research trip - Venice - The House of Embroidered Paper

I was lucky enough to make this fascinating research trip trip with Venice festival connoiseur and historical garment expert Stephanie Selmayr.

Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice

Venice and the historic art I saw inspired various embroidered and gilded sketches on paper. Each a small work of art in its own right but created whilst experimenting with imagery and techniques for garments.​

From that (above) to this (below)

 Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice

And from that (above) to this (below)

Title: Warrior Angel

Sketch size (exc mount): 16.5 x 27cms

Materials: paper, thread, gold leaf, watercolour ink, pencil, gold wax gilt

Inspiration: sketched interpretation of an area of a painting, the Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice

 Then there was this one

Title: Journey

Sketch size (exc mount): 20 x 30cms

Materials: paper, thread, gold leaf, watercolour ink, pencil, gold wax, gilt

Inspiration: sketched interpretation of an area of painted decoration, Venice

 I found it fascinating to spot parts of Venice in paintings of Venice, showing the consistency over 100's of years between the then and the now.

 And I looked at modern art as I was there at the time of the Venice Biennale (2017)

Venice Biennale - Russian Pavillion - including Virtual Intervention by Recycle Group

You can read what I thought here: https://www.a-n.co.uk/reviews/artist-philosopher

But of course the most amazing work of art is Venice itself