Preliminary Studies for a Renaissance Style Painting
(Italian Renaissance Technique)
Graphite

Before I conclude this online exhibition dedicated to The Italian School, I just want to make an interesting observation in the way Americans perceive the work of an artist compared to Italians in Florence.   The work of artists is not respected.  Just try telling someone your an artist in America!  American will immediately label you as "unemployed."  Having a life purpose as an artist is not something most Americans can understand...  It's not their fault.  For example, when you tell a person you are working on preliminary studies they will immediacy call you an "student." It's just that in terms of American contemporary art, many consider studies as something only a "student" does. That is a big misconception!   Keep in mind, that for me to create in this new style of art in the tradition of the renaissance, I cannot just paint directly on the canvas from my imagination tapping into creative energy or relying on inspiration like I do as an Expressionist.  No.  That's not how a renaissance artist works.  

Instead, I must commit to the long painting process of at least one to two weeks following each strict step from preliminary drawings, grisaille, and doing these stages with great patience and discipline before each painting layer is then applied each day. Then only when each layer is dry can I continue with the final glazes over several days or weeks...  So before the painting can even begin I must make "studies" to have a solid underdrawing. Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Caravaggio, Raffaello all made "studies".   It was not because they were "students."  No. It's because they were "professional artists" committed to their craft!  Next we will see a completed painting, but prior to making a painting I spent a several days creating preliminary drawings, making constant "adjustments" before it was ready to be transferred to the canvas.