Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Alicia Levantini, and I’m a self-taught pen & ink illustrator dwelling in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I do customized house and constructing drawings as effectively as produce stationery and prints of my get the job done.
Why do you do what you do?
I’ve usually been a lover of Philadelphia’s charming row homes and of walking all-around the city admiring them. About quarantine, I started off to draw Philadelphia stoops in my community, and as quickly as I posted them on-line, I had a extended waitlist for me to draw other people’s stoops and homes! What commenced out as a quarantine hobby has turned into my total-time career. I really feel so blessed to do what I do!
You use so quite a few vibrant colors, do you have any that you favor?
I absolutely really like when I’m able to produce a blooming window flower box or back garden landscape in my personalized property drawings! I like when there are splashes of pinks, purples, and reds in the illustrations. I also swoon in excess of a vibrant entrance doorway – I think blue is my most loved to attract!
What inspires your artwork?
My appreciate of charming architecture, and making practical-searching, to-scale, drawings – all when incorporating dazzling shades and high-quality lines.
How and when did you get into art?
I’ve been a creator because I was previous sufficient to maintain a paintbrush. My mom and dad say that on my initially working day of preschool, I walked as a result of the door and ideal up to the easels! I have not stopped creating considering that.
How has your exercise improved in excess of time?
I’ve truly wonderful-tuned the art supplies that I use. I have uncovered my preferred brush pens, wonderful liners, and erasers, and I do not stray from them! I have been using Strathmore paper from the get started, however!
What’s your beloved piece of art that you’ve established? Why?
This is these types of a hard issue since I sense so connected to all of my drawings! I consider my beloved has to be this West Philadelphia Victorian house. It really pushed my boundaries of what I considered I was able of undertaking, and it finished up improved than I could have hoped for.
What is the most effective piece of artwork guidance you’ve been presented?
To scan each and every drawing I do, in both the define and full-color versions!
What’s a single art tip/procedure you can share with us that you obtain truly valuable?
Do anything in pencil initial!! I draw my complete household drawings wholly in pencil initial and then go in with my micron pens and brush pens. This makes it possible for me to reduce blunders, and to make guaranteed all the things is on the lookout superior in advance of it receives finalized.
Do you have any solution suggestions or methods you use to salvage a piece when you make a error?
I have a couple of tips I normally use: I use white plastic erasers to erase the hardest darkish pencil marks that are hard to get rid of, and I generally retain a white gel pen close by to “erase” any stray brush pen marks from a lighter area of my drawing.
What is your favourite Strathmore paper? Why?
Palms down, the Strathmore Bristol paper pads. The paper is so clean and my brush pens glide correct on. It also is forgiving for hefty-handed pencil people like me!
What forms of hues are you drawn to for your artwork and why?
I enjoy any shiny colors that are the natural way identified in mother nature and make my drawings pop. Pinks, purples, and reds for flowers, blue or environmentally friendly entrance doors, and a beautiful brick crimson coloration for properties.
Who are your biggest influences?
My function is very distinctive from his, but I’ve constantly been a lover of Claude Monet. His landscapes transportation me to a different earth and provide me a emotion of tranquility. I in particular love his waterscapes and backyard garden paintings.
What is the most typical artwork-related dilemma you get from your followers?
Do you operate off of photographs, or do you sit in entrance of the creating you’re drawing? I perform off of shots! Every single piece takes me several, quite a few hours. I sit at house, with my cat on my lap, and function off of pictures as my references. This also permits me to attract houses and structures in any aspect of the globe, not just in Philadelphia.
Internet site/social media inbound links:
Instagram: ArtByAliciaL
Fb: ArtByAliciaL
Etsy: ArtByAliciaL
