IF: Beneath

Experimenting with suminagashi ("ink-floating"), an ancient Japanese technique of decorating paper. Ink is dropped carefully to float on a still water surface and then blown across to form delicate swirls, after which the ink is picked up by laying a sheet of rice paper atop the ink covered water.
The result is unpredictable and makes me think of geological strata beneath the earth surface.

IF: Acrobat

Another quick, last minute submission, in the wee hours.

I've got a lot to learn about watercolors and wet-in-wet technique but hey, this is what this blog is for (among many other things): practicing.

IF: Proverb (Proverbio)

Quella che per il bruco è la fine del mondo, per il resto del mondo è una farfalla.

Meditation for the weekend

IF: Immovable

"Immota manet" ("It remains immovable") is my hometown's motto.
L'Aquila has survived many earthquakes. I hope it will survive this one too.
But it will never be the same. It did not remain unmoved.

IF: Atmosphere

Painted 12 years ago during a sailboat holiday, this little watercolour takes me back to an atmosphere of peacefulness and of feeling at one with nature.

One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time - André Gide

IF: Star Gazing

Inspired by a photograph of my beautiful daughter, taken by my talented brother.

When your mind's made up

There are decisions that are particularly hard to make.
But after so much thinking, sleepless nights, aimless days, tears and hope and anger and fear, there comes a time when all that's left is a clear mind.
(Well, actually some tears and anger and fear remain. But no more doubts).

IF: Double

TAI CHI CHUAN DOUBLE SWORD FORM



Above is an excerpt from the notes I used to take when I studied tai chi, to remember movements and sequences.
I have practiced tai chi chuan for ten years. It is a beautiful and deep martial art that requires a lifelong study and never becomes boring.
I loved it and it helped me in many ways. Of course, it also helped me manage stress during difficult times.
But the earthquake + my father's illness + the problems with my husband were a bit too much. Far from the dojo, from my master and my fellow practitioners I could/would not find the time, place, concentration, energy and will to continue practicing.
But I am confident that as I go further, step by step, towards regaining control of my life, tai chi will return to me.

IF: Diary

A person's face is the diary of their life.

IF: Giant - La Fraise des Pyrénées

Summer time... this is what comes to my mind.
(And a big thank you to René Magritte, of course)

Guest artist and parental concerns

Every now and then I am worried that my daughter (Lucrezia, almost 10) is watching a bit too much TV and that she might lose her creative spirit.
Then, between two cartoon marathons, she says: "I want to make something with the pyrograph" and she makes this:



and I sigh with relief.

Just curious...

...which flower portrait do you like best?

Meditation

Nothing like
painting
wild flowers
while watching Richard Gere in "American Gigolo"
to forget all problems for a couple of hours.

Ciao, papi

On June 15 my dad passed away, in a hospital in Padova, far from home.
He wanted to recover.
He wanted to visit Berlin, to buy a bicycle, to learn to play the guitar, to return to L'Aquila.
He loved books, Jorge Luis Borges, music,humor, teaching, his family, his hometown.
He was shy, gentle and very loved.
This was his library. This was him.

IF: Ripples

Past, present, future

I found this today while decluttering. Made more than a year ago using watercolor and an old letter from an old friend, it is very imperfect but I like it because this is how I feel my relationship with my past should look like.

IF: Slither

The wise snail slithered from the 11 February post to this one because she wanted to be submitted to Illustration Friday and I couldn't say no.

IF: Equipment

I thought that in this journey towards (re)discovering my creativity, it could be good, every now and then, to recall to memory some of the many projects from the times when I was a little girl and was always making, building, crafting something, or trying to, or looking for someone who would teach me.
This is my first attempt, which also happens to be a last-minute submission to Illustration Friday.

IF: Cocoon

My first submission for Illustration Friday. Topic: cocoon.