Artist Interview – Alicia Levantini

Who are you and what do you do?

My title is Alicia Levantini, and I’m a self-taught pen & ink illustrator residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  I do customized home and building drawings as nicely as build stationery and prints of my work.

Why do you do what you do?

I have normally been a lover of Philadelphia’s charming row households and of going for walks all-around the town admiring them. Around quarantine, I started off to draw Philadelphia stoops in my community, and as soon as I posted them online, I experienced a lengthy waitlist for me to draw other people’s stoops and homes! What started out as a quarantine passion has turned into my comprehensive-time work. I come to feel so blessed to do what I do!

You use so several vivid shades, do you have any that you favor?

I certainly really like when I’m capable to generate a blooming window flower box or garden landscape in my customized dwelling drawings! I love when there are splashes of pinks, purples, and reds in the illustrations. I also swoon over a vibrant front door – I imagine blue is my preferred to attract!

What evokes your artwork?

My like of charming architecture, and creating realistic-looking, to-scale, drawings – all though incorporating brilliant colors and fantastic lines.

How and when did you get into artwork?

I have been a creator since I was outdated enough to hold a paintbrush. My dad and mom say that on my to start with working day of preschool, I walked by means of the doorway and ideal up to the easels! I have not stopped making because.

How has your practice modified above time?

I’ve definitely fantastic-tuned the art supplies that I use. I have discovered my favourite brush pens, fine liners, and erasers, and I don’t stray from them! I’ve been employing Strathmore paper from the start out, nevertheless!

What’s your favored piece of artwork that you have produced? Why?

This is these a rough question because I experience so linked to all of my drawings! I feel my favourite has to be this West Philadelphia Victorian property. It genuinely pushed my boundaries of what I thought I was able of accomplishing, and it finished up far better than I could have hoped for.

What is the finest piece of art guidance you’ve been offered?

To scan each individual drawing I do, in both of those the define and complete-colour variations!

What’s one particular art tip/method you can share with us that you find really beneficial?

Do every little thing in pencil initial!! I attract my whole household drawings wholly in pencil initial and then go in with my micron pens and brush pens. This makes it possible for me to lessen issues, and to make positive all the things is hunting great prior to it will get finalized.

Do you have any mystery suggestions or tactics you use to salvage a piece when you make a mistake?

I have a pair of tips I generally use: I use white plastic erasers to erase the hardest dark pencil marks that are really hard to get rid of, and I usually maintain a white gel pen nearby to “erase” any stray brush pen marks from a lighter spot of my drawing.

What is your favored Strathmore paper? Why?

Palms down, the Strathmore Bristol paper pads. The paper is so sleek and my brush pens glide appropriate on. It also is forgiving for large-handed pencil customers like me!

What types of shades are you drawn to for your artwork and why?

I love any brilliant shades that are obviously discovered in nature and make my drawings pop. Pinks, purples, and reds for bouquets, blue or environmentally friendly front doorways, and a attractive brick crimson colour for properties.

Who are your largest influences?

My do the job is incredibly diverse from his, but I have usually been a lover of Claude Monet. His landscapes transportation me to yet another entire world and bring me a feeling of tranquility. I especially adore his waterscapes and garden paintings.

What is the most prevalent artwork-relevant query you get from your followers?

Do you perform off of shots, or do you sit in front of the building you are drawing? I work off of pictures! Every single piece can take me numerous, lots of hours. I sit at property, with my cat on my lap, and work off of pics as my references. This also allows me to draw residences and structures in any component of the globe, not just in Philadelphia.

Web site/social media one-way links:

Instagram: ArtByAliciaL

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