A Trip to Zecchi's and the Best Pasta Ever

After the first day of class, I headed over to Zecchi's with some friends to pick up materials for class. I had brought most of my paints, brushes, and even some linen from home, but I still needed to purchase some items that I couldn't bring with me on a plane (turpentine, lead paints, etc.). Zecchi is a small store located less than a block from the Duomo. It is divided into three aisles, and is packed ceiling to floor with boxes of paints and jars full of ground pigment.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that a small tube of Old Holland cobalt blue here is 35 euro- half the price of what its U.S. equivalent would have cost.

My instructors have all recommended a brand of charcoal called "Nitram". It's a wonderful natural charcoal that comes in a light rectangular stick and isn't sold in any of the stores at home. I will definitely be doing some stocking up before I leave.

My most expensive purchase that day was a balanced hand-held wooden palette for 50 euro. I've never used a hand held palette before, but apparently it's a staple at the Academy. Back in California, I've always painted off a glass palette with a sheet of toned paper underneath. It's easy to clean and you can paint off a tabouret. While a traditional painter's palette seems to be a near-universal symbol of an artist, I've always thought it was a bit archaic and impractical. Despite my doubts, I gave the palette to try. Thanks to a slight built in counterbalance that takes the strain off your arm, it's surprisingly comfortable to hold. It's also roomy and contours to fit against your body. I think I can get used to it.

After spending a fortune at the store, Kes, Francine, and I wandered the streets in search of a good restaurant. We sat on the patio and I ordered tagliatelle (a wide, flat pasta) with mushrooms. The description sounded simple: "homemade tagliatelle pasta with olive oil and mushrooms" but it was seriously the BEST pasta dish I've ever had.

We sat for awhile and enjoyed the rare flush of light rain that cooled the usually warm evening air.