One goal while I was in Rome was to really understand the watercolor medium itself. I had gotten into the habit of penciling the composition in on site and waiting to add color until I was home. These are a few of my first attempts at strictly using watercolors.

Although many of the Basilica's in Rome have a similar basic layout, they all have very unique floorplans. Drawing and studying the structure in plan helps me understand structural aspects, spatial concepts and themes throughout the time of the construction.

On the way to Ostia, the ancient mouth of the Tiber River, many people asked where we were actually going - It's a messy map, but I think it did the trick.

This quiet, charming space near Piazza Navona is a perfect opportunity for some great sketching.

Borromini's Masterpiece

Sant Ivo

Forgotten Piazza S. Rufina

I forgot about this little couple I did before everyone arrived in Rome. It was helpful for me to do a few different types of sketches in the same space. I chose to connect them with subtle and strategic color, highlighting the important information and interesting aspects of the sketch.

Bicycle

Back in the States I own a 1964 crusier 3 speed bicycle. I have always wanted to do a sketch study but never found the time. Bicycles are everywhere in Rome and I finally have the time to spend the afternoon enjoying myself with a beer, some watercolors and a great day. I actually cut out of the Military Parade on Festival di Repubblica (June 2) to do some fun drawing like this old school bicycle.

Student Sketch #2 Nick

Although these drawings are really challenging for me, it really helps to understand perspective, value and depth which all can easily relate back to architectural sketching. I might add a little watercolor to Nick later if I have time.

Colosseum

"While stands the Colosseum, Rome shall stand; When falls the Colosseum, Rome shall fall; and when Rome falls, also the world."

The Jewish Ghetto

Another good place to sketch and enjoy a coffee

Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterno

East of the Colosseu, Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterno was the first church dedicated to the Holy Redeemer. It symbolized the triumph over paganism and recieved the title "Mother and Head of all the churches in the city and around the world". It is the cathedral of Rome. A group of us visited the area Saturday afternoon. The interior nave and aisles were designed by Borromini, the great baroque architect. The baptistry was also built by Constantine. Quick representational and analytical watercolors are fun when you have the day to spend experimenting.

During the 3 hours of studio, Tuesday-Thursday, there are a few things I plan on spending my time doing. One of those things is figure drawing - quick, gestural and somewhat animated. My first student subject is Matt who sits in good view from my desk.

Ponte Sisto

Getting the bridge locations down can be key to understanding and orienting yourself in the center of Rome. A few of us went out exploring around sunset and I could not help myself when I saw the dome of St. Peters with the beautiful sunset behind.

After taking many trips back and forth from the train station, all the students were here safe and sound. Matt took us on a walking orientation tour before we started school. One of the first sketching sessions was Trastevere. The narrow pedestrian streets and tall buildings make interesting compositions. I am really going to work on quick, gestural sketches, trying new styles and experimenting with new media this summer.

Before the students arrived I thought I should get a head start on sketching. Taking a little walking tour, familiarising myself with the greater city again, I crossed Ponte Palatino from Trastevere and checked out the Theatre of Marcellus, an amphitheatre that actually pre-dates the Colosseum. I did a few sketches of the theatre and of the busy street, Via di Teatro Marcello, connecting the theatre to the Capitoline Hill.

Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere

The first watercolor I did last summer as a student in Rome was Santa Maria in Trastevere, one of the first Christian churches in Rome. Located in the Piazza our architecture studio looks down upon, I remembered people, places and things fondly. I thought I would carry on the tradition and let Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere be my first watercolor this year as well.

Remembering the City

After a surprisingly easy train and tram ride from Fumicino Airport, South of Rome, I arrived in Trastevere, the district across the river that I called home for 8 weeks last year and will do the same this summer. It was amazing how comfortable I felt and how much I remembered everything. After leaving my bags at the hotel in Piazza in Piscinula, I headed to Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere. I enjoyed dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, Insalata Ricca, and started to take in the extravagance of being a very special city again. The hotel, located just behind a little Basilica, was quaint and quiet, just what I needed after the hustle and bustle of global travel.

Travel Day

After spending a few fun and relaxing days in Seattle, I was on my way to another summer spent in beautiful Rome. I always get a little worried about finding food I can eat at the airport but this bagel sandwich filled me up and got me ready for a long day of travel. On my second flight, America to Rome, I traded seats with an elderly woman that wanted a window seat for a great aisle seat: lots of leg room and right by the bathroom! Although I did not get any sleep, too anxious, I did get to watch a few good movies and enjoy a vegan meal and some wine on the airplane.

From Portland, the two of us rode the Amtrak-Cascade up to Seattle with stops in Vancouver, Pasco, Salem, Olympia and Tacoma. The trip was incredibly successful, leaving and arriving on time both trips. There were quite a few passengers on the train, including 75 elementary students from Eugene.We spent the afternoon on Seattle's Waterfront after getting wonderful Japanese food and eating at the UPS fountain while doing a little sketching. Before headed back to Portland, Landon and I walked up to the new Seattle Public Library, a fairly new structure designed by Rem Koolhaas of OMA.

Spring Break 2010

Over U of Idaho's spring break 2010, my boyfriend and I took a journey through the Pacific Northwest, beginning in Moscow, ID where we live. Starting North, we spent the night with Landon's parents in the Coeur d' Alene/Spokane area. After camping in Mt. Rainer National Forest and visiting Mt. St. Helens, we headed to the Pacific, off the coast of Washington. Taking Hwy 101, Landon and I saw the mouth of the Columbia River down to Tillamook. We then headed back inland, spending a few days in Portland, the site of my graduate thesis project and potential home after graduation. In Portland I was able to sketch a few of my favorite spots.

The Amalfi Coast One of my favorite places in Italy; Atrani, a small hill village on the Amalfi coast. The group I was traveling with had a relaxing weekend sketching, observing, climbing the 1000's of steps from town to town and, of course, enjoying the beautiful weather on the oceanside.

Spring 2010

This series experiements with a hybrid of sketching and journaling, skernaling. The watercolor sketches were done in Rome, Italy while I was living and traveling while attending a semester of my graduate architecture program over the summer of 2009.