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Art Lesson in Less than 5 Minutes: Learn How to Draw and Paint Decorative Masks
Follow along to this quick art lesson as I walk you through the process of learning how to draw and watercolor decorative masks one might see at Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Carnevale in Venice, Canaval do Brasil or at a masked ball any time of year!
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Creative Wanderlust Prompt: Mardi Gras
I can only imagine the buzz that is happening in Rio de Janiero, Brazil;, New Orleans, Louisiana; and Venice, Italy right now! It is Mardi Gras time (otherwise known as Carnevale in Venice and Carnaval do Brasil in Rio.) These cities are living it up before the religious season of Lent begins. Lent is a 40 day period that comes before Easter in the Christian calendar. It begins on Ash Wednesday, and ends with the Easter celebration. It is a season to reflect on the passion and sacrifices made by Jesus with fasting and penitence. Thus, the week before Lent begins cities around the world celebrate with one long party!! The…
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Art School: How to Draw a Mask
Masks are a part of many celebrations around the world, namely Carnevale in Venice, Italy; Carnaval do Brazil; and Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Some believe masks were a pagan practice to ward off evil spirits, but now they are more worn for anonymity and decoration. Enjoy this tutorial and have fun designing your own decorative mask for any occasion.
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Culture: Food – Holiday Foods from Around the World
Yes, there are the decorations, the presents, and the holiday get togethers… but by far one of the best parts of the holiday season is food! There are so many food traditions surrounding the holidays. Many cultures and countries have specific traditions surrounding holiday food– for instance, in Germany, when wandering through the famed Christmas markets, it’s essential to have a glühwein in hand to keep your spirits warm. A holiday party in England wouldn’t be complete without serving mince pie! Below are just a few of the holiday foods I illustrated from around the world. What’s your favorite holiday food tradition? Pumpkin Pie (America) – Although pumpkin pie can be…
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Wanderlust Patterns: Bella Italia Collection
I have yet to meet someone who has traveled to Italy and hasn’t fallen in love with the country. Whether it’s the incredible Italian food, the enchanting piazzas, the historic sites, the Mediterranean cypress blowing in the breeze, or just the earth-toned patina that graces every wall and building, there is lots to love in Italy. Here is a collection of patterns and illustrations I created, called Bella Italia, that celebrate the good life in Italy! If you are interested in licensing the illustrations or patterns in this collection, please contact me for details.
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Wanderlust Patterns: Coasta Italia Collection
The towns along the Italian coast are unforgettable. Houses in a harmony of pinks, corals, rusts and golds dot the hillsides and overlook the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. How absolutely dreamy! I created this Coasta Italia collection of illustrations and patterns to celebrate the uniqueness and beauty of this little part of the world. If you are interested in licensing the illustrations or patterns in this collection, please contact me for details.
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On Location: Spend the Day Painting a Mask in Venice, Italy
Whenever Carnevale di Venezia time comes around, I always think of the great experience my family and I had in Venice painting our own mask. It was our first trip to Venice, and although we were going to be there during the summer, I could not get the lore of the magical masks worn at Carnival time out of my mind. Before we left on our trip, I did a few searches and was excited to find a place called Ca’Macana in the heart of Venice where they conducted educational classes and mask making workshops. Ca’Macana is one of the oldest mask making workshops in Venice and has a rich tradition of…
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On Location: Experience Italy – 10 Creative Adventures to Discover the Essence of Italy
Seeing the top tourist sites when traveling to a country is definitely important, but it is not the only way to experience a new destination. I love the idea of living creatively by traveling creatively as well. Trying out new things, tasting new foods, learning a cultural tradition, these are all things I seek out when exploring a new locale. Below is a list of 10 creative adventures to help you explore Italy beyond visiting the famous Roman Colosseum or Leaning Tower of Pisa. 10 Creative Adventures to Discover the Essence of Italy 1. Shoot photos on the streets of Milan and spot the latest fashion trends. Pretend to be…
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Type+Place: 35+ Fonts Inspired by Italy
As we wandered through the narrow streets of Venice, Italy, I couldn’t help but notice all the different store signs. Many of them had such quintessential Italian style with the use of typography. The stylized scripts, clean, modern fonts and even the traditional serif fonts all made me think of classic Italian graphic design. To celebrate the look, I decided to compile a list of fonts that celebrate Italian style. Below is a list of the fonts used in the image above. Note: These fonts may be free or may have a charge to download. Be sure to read the usage rights as well, they may vary per font. Mingo…
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Art on the Go: Sketching on a Foreign Newspaper
Whenever I travel, I love to buy a newspaper or two in the country I’m visiting. Although I’m not much of a linguist, I enjoy browsing through the articles, photos, ads and editorials to try to decipher what is being said. My other reason for picking up a local newspaper is for the paper itself. Foreign newsprint can make a great background to a travel sketch. It adds dimension and a hint of context to the location you are sketching. The process for sketching on newsprint is pretty much the same as sketching on paper. You can easily just tear out a part of the paper and start to sketch.…
