I have lived in Rome since 1986. In order to live, I organized myself with a new French easel, a frame from a backpack that could be used for the easel and a bicycle. I went out every day and painted en plein air. I made small paintings on canvas and as soon as I had a few, I used a large piece of cardboard to display the paintings while I was working. I didn’t sell a lot, but from time to time, I was able to have a little money for food. I had to keep expenses down.
One of the most interesting things in that period was the street vendors. It was before the wave of Moroccans, Africans, Chinese and everyone else that nowadays sell mass produced fake fashion accessories and souvenir trinkets. In those days, there were only Italian artisans who, like me, were outside making their art while selling at the same time. They were busy working and producing costume jewelry and hand-made crafts.
I like the idea of ‘working’ outside. You can still find some die-hard artisans selling their wares in different places in the city. But I’ve given up on the idea of trying to sell something on the streets: the competition is too fierce. Who wouldn’t chose a wonderful fake Louis Vuitton bag or Armani sunglasses over a unknown artist’s hand-made painting?
[whohit]-Constantine’s Arch Rome_EN-[/whohit]
