◊ ♦ ◊
When I was invited by Suzie to join her for a Fresco Painting Workshop with Alan I wasn’t able to participate but, after seeing her photos on Facebook, I was definitely “in” for the next time…and what a great experience it turned out to be!
◊ ♦ ◊
◊ Why a Fresco Painting Workshop?
If you’ve been following me at all you know that I LOVE being here in Florence and immersing in the “Cradle of the Renaissance”.
Having recently re-read “Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling” as well as re-visiting the Sistine Chapel in June, not to mention many, many other museums, cathedrals, palaces, etc. with exquisite Renaissance frescoes virtually covering walls and ceilings, not only am I in total awe of the works – their scope and beauty – but of the process itself!
◊ What is a “Fresco” Anyway?
“Fresco is a type of wall painting. The term comes from the Italian word for fresh because plaster is applied to the walls while still wet. There are two methods of carrying out fresco painting: buon fresco and fresco a secco. For both methods layers of fine plaster are spread over the wall surface.”
Source: NationalGalleryUK.org
◊ Simply put, Alan explains:
“Fresco painting is painting on fresh damp plaster with water based pigments which, when the plaster dries, become part of the wall. Secco is painting on dry plaster with pigments mixed with a binder; the pigment doesn’t penetrate but rests on the surface of the wall.”
It’s mind boggling that, after hundreds of years, most frescoes remain as beautiful and spectacular as when they were first painted. In fact, as Alan shares, frescoes/cave paintings dating back literally thousands years have been found in caves in France and Spain, and in civilizations that existed thousands of years before Christ like Egypt as well as in Greece and Rome. Testimony not only to man’s need to express himself but to creatively finding and utilizing materials available at the time!
Of course, the intervention of nature and man has compromised many but the fact remains that we can still enjoy the masterworks of the likes of Michelangelo, Piero della Francesca, Cimabue, Ghirlandaio, Giotto and so many others…
⇓ CLICK for Video! ⇓
VIDEO: Alan on wet vs dry fresco
◊ Learning from an Accomplished Master Artist!
Naturally, I researched about Alan before signing on. I have to say (and you’ll agree), his credentials are impressive! (Link to Alan’s biography at the end of this post.)
And even more impressive is how personable and what a terrific instructor he is! It can be a bit intimidating to be in the presence of an accomplished artist/expert but not with Alan.
There are four of us (Suzie, Hollister, Santa, and myself) and we are all warmly welcomed and immediately made to feel comfortable! (Suzie has done this before but the rest of us are novices!)
Alan is super organized and has structured the workshop as an introduction to the actual process of fresco painting and describes/explains exactly what we will be doing together – the steps and the process which is thousands of years old!
He begins with an explanation in “layman” terms since there’s definitely a lot of chemistry involved! Alan breaks it down with charts and examples so that we get a general idea and even deeper appreciation for this art form.
◊ Fresco Painting in a Nutshell!
The materials are “simple”, it’s the chemical process that is a bit complex – so, broken down into simple elements we have: stone, fire, water, pigments, air!
• Basically marble is fired which burns off the carbon dioxide. It’s mixed with water and sand.
• This mixture, like a paste or putty, is plastered onto the surface of a wall. This first layer is called “intonaco”.
⇓ CLICK for Video! ⇓
VIDEO: Alan on the chemistry of the mortar
• Cartoons (from “carta” which means paper) are the drawings used to transfer the images onto the wet plaster, “like a dressmaker tracing a pattern onto fabric”.
⇓ CLICK to Watch Videos! ⇓
VIDEO: Alan describes pricking holes in drawing
VIDEO: Alan demonstrates pouncing
• When this wet plaster dries it turns back into marble!
• The sections, called “giornate”, must be painted immediately!
• A “giornate” equals a days work.
Consider that there were over four hundred giornate used by Michelangelo for the Sistine Chapel – four years of fresco painting!
• Colors we will use today are all natural and water based:
– red ochre
– yellow ochre
– burnt umber
– St. John’s white
– ultra marine blue
->> Please wait for the “colorful” slideshow!
◊ Making a Fresco: Draw a Cartoon. Prick Holes. Pounce. Outline. Paint.
Today we will make a fresco on a piece of masonite approximately 8”x8” that we can take with us! What fun!
Alan has organized everything perfectly and explains the steps/process – which is exactly the same as what artisans of the Renaissance did on a much larger scale, of course!
Of course, we won’t be making “original” drawings. Alan has chosen four (4) portraits for us to choose from. They are taken from Piero della Francesca’s famous fresco cycle, “Legends of the True Cross”, in the Basilica di San Francesco, Arezzo. He explains that any of these are clearly outlined suitable for tracing:
Here we go! I have to admit it’s fascinating, exciting and humbling to even attempt to make an actual fresco but it’s not like the Pope is looking over our shoulders!
