Drawing Through Italy
A visual journal of art, place, and discovery.
Created while traveling through Italy in 2026, these pages capture architecture, sculpture, landscapes, and quiet moments of discovery. Drawn from life along the way, they trace my encounters with Italy’s artistic heritage and the beauty found in observing a place slowly, one sketch at a time.
Ancient Ruins Unfolding in
My Sketchbook
Rome — Roman Forum, April 2026
We arrived before the crowds, sketchbooks in hand. Sitting among the ruins of the Roman Forum, I began with simple shapes, gradually discovering how centuries of history reveal themselves through careful observation rather than speed.
Learning from
the Masters
Florence — Medici Chapels, April 2026
Inside the Medici Chapels, I spent time studying Michelangelo’s Night, one of the monumental figures created for the tomb of Giuliano de’ Medici. Drawing from the sculpture offered a chance to slow down and look closely at the weight, gesture, and rhythm of the figure—details that are easy to miss when simply passing by.
Working in charcoal, I focused on the sweep of the torso and the quiet turn of the head rather than trying to capture every detail. Sketching beside Michelangelo’s work became its own kind of lesson: an opportunity to understand form through observation, and to learn from a master across the centuries
Learning from
the Masters
Rome — St. Peter’s Basilica, April 2026
Inside St. Peter’s Basilica, I was drawn to Francesco Mochi’s Saint Veronica, a 17th-century Baroque sculpture filled with movement and energy. The sweeping drapery and expressive gesture seem to bring the marble to life.
Working quickly in my sketchbook, I focused on the movement, larger shapes, and rhythm of the figure—a study in how gesture can transform a still form into something remarkably alive.
