ideas abound. 


As their website says, Il Papiro produces hand decorated paper with techniques inspired by the tradition of Tuscany - hand decorated papers on journals, books and photo frames. 

Here's a video link to watch the artisan who demonstrated the steps in this marbleizing process:  video  

If this looks like a creative endeavor you'd like try, here's a link on how to make your own marbleized paper.

Enjoy!

Zecchi in Florence-Art Supplies for the Traveling Artist

What a fabulous art supply store.

Jars of pure pigment.

With the new airline regulations limiting the weight of checked luggage and restrictions of carry on luggage, painting the Tuscan landscape takes some planning for those visiting from overseas.
If you are visiting Florence before you head down the A1 highway, visit Zecchi, at Via dello Studio 19 in the heart of Florence just steps away from the Duomo 
Their web site says, "the building that houses the Zecchi art supply store, is part of the historic seat of the ancient Studio Fiorentino, the first University of Florence (dated 1348) that gave the street its current name. The paint store - located in this street for centuries - has always been an important reference point for Florentine artisans and painters". 
I stopped in to pick up some stainless steel painting knives (not the best thing to have in carry on luggage) and some canvas. The staff was so helpful.  Then, what a treat to have the bells from the Duomo ring out just as I was leaving the store.

Pastel Artists in Florence, Italy -Taking it to the Streets

Would Vermeer be pleased with this street artist's rendering of The Girl with a Pearl Earring?
Photo Karen F. Rose

A street painter in Florence with his Madonna and child work in progress.
Photo Karen F. Rose 

Walking the narrow streets in Florence, Renaissance art is everywhere. And as you are strolling along savoring that double scoop of gelato you just bought, be sure to look down and enjoy the art at your feet. Skillfully crafted pastel paintings are created on the streets in areas where crowds gather. The street painters in Italy are called madonnari because they often paint pictures of the Madonna as well as recreating other well known masterpieces on the pavement.

This is hard work I imagine. Crouching in an almost fetal position as you draw and your days labor always threatened by a chance of rain and at days end the inevitable large mechanical street cleaner.

With bus loads of Asian tourists passing this young painter each day, I wondered if he was using a little entrepreneurial smarts. Do you think the name on his shirt is paid advertising?