◊ Then We Begin!
∗ Draw a Cartoon: After choosing our portraits, first we trace the image onto tracing paper the same size as our piece of masonite that has been prepared with a layer of intonaco. This drawing is referred to as the cartoon.
Tracing my handsome angel…
∗ “Prick” Holes: Next step is to retrace the image using a sharp point (we use thumb tacks). “Pricking” holes along the outline and details, it’s important to pierce through the tracing paper.
Using a sharp point to prick holes of the outline…
∗ “Pounce” or “Dust”: With a “powder puff” -like pouch filled with red pigment (“spolvero”), we gently but thoroughly pat and dust on all of the holes which will then leave a dot matrix outline onto the masonite.
The original now transferred onto the masonite:
∗ Outline: Taking a wet brush and carefully “connecting the dots” into an outline with details which will disappear once the fresco is painted.
Connecting the dots!
∗ And Then…Time to Paint!
Alan demonstrates how colors are used – only a simple palette of all natural colors are blended and layered to create different effects.
It’s important to remember that the colors will be different (lighter) after they dry! Also, he explains the techniques of “layering” colors and using different brushes and strokes for different effects.
Naturally, I’m a bit nervous but Alan is reassuring and encouraging. Providing guidance and assistance the process is indeed a wonderful learning experience.
◊ My Fresco
By the time we finish, our frescoes are dry and ready to take home! Well, it won’t be in the Uffizi but it was just a fabulous experience with Alan and my fellow pupils!
My fellow artists, Suzie, Hollister and Santa!
Grazie, Alan, and my fellow fresco students for this fun and memorable time together and for the extraordinary opportunity to experience a “hands on” workshop with a master artist!
Alan offers this and other excellent workshops in his studio and online!
◊ ♦ ◊
◊ More About Alan:
Alan Pascuzzi lives and works in Florence as artist and professor of fine arts and art history. His permanent works in fresco, marble, bronze and paintings can be found in center of Florence and the rest of Italy.
“Dr. Alan Pascuzzi is an acclaimed painter, sculptor, author and arts educator based in Florence. His works have graced the Vatican city and beyond, and his artistic lineage traces back to the sculptors of Mount Rushmore.
Alan is drawn to the art of the Greeks and Romans and to the Renaissance masters. He has traced Michelangelo’s transformation from apprentice to master, painstakingly recreating Michelangelo’s artworks to learn the techniques of the Renaissance period.”
-from Life in from Full Color
⇒ Alan is also a published author:
Becoming Michelangelo (Available on Amazon)
Apprenticing to the Master, and Discovering the Artist through His Drawings.
“An artist’s extraordinary challenge to himself reveals the genius of Michelangelo in the making.”
◊ Contact:
Dr. Alan Pascuzzi
Studio
Alan Pascuzzi – Fine Art
+39 347 8319324
alanpascuzzi@hotmail.com
https://www.alanpascuzzi.com/
via del Campuccio, 52r
Firenze
◊ Take Classes Online – Fall Schedule Coming SOON!
All You Need is a Phone, Tablet, or Laptop – Access Lecture Recordings Forever – Attend Live or Watch Later
◊ Upcoming Lectures & Classes:
“Fresco painting is always interesting and ‘artistically stimulating.’ “
Alan is organizing a series of Renaissance technique workshops every month this fall – such as fresco, silverpoint, egg tempera and medallion making.
Stay in touch for Alan’s updated calendar!
(Or, if you need help organizing a group experience, I can help!)
◊ You Can Also with Connect on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Alan-Pascuzzi-324742135369
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alanpascuzzi/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-pascuzzi-a4535111/
◊ ♦ ◊
I ♥ LOVE ♥ Learning with Locals!
And when you’re ready to take your next (0r first) visit to Italy, along with my Friends of Victoria, we can’t wait to help you design and plan your perfect dolce vita experience!
◊ ♦ ◊
4 thoughts on “Learning the Fine Art of Fresco Painting with Alan”
WOW! What fun…life is good in Firenze!
Yes, great fun and a great experience to be “hands on”!
Si, la vita e bella in Firenze! And for an art lover, as you know, Italy is heaven!
Alan is an amazing person, artist, and art historian. I truly enjoyed my fresco class with him last year and cannot wait to attend another. If you haven’t read his book on Michelangelo, you must. It is such a great read. This is an amazing article Victoria!
Jodi,
Grazie for your lovely comment! Yes, Alan is all of that! Looking forward to meeting you when you return to
Florence. And, grazie mille for the kind remarks about the article. Appreciated!
Victoria
Comments are closed.