Artist Interview – Alicia Levantini

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Alicia Levantini, and I’m a self-taught pen & ink illustrator residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  I do custom household and developing drawings as perfectly as build stationery and prints of my function.

Why do you do what you do?

I’ve normally been a lover of Philadelphia’s charming row houses and of strolling close to the metropolis admiring them. Above quarantine, I started to draw Philadelphia stoops in my community, and as shortly as I posted them online, I had a lengthy waitlist for me to draw other people’s stoops and homes! What commenced out as a quarantine passion has turned into my total-time task. I come to feel so fortunate to do what I do!

You use so quite a few vibrant hues, do you have any that you favor?

I certainly enjoy when I’m able to generate a blooming window flower box or backyard landscape in my custom made household drawings! I enjoy when there are splashes of pinks, purples, and reds in the illustrations. I also swoon over a vibrant entrance door – I believe blue is my most loved to attract!

What evokes your art?

My adore of charming architecture, and generating realistic-wanting, to-scale, drawings – all even though incorporating shiny colors and fantastic lines.

How and when did you get into art?

I have been a creator since I was previous adequate to keep a paintbrush. My mother and father say that on my 1st working day of preschool, I walked via the door and suitable up to the easels! I haven’t stopped generating due to the fact.

How has your observe adjusted more than time?

I’ve really wonderful-tuned the art supplies that I use. I have uncovered my preferred brush pens, fine liners, and erasers, and I don’t stray from them! I have been employing Strathmore paper from the commence, while!

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

This is these kinds of a challenging issue due to the fact I truly feel so connected to all of my drawings! I imagine my preferred has to be this West Philadelphia Victorian house. It seriously pushed my boundaries of what I considered I was capable of doing, and it finished up improved than I could have hoped for.

What’s the best piece of art assistance you’ve been presented?

To scan each drawing I do, in equally the define and whole-color versions!

What is a person artwork idea/strategy you can share with us that you uncover definitely practical?

Do everything in pencil initial!! I attract my overall property drawings totally in pencil very first and then go in with my micron pens and brush pens. This permits me to minimize issues, and to make absolutely sure every little thing is looking good ahead of it receives finalized.

Do you have any magic formula recommendations or procedures you use to salvage a piece when you make a miscalculation?

I have a few of methods I usually use: I use white plastic erasers to erase the hardest dark pencil marks that are difficult to get rid of, and I usually retain a white gel pen nearby to “erase” any stray brush pen marks from a lighter location of my drawing.

What is your favourite Strathmore paper? Why?

Arms down, the Strathmore Bristol paper pads. The paper is so smooth and my brush pens glide proper on. It also is forgiving for weighty-handed pencil consumers like me!

What types of colours are you drawn to for your art and why?

I really like any shiny colors that are obviously identified in mother nature and make my drawings pop. Pinks, purples, and reds for bouquets, blue or inexperienced entrance doorways, and a beautiful brick pink colour for houses.

Who are your most significant influences?

My operate is quite different from his, but I have constantly been a lover of Claude Monet. His landscapes transport me to a further entire world and provide me a experience of tranquility. I particularly appreciate his waterscapes and yard paintings.

What’s the most widespread artwork-linked issue you get from your followers?

Do you function off of pictures, or do you sit in entrance of the creating you are drawing? I operate off of shots! Each individual piece requires me quite a few, a lot of hours. I sit at house, with my cat on my lap, and function off of pics as my references. This also allows me to draw properties and properties in any aspect of the earth, not just in Philadelphia.

Web site/social media links:

Instagram: ArtByAliciaL

Fb: ArtByAliciaL

Etsy: ArtByAliciaL