Thanks to Simone Di Santi, who interviewed me last year in Florence, Italy, while I was streetpainting. Simone and her partner create a travel video Web series called "A Road Retraveled".
Please note that near the end of the video when they are scanning the young nude Giovanni (St. John) by Caravaggio: This part of the video clip was taken AFTER the street cleaners (vehicle) passed over it the morning after it was drawn.
Welcome! See Italy (and more) through the eyes of an artist: American sculptor and painter Kelly Borsheim creates her life and art in Italy and shares her adventures in travel and art with you. Come on along, please and Visit her fine art work online at: www.BorsheimArts.com
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Arno River Ponte Vecchio
Cari Amici (Dear Friends),
I knew that one day (or night, as this image depicts) I would draw this little boat parked on the far side of the famous Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy, over the Arno River. What a joy this project was! I am still fascinated with using black paper and have begun to apply colors (instead of my previous “white on black” series). I hope you love the look as well.
"Dark Arno"
pastel on black paper
64 x 23 cm
copyright 2010 Kelly Borsheim
SOLD - 11 August 2010 -- THANK YOU!
I feel honored each time someone here in Italy at my current exhibit compliments this pastel painting because it is very common to see paintings of the famous Ponte Vecchio. To have created a new take on the bridge over the Arno River is quite an accomplishment. Florence is definitely an artist’s town!
Happy Father’s Day to my own father, PJ, and to all those wonderful dads out there.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Art Reception Sei Divino
Cari Amici (Dear Friends),
I recently finished hanging another solo exhibit at Sei Divino’s here in Florence, Italy. I am off to Spain tomorrow to visit one of my models (and friend) there. But I am really looking forward to coming back to Italy for the art reception on the 19th, especially since my cousin Heather will be here. She has been invited to play volleyball in a tournament and it will be the first time we have met outside of the US.
Here is the info. The exhibit is open now, with a tentative closing date on the 26th of June. The reception is 6 p.m. on June 19, a Saturday.
Sei Divino Wine & Cocktail Gallery
Borgo Ognissanti 42r, Firenze, Italia [Florence, Tuscany, Italy]
Tel. (011 39) 055.217791 [ or call Kelly +39 334.245.0129 ]
Inaugurazione / Art Reception: 19 Giugno 2010 alle 18:00 +
Artist Kelly Borsheim
Kelly Borsheim è una scultrice americana che ama disegnare e dipingere. Michelangelo ha portata in Italia nel 2004 ed è stato qui a Firenze nel 2007 che divenne una madonnara. E 'stato in via Calimala, che ha imparato ad amare la pittura con i pastelli. Nel suo corpo attuale di lavoro 2-dimensionale, si combina la sua formazione classica presso l'Angel Academy of Art (Firenze) con i suoi disegni in strada, combinando luminosi, pastelli colorati (pigmento puro) con le sottigliezze si può esprimere con il carboncino.
Kelly attualmente divide il suo tempo tra il suo studio nel centro di Texas e in Firenze, Italia. Lei è rappresentata dalla Barry Franklin Gallery di Indianapolis, Il Curiouseum a Austin, Texas; La Galleria Crucible, Norman, Oklahoma (tutti in USA), e al Museo Gilardi, Forte dei Marmi, Lucca, Italia. Borsheim opere d'arte sono in collezioni private negli Stati Uniti e in Australia, Canada, Italia, Francia, Paesi Bassi, Regno Unito e Nuova Zelanda.
*****
Kelly Borsheim is an American sculptor who likes to draw and paint. Michelangelo brought her to Italy in 2004 and it was here in Florence in 2007 that she became a streetpainter. It was on Via Calimala that she learned to love painting with pastels. In her current body of 2-dimensional work, she combines her classical training from the Angel Academy of Art (Florence) with her streetpainting, combining bright, colorful pastels (pure pigment) with the subtleties one can express with charcoal.
Kelly currently splits her time between her studio in central Texas and in Florence, Italy. She is represented by The Franklin Barry Gallery in Indianapolis; The Curiouseum in Austin, Texas; The Crucible Gallery, Norman, Oklahoma (all in USA); and at the Museo Gilardi, in Forte dei Marmi, Lucca, Italy. Borsheim art works are in private collections throughout the United States and in Australia, Canada, Italy, France, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.
