Sketches From Paris to Venice to Florence
So, after Paris we took a train to Venice. We went to Venice in April when there weren’t as many tourists, and I just have to say it is one of the most beautiful surreal places I’ve ever imagined let alone visited. I didn’t do as much drawing there because we were too busy getting ourselves lost in its labyrinthine streets and then finding our way back out again. I also had an $18 slice of pizza there. Yes, it actually was that good (although I had no idea how much it was going to cost when I ordered it).
I have to explain the sketch of the fellow with the rose. We were eating dinner one night out on one of the small city squares when I saw this guy walking down the street across the piazza. He looked kind of like an incognito Pavarotti with a huge cape draped over him, a wide brimmed hat and he a single rose in his hand.
Some doodles on the train from Venice to Florence.
These are a couple sketches I did in the Firenze Sculpture Piazza.
I didn’t actually do any drawing when we went to the Academia to see Michelangelo’s David, but the place just blew me away. The high point for me there wasn’t David – far from it – but a room filled with incomplete busts, figures, and just incredible sculptures down the hall from David. I didn’t want to leave. The next day, we went to the Bargello Museum to see the works of Donatello. Books just don’t do justice…
By the way, the food in Florence is AMAZING. They make steak like nowhere else.
Hey Mike! Congrats for the plug on Drawn.ca! That’s great. How’s NY treatin’ ya? I saw the new OOP paperback. Looking good man. I can’t wait to get a hold of OOP 2!
Comment by eDog — February 19, 2008 @ 10:52 pm
I really like the detailing on the man with the rose, the hat especially but also the shading on the arm where his hand peaks out, really great, reminds me of some Picasso sketches I’ve seen…
So, what was on that slice of pizza? Gold leaf and foie gras?
Comment by eli edmundson — February 19, 2008 @ 11:39 pm
Your sketches are great.
Comment by Daniel Ted Feliciano — February 20, 2008 @ 1:30 am
Absolutelly amazing works, Michael!
Congrats!
Comment by oriol roca — February 20, 2008 @ 7:39 am
YIKES!!! Michael, I’m speechless….. I just looked at your site which I found via drawn.ca and I’m having to pick my jaw up off the ground. HAHA!! Amazing work you are producing. WOW! You, sir, are an inspiration.
Comment by Shawn — February 20, 2008 @ 10:04 am
Love all your stuff. Especially your bird illustrations, beautiful work. And the man with the rose, wow. Super double swell.
Comment by Bryan B. — February 20, 2008 @ 9:10 pm
Everett!!! How’s it going man? Great to hear from you!
OOP 2 is getting close… Just sent the final color proof for the cover out last week. Come see us at Comic Con if you can’t make it out to NY!
Eli – Wow. Picasso? Well, damn. Thanks! I really don’t do enough ink work. That was one of the only ink drawings I did in that sketchbook. It’s funny just how completely different inkwork winds up being from pencil work. Night and day.
Daniel – Thank you! Sketches are about all I have these days. I really need to paint more…
Oriol – Thank you so much!
Shawn – Thank you! You’re extremely kind.
Bryan – Thank you! The birds were one of the last illustration jobs I did, and by far the most fun illustration project I’ve ever been lucky enough to work on. That really makes all the difference – enjoying the work you’re doing. It also didn’t hurt that the art director let me do whatever I wanted. THAT just doesn’t happen very often.
Thanks again!
Best,
- Mike
Comment by admin — February 20, 2008 @ 10:24 pm
Your drawings are lovely and romantic =D Thanks for making my day!
Comment by z — February 21, 2008 @ 3:16 am
wow! really beautiful drawings
Comment by mauricio salmon — February 21, 2008 @ 4:47 pm
I love your illustration work, and these sketches are great.
I’ve just finished an animated short film (1 minute), so I wanna know if you can make any comments, critics or give me advices. It will be really appreciated.
It’s right here:
http://www.carlocartun.blogspot.com
Thanks, and keep those pencils sharped.
Carlo
Comment by Carlo Guillot — February 21, 2008 @ 8:46 pm
Z and Mauricio – Thank you so much! Glad you like them!
Carlo – Thank you! Looks like you put a lot of work into that short! As for suggestions, your linework is very evenly thin so it sometimes becomes difficult to read the character’s expressions or even sometimes the anatomy. No line is more important or prominent than any other. You might try emphasizing the important things with some heavier lines which might also help the characters pop from the background. Just my 2 cents.
Comment by admin — February 21, 2008 @ 11:10 pm
I just learned of your blog – fantastic work all around. I am really enjoying your travel sketches – I’ll be sure to visit often.
Best- s*a
Comment by scott altmann — February 22, 2008 @ 7:19 pm
Thanks, Scott! I’ll try to keep ‘em comin’!
Comment by admin — February 27, 2008 @ 7:42 am