Day 38 - Michangelo's David

Today was off to the Gallery of the Academy to see Michangelo's David. Being Florence, it was ridicilous expensive to get in to see very little. So I'll be damned if I'm not going to get some really cool sketches in. The space was actually set up really well to get some sketching done. My goal was to try to get sketches done so that they looked like living, breathing people, rather than statutues and blocks of marble (a la Rubens - as getting something to look like a statutue is relatively easy).

Biggest problem was not being able to step away from the drawing (as I'd lose my seat or have stuff stolen). So to my eye the drawings turned out a little average. While doing a 2nd drawing, after about 2 hours I was getting near to being finished and a crowd had a massed and was watching me - half the people. males dressed up in some fancy uniform so I have no idea who they were

Let me say this is one of the most surreal experiences I've ever had. I don't mind people watching me draw in public (I know most other artists get very nervous when people are looking over their shoulder). Normally they have a quick look and wonder off, maybe offer some compliment and that is it.

I had about 30-40 people standing around me watching what I was doing. I would have loved to have spoken Italian as I didn't have a clue what they were saying. On the up side, if anyone got infront of me and blocked my view, the crowd around me would scold them and get them to move on - bonus really.