Live painting with portraits of the guests during this special event
Today I would like to tell you about how I arrived to a private disguised event in Venice… During the most famous carnival in Italy ! All has started when I met Denis Durand, a French fashion designer, during a wedding fair in Grasse (South of France). As usual, I was drawing live during this event, and when Denis has seen me painting, it became an obviousness for him! He explained me that he was planning a private party during the Venice carnival, in Italy. Therefore, he has suggested me to take part to this event with my pencils and my brushes… And asked me if I wanted to paint live portraits of the costumed guests! It was really an exciting idea !!!
Before the event
I have traveled to Venice many times, but never during the carnival. It was the perfect opportunity ! Once travel and accomodation issues have been resolved (not really easy during this busy period of carnival…)… I had to find a disguise ! The theme of the evening was : The Vampire ball !
You certainly think it is easy to find a vampire disguise… But we were supposed to wear some 17th or 18th century costumes !! Fortunately, I have found a beautiful vampire dress and an extravagant wig in a costume shop in Nice (France)… Phew !
THE PLACE OF THE PARTYÂ : Palazzo Morosini, Venezia
Behind San Toma church, I have discovered the palace where the party will take place. A baroque palace from the 17th century… Back to the past with several bourgeois living rooms, chandeliers, stucco, and frescoes in each room… Back in the Venice of old days. A perfect place for a Vampire ball !
The party was about to begin. The first costumed guests arrived in a movie set : that evening the mist invaded the streets of the city… Brrrr…
Live portrait during the event
The ball could begin : I was ready to sketch the vampire guests ! I have to tell you : It was a real pleasure for me to draw during this special event. It is so exceptional to have the possibility to paint live costumed people…
My live portraits were not the only artistic entertainment during the evening. The guests could have also enjoyed :
the talented violonist Angie, with her electronic violin ;
a striptease by the magnificent Sucre d’Orge ;
the charm of the lyric singer Sonja Jansen ;
And finally the vampire contest, the election of Mr and Mrs Dracula!!
It was sometimes hard to keep focused on my paintings with all those artistic entertainments, but I have finally suceeded in drawing several disguised guests.
A special thank you to Denis Durand for organizing this fabulous party. I was really lucky by taking part to it. It was a huge pleasure to paint those guests with their fabulous costumes, and to relive the life of Venice in the old days…
Photo Credit : ID Media Cannes, MN Archambault and Alexandre Lollini
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