Finding Florence’s Most Unique Memento
If you’ve ever been to Florence, you know how difficult it can be to sift through all of the fake leather, mass produced products, and selfie stick vendors in the search of a perfect memento. As my time in Florence is beginning to wind down, I found myself in search of a truly unique reminder of my time here.
As a lover of art, history, and all things Florence, it hit me that perhaps the best way to memorialize my year living in Florence was through art, so I called up (or more accurately ran into) my friend David, a talented artist living in Florence and discussed the possibility of him creating an original piece for me to take home.
I have always been a huge believer in supporting local artists, and it is pretty awesome to have the opportunity to take home a piece of Florence that no one else in the world has. Unlike the many mass-produced paintings sold throughout the city, David’s are truly one of a kind, and he is incredibly flexible to work with.
I personally wanted a painting of the Ponte Vecchio, but as we talked ideas kept popping up in my head. A one of a kind painting of my Florentine apartment door? My favorite quiet corner in Florence? The Tuscan countryside? When you commission an artist, the possibilities are endless.
I am a firm believer in investing in experiences, and my favorite part of this process was having the opportunity to watch David paint. As an artist working en plein air, David enjoys painting outdoors. He paints in an impressionist style, and as I sat on the Ponte Santa Trinita watching him work, I couldn’t help but marvel at his technique and the attention he paid to colors and tones while matching them to our surroundings.
While the hour passed, brushstroke by brushstroke the blank surface of the painting began to transform into a dynamic and unique representation of the Ponte Vecchio as we saw it in that moment. The globs of red, green, blue, and yellow paints on the palette were mixed and matched, before David artfully worked them into the canvas.
As I sat there chatting away with David as he worked, passers-by stopped by to admire, watch, and chat. I couldn’t help but think that I was living out my art history major’s dream-sitting in the capital of the Italian Renaissance watching an artist in modern times painting in the Impressionist style.
The final product was even more incredible than I could have imagined, and I know that the experience will linger in my memory long after I have left Florence. I will always treasure the painting as a physical reminder of my year in this incredible city.
If you too are looking for a unique representation of your time in Florence, or searching for a one-of -a kind gift for friends and family back home, I highly recommend contacting David for a quote. He is also talented at portraits, if you’d like an even more personal piece!
You can check out more of David’s pieces on his website, www.davidacassar.com or visit his Facebook page for more information.
For more on Florence, try some of these posts:
- Hidden Treasure In Florence: Handmade Jewelry Worth Searching For
- 30 Great Places To Eat & Drink In Florence
- 7 Fantastic Day Trips To Take From Florence
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