Die Steine von Venedig: Workshop-Ergebnisse

[von Mário Linhares, when in Venice, Italy]

Die workshop about John Ruskin’s exhibition and work in Venice, past June 2-3 was a blast!

Intense weekend in Venice, on the path of John Ruskin, with this amazing exhibition, a spectacular guided tour by a Venetian specialist in art history, sketching from sunrise to sunset, with a lot of fun with the whole group!

The above sketch was made by Lorenza Fonda. The exercise was to capture the whole square, leaving space to the sky and the ground floor, only with a pencil quick sketch and watercolor, searching for the values and contrast of the shadows. After that, only one part should be selected to zoom in and combine with the whole composition on a bigger scale.

This sketch, showing all the potential of graphite pencils was made by Barbara Tedesco. She’s great with this gestural sketches and this one is brilliant!

photo credit: Ana Filipa Correia

The three pictures above, about João Moreno‘s fabulous work, shows:

1. The gothic windows composition (first picture) in a walk led by Anita Cerpelloni, a local artist that knew the Gothic neighborhood like no one!

2. The charming stones of Venice (second and third ones), that make John Ruskin fell in love with the city.

At night, we kept working, trying to capture the style of the night sketches made by Ruskin and Turner. This sketch was made by Jean-Pierre Metraux. His wife, Malou Metraux and him, started sketching less than 6 months ago. Amazing!

It’s really interesting to see how workshop participants take the exercises to different levels. This example from Margarida Ramos, combines the column capital on a big scale, just as was asked to do, but she decided to glue the museum tickets, a small sketch, and lettering. It was funny to understand that the time for the exercise was also a way to allow people to go further with that personal options!

Group photo at Loggia Foscara. Very special moment, sketching where the public doesn’t have access:

Giacomo Sardelli, sketcher from Milan started sketching a few months ago, did a whole harmonium sketchbook during this weekend workshop, combining all exercises in just one composition (sketch below). It was great to meet him. I’m following him on Instagram now! 

What about my personal experience? 

Having the opportunity to prepare this workshop, inspired by Ruskin’s work, was a beautiful experience. This trip didn’t start as a workshop plan but as a family trip. Then, with so potential to sketch, why spend all that planning work only for myself? I had to share it with more people. From that thought to announcing the workshop was an exciting week, working with the educational department of Doge’s Palace and the education committee of USk.

photo credit: Barbara Tedesco

photo credit: Alessia Montefusco

Some sketches (above) I was able to do during the workshop. 

It’s hard to sketch while teaching, but it’s very important to do so because we are visual learners, and, as an art educator, I believe that we should do some examples. Sometimes in students notebooks, but also in our own sketchbooks.

Finally, one very special moment.

One of the exercises was based on the letters that John Ruskin wrote to his father. 

I asked all the participants to write a letter to a person, but the letter should have letters (of course), and drawings. Ruskin wrote mainly to his father because he was important to him. So, we should pick an important person as well…

One month later, Simo’s Capecchi letter was in my mailbox and I was deeply touched…

So, why spend our lives sketching and teaching?

Just because we never know what life has to offer, and we should do what we love!

Some feedback from participants:

– It was very didactic. I loved the exhibition of John Ruskin, a marvelous painter I did not know of, thanks for the discovery.

– Great topic, highly qualified instructor with a solid experience in teaching, overall well run, relaxed atmosphere yet intensive and rich in information.

– What I liked the most about this workshop was the instructor friendly manner, his drawing skills, and the “drawing on the path of” format. I love John Ruskin.

– Well organized, patient and very useful teaching, a tight schedule, so one could sketch all day long.

– I liked the teacher, the group of persons, and the schedule too.