[Stephanie Bower, Seattle] Usually I'm running in and out of Rome on my way to someplace else, but this year, I rewarded myself a few days of exploring and sketching. I had been teaching workshops for the better part of 4 weeks in Spain and Italy, so I was pooped but excited to have some time to myself to sketch at my own pace.
From the overblown Altare de la Patria (in architecture school we called this "the Wedding Cake") on the far left, to Trajan's forum and amazing column, to the two churches on the right.
Look closely, you can see the diagonal lines I drew to center the entrance door!
Below are more ruins at the Largo di Argentina. It is believed to be the spot where Julius Caesar was assassinated. I love how you can see centuries of life layered in Rome everywhere you look. Originally, the streets were much lower, closer to the level at the floor of this largo.
Sitting in the shade in the Jewish Quarter, this is the Portico d'Ottavia... listening to the tour guides who came by to tell its history made me sad...
The Palazzo Farnese is probably something only an architect would sketch. It is an important High Renaissance building, and it was VERY hard to get the proportions and window details right.
And the full image of the detail at the top of this post, the Piazza Navona...the light in late afternoon is so beautiful. I listened to the street musicians as I worked, called my mom on Facetime so she could see where I was. Pretty amazing.
More sketches in the next post!!
