This is the first in a two-part series featuring Principal Instructor at The Florence Academy of Art and painter Tanvi Pathare. The series will explore Tanvi’s process, technique, and vision during the creation of the painting Her ascent.

This week’s segment follows Tanvi Pathare in her amazing studio in Porta Romana, Florence, Italy as she paints the drapery of the artwork. 

Focusing on the technique of painting fabric from life under natural light, Tanvi explains her process from start to finish including decision making on time management, mixing the palette, and applying paint to create the impression of the multilayered fabrics. The drapery on the figure is made from two layers, a bold orange and a sheer lace, enriched by an elegant pattern. In order to create this effect in paint we are shown not only how Tanvi applies the paint, but learn how intentional almost every step of the process is. In this video we become privy to incredible insight into the smallest of particulars behind her approach of painting this detailed fabric, as well as why she used it compositionally. The meticulous pattern application is visually engaging and expresses Tanvi’s aim to “take as much beauty from reality as much as possible.”

We hope you thoroughly enjoy this segment focusing on painting the drapery in Her ascent, and hope you look forward to the rest of the series!