While studying art history in Florence, we have studied many famous fresco paintings including Leonardo Da Vinci’s the Last Supper, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling, and Raphael’s School of Athens. However, I think what was even more valuable than studying these pieces or seeing them in person in a museum was getting to make our own fresco. I found that it takes a really long time to do just a small section of a fresco and you have a limited amount of time to work on a section before it dries. These two things gave me a real appreciation for this art form that usually takes up an entire wall or ceiling of a massive church. Overall, I really enjoyed the process and found the medium similar to painting with gouache: it was thicker than watercolor and did not flow as easily as, but it was thinner than acrylic and blended much easier.
Swanson School of Engineering 