I had a taste of wonderful hospitality and spent a peaceful day amongst friends. I'm gonna miss them all... #art #watercolors #plebchain #grownostr #artstr

I love Iffley village. Since I discovered it, I often go there during a walk. The stone walls, the thatched roofs, the trees: It is really special. #artstr #art #watercolors #plebchain #grownostr

Walking into Exeter College, heading to the Fellows’ Garden, and climbing the stairs to the wall gives you, in my opinion, the best view over Radcliffe Square. I didn't climb over the wall or sit on the famous bench over there, since it was already occupied. I just stayed in the garden below and sketched the Radcliffe Camera (again) as seen from down there. #plebchain #grownostr #artstr #art #watercolors

It's not always easy for someone like me—who isn't affiliated with the university and doesn’t look like he might be—to get into the inner quad of a college. This time, at Brasenose, I had to try twice. On my first attempt, I was gently turned away. The next day, I returned with a friend (the one who commissioned this drawing), and I was allowed in. I spent about an hour sitting in the quad sketching, undisturbed. It was a lovely spot, with the Radcliffe Camera rising in the background just beyond the college entrance. #artstr #art #watercolors #plebchain #grownostr

Punting is a quintessential Oxford summer activity. My visiting family didn’t trust me with the task, so they voted me out and hired a chauffeur to drive the boat instead. I was a bit offended, but I still enjoyed the ride. #watercolor #art #artstr #grownostr #plebchain

I’ll admit, I’ve never been inside this pub. But I cycle past it every time I go to the gym, and I really like how the building looks when it’s lit a certain way. #watercolor #art