Kelly Borsheim – Borsheim Arts Studio
www.BorsheimArts.com
Tel. +39 334.245 01 29
sculptor@borsheimarts.com
****
Artwork pictured here:
"Le Scale dell'Eros" (The Stairs of Love)
pastelli con carboncino [pastel with charcoal]
68 x 49 cm
copyright 2010 Kelly Borsheim
Please join the artist with her visiting cousin Heather at the art reception on 19th June.
ci vediamo li'! grazie mille.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Festa della Repubblica Italiana
Cari Amici (Dear Friends),
The second day of June is a national holiday in Italy. They celebrate their unification as one country. The day here is called Festa della Repubblica Italiana. I was walking around the neighborhood of Piazza Santo Spirito in Florence where I currently live, wondering if I would find something to eat for breakfast. And I was delighted to peak into a church that I have only had brief glimpses into before.
It is actually the Ex-Church of San Carlo dei Barnabiti.. There was an exhibit going on of old photos during the war, soldiers lost, and atrocities faced in desolate places. Here is the text that I could read on the sign outside, although it has been disrespectfully covered with graffiti.
“The building was restructured in 1636 by the architect Gherardo Silvani for the Barnabites, who already had a small oratory on the site. The importance attained by the Order in the early 18th century is reflected by the decoration inside the church: the ceiling frescoed by Sigismondo Betti (“Glory of the Virgin with St. Paul and St. Carlo Borromeo”) in 1721, the architecture by Bernardino Ciurini (1743), the perspective views by Domenico Stagi (1757-58), and other paintings by Giuseppe Zocchi (dome and pennacchi, 1747). With the Leopoldine suppression of 1783, the building passed into private hands until 1838, when it was acquired by the Scolop[r..de?] Fathers, who kept it until 1866. Since then it has been used as a school and as a gymnasium, and is now a center for cultural activities.”
I have to say that this is the first example I have seen of someone created the illusion of a terrazzo (balcony) in a ceiling with columns the way that Domenico Stagi has done here. And the faux marble is some of the better work I have seen in that genre of art as well. It is a peccato (sin) that this building has come to such disrepair and the Florentines simply do not have the funds to restore it.
You will note the netting beneath the ceiling, but well above my head. It is there to catch parts of the plaster as it falls and protect anyone from being hurt. I am happy that people are at least using the space and hope that the constant visual will someday earn a restoration patron. In Italy, one finds treasures in every direction.
The second day of June is a national holiday in Italy. They celebrate their unification as one country. The day here is called Festa della Repubblica Italiana. I was walking around the neighborhood of Piazza Santo Spirito in Florence where I currently live, wondering if I would find something to eat for breakfast. And I was delighted to peak into a church that I have only had brief glimpses into before.
It is actually the Ex-Church of San Carlo dei Barnabiti.. There was an exhibit going on of old photos during the war, soldiers lost, and atrocities faced in desolate places. Here is the text that I could read on the sign outside, although it has been disrespectfully covered with graffiti.
“The building was restructured in 1636 by the architect Gherardo Silvani for the Barnabites, who already had a small oratory on the site. The importance attained by the Order in the early 18th century is reflected by the decoration inside the church: the ceiling frescoed by Sigismondo Betti (“Glory of the Virgin with St. Paul and St. Carlo Borromeo”) in 1721, the architecture by Bernardino Ciurini (1743), the perspective views by Domenico Stagi (1757-58), and other paintings by Giuseppe Zocchi (dome and pennacchi, 1747). With the Leopoldine suppression of 1783, the building passed into private hands until 1838, when it was acquired by the Scolop[r..de?] Fathers, who kept it until 1866. Since then it has been used as a school and as a gymnasium, and is now a center for cultural activities.”
I have to say that this is the first example I have seen of someone created the illusion of a terrazzo (balcony) in a ceiling with columns the way that Domenico Stagi has done here. And the faux marble is some of the better work I have seen in that genre of art as well. It is a peccato (sin) that this building has come to such disrepair and the Florentines simply do not have the funds to restore it.
You will note the netting beneath the ceiling, but well above my head. It is there to catch parts of the plaster as it falls and protect anyone from being hurt. I am happy that people are at least using the space and hope that the constant visual will someday earn a restoration patron. In Italy, one finds treasures in every direction.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Streetpainting Italy
Cari Amici (Dear Friends),
Last week I visited Vatican City and so this Thursday chose to recreate in the streets of Florence one of the Sybils on Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. I hope you like my self-portrait in this “work-in-progress” shot. I did not realize I did that until I saw the images later.
