I Pizzini is Italian for Post it Notes. I bought a packet of post it notes in Venice last year, and I resolved to use the packet as a sketch book to record images of Venice, with a strong predilection for building and pattern. Today I finished them, and I regard this as both a completed piece of work, and as a signpost for some larger drawings, again, recording and synthesizing my response to Venice.
These are a series of tiny memories from Venice, they are, in fact, post it notes, or pizinni in Italian. Once finished they will provide the impetus for a larger work.
I ran a drawing day for teachers at the British Museum alongside the Italian Renaissance Drawing exhibition. An artist called Phillipa Abrahams ran a workshop on Renaissance drawing techniques to include templates, making inks and supports and quills and silverpoint. Fascinating.
I have a friend called Mary who used to live in France, surrounded by orchards. Three quick A5 drawings of hazelnut orchards.
One more pizzini, and I did achieve this today. A tiny post it note bearing a pattern based on a grid, and a piercing that permeates throughout Venice. Or at least, the Venice I observe. 7H pencil.
For several years I have run a drawing weekend at Glasgow School of Art for teachers. We use the amazing studios in the 'Mac' building. Its an extraordinary building to work in, the big studios, the dark stair wells and library, the plaster casts covered with gaffer tape, tiny squares of colour on the wall, the lovely hen run.