I was delighted later that afternoon as a class of Italian children came to watch me work. I offered one a pastel stick, but she shied away. Instead, her classmate asked if she could try and next thing I knew, I was passing out various orange colors and pointing to the sections of the Sybil’s skirt in which each child should color.
The kids and I had a blast together. I wanted a photo of all of our orange hands and one of the teachers offered to take it for us. I asked the kids if they wanted to be on my blog and the idea seemed to be fun to them. I handed out the last of my wet baby wipes to clean their hands a bit and then they were off to catch a train. What a delightful day and great experience for us all.
Later that evening, the capo of our group of madonnari (street painters), Claudio, arrived to see my colleague Johnny and me. [Johnny is not in most of these images because he had another job and joined me for only parts of the day.] Since he had another commission to work on with our colleague Tomo, he offered to let Johnny and me draw that next day (their normal day).
So, around midnight that first night, I wrote on the street in Italian, “Please do not clean” and we set cardboard boxes around our drawing in hopes that the street cleaning truck would pass us by the next morning. It worked this time, although when I arrived on Friday, an older Italian woman complained to me that it was bruttissima that I left such ugly boxes in the street overnight. And while protected from cars, I noticed that someone rode a bike and/or stroller through the drawing and there were lots of footprints in different directions, implying that at least one person was dancing on our work overnight!
Also, the next morning I arrived to see a man erecting scaffolding close to my work area. I am starting to wonder if the city really does own the scaffolding company as one friend told me. Florence has an abundance of this and I have yet to see the famous Duomo without it!
He was breaking off some of the metal “T”s that were used to adjust the height of each leg, telling me that it was for public safety. I photographed this one young boy who was fascinated by the process and kept telling his father to wait a moment more since he did not want to leave. He was quite cute. We finished up around 5:30 pm. People were out and complimentary, but I had dinner plans and needed to get home to wash up. Enjoy these images.
And if you are interested in learning pastels in a fun and beautiful environment that allows you to focus on art and nature, please check out my pastel workshop in Hawaii in September. http://borsheimarts.com/art-workshops/hawaii-pastels.htm
Last week I visited Vatican City and so this Thursday chose to recreate in the streets of Florence one of the Sybils on Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. I hope you like my self-portrait in this “work-in-progress” shot. I did not realize I did that until I saw the images later.
I was delighted later that afternoon as a class of Italian children came to watch me work. I offered one a pastel stick, but she shied away. Instead, her classmate asked if she could try and next thing I knew, I was passing out various orange colors and pointing to the sections of the Sybil’s skirt in which each child should color.
The kids and I had a blast together. I wanted a photo of all of our orange hands and one of the teachers offered to take it for us. I asked the kids if they wanted to be on my blog and the idea seemed to be fun to them. I handed out the last of my wet baby wipes to clean their hands a bit and then they were off to catch a train. What a delightful day and great experience for us all.
Later that evening, the capo of our group of madonnari (street painters), Claudio, arrived to see my colleague Johnny and me. [Johnny is not in most of these images because he had another job and joined me for only parts of the day.] Since he had another commission to work on with our colleague Tomo, he offered to let Johnny and me draw that next day (their normal day).
So, around midnight that first night, I wrote on the street in Italian, “Please do not clean” and we set cardboard boxes around our drawing in hopes that the street cleaning truck would pass us by the next morning. It worked this time, although when I arrived on Friday, an older Italian woman complained to me that it was bruttissima that I left such ugly boxes in the street overnight. And while protected from cars, I noticed that someone rode a bike and/or stroller through the drawing and there were lots of footprints in different directions, implying that at least one person was dancing on our work overnight!
Also, the next morning I arrived to see a man erecting scaffolding close to my work area. I am starting to wonder if the city really does own the scaffolding company as one friend told me. Florence has an abundance of this and I have yet to see the famous Duomo without it!
He was breaking off some of the metal “T”s that were used to adjust the height of each leg, telling me that it was for public safety. I photographed this one young boy who was fascinated by the process and kept telling his father to wait a moment more since he did not want to leave. He was quite cute. We finished up around 5:30 pm. People were out and complimentary, but I had dinner plans and needed to get home to wash up. Enjoy these images.
And if you are interested in learning pastels in a fun and beautiful environment that allows you to focus on art and nature, please check out my pastel workshop in Hawaii in September. http://borsheimarts.com/art-workshops/hawaii-pastels.htm
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Sbandieratori Villa Bardini Florence Italy
Cari Amici (Dear Friends),
Here are some more images from the art reception for “Annigoni’s Legacy – Angel Academy Student/Faculty Exhibition” at the Villa Bardini in Florence, Italy.
The Sbandieratori performed that night as they have since Angel Academy instructor Martinho Isidro Correia joined their ranks.
The group is officially called ”Sbandieratori dei Borghi e Sestieri Fiorentini” and is the team of Florentine flag wavers, drummers, and trumpeters. They are available for events in various size groups, normally a smaller group at Angel’s previous exhibits on Via San Niccolò (also in Florence). However, the Villa Bardini had such a lovely and larger space that we were able to enjoy a more full experience.
The Sbandieratori combines a type of martial art with the military disciplines of the Middle Ages. Today the Sbandieratori bring a festive feel to any event in Florence, as well as an “elegant, noble and strong, sturdy and vibrant” youthful vigor. I hope you enjoy these snapshots of their performances as the sun went down over Florence and the Villa Bardini.
Here are some more images from the art reception for “Annigoni’s Legacy – Angel Academy Student/Faculty Exhibition” at the Villa Bardini in Florence, Italy.
The Sbandieratori performed that night as they have since Angel Academy instructor Martinho Isidro Correia joined their ranks.
The group is officially called ”Sbandieratori dei Borghi e Sestieri Fiorentini” and is the team of Florentine flag wavers, drummers, and trumpeters. They are available for events in various size groups, normally a smaller group at Angel’s previous exhibits on Via San Niccolò (also in Florence). However, the Villa Bardini had such a lovely and larger space that we were able to enjoy a more full experience.
The Sbandieratori combines a type of martial art with the military disciplines of the Middle Ages. Today the Sbandieratori bring a festive feel to any event in Florence, as well as an “elegant, noble and strong, sturdy and vibrant” youthful vigor. I hope you enjoy these snapshots of their performances as the sun went down over Florence and the Villa Bardini.
Angel Art Exhibit Villa Bardini Florence Italy
Cari Amici (Dear Friends),
Hello again. I wanted to share with you some of my snapshots during the art exhibit “Annigoni’s Legacy – Angel Academy of Art Exhibit.” The reception was on 12 of May, but the show continues in the beautiful Villa Bardini here in Florence, Italy, until 30 May.
The exhibit was hung salon style, which means the artworks filled all the available wall spaces, one on top of another. I include a few images here for your enjoyment and also to introduce two lovely young painters that you are likely to enjoy for many years to come. They are my friends and both are charming people. Ti presento Dana Nechmad and Terra Chapman.
I will be going back again for another look at the art, as well as the fabulous garden that overlooks Florence. Exhibit openings are fun, but sometimes the only way to really look at the artworks is to go back when the place has fewer people in it.
Annigoni's Legacy - Annual Student & Staff Exhibition of the Angel Academy of Art
Villa Bardini, Via Costa San Giorgio 2
Florence, Italy [Firenze, Italia]
Tel. 055 246 6737
Hello again. I wanted to share with you some of my snapshots during the art exhibit “Annigoni’s Legacy – Angel Academy of Art Exhibit.” The reception was on 12 of May, but the show continues in the beautiful Villa Bardini here in Florence, Italy, until 30 May.
The exhibit was hung salon style, which means the artworks filled all the available wall spaces, one on top of another. I include a few images here for your enjoyment and also to introduce two lovely young painters that you are likely to enjoy for many years to come. They are my friends and both are charming people. Ti presento Dana Nechmad and Terra Chapman.
I will be going back again for another look at the art, as well as the fabulous garden that overlooks Florence. Exhibit openings are fun, but sometimes the only way to really look at the artworks is to go back when the place has fewer people in it.
Annigoni's Legacy - Annual Student & Staff Exhibition of the Angel Academy of Art
Villa Bardini, Via Costa San Giorgio 2
Florence, Italy [Firenze, Italia]
Tel. 055 246 6737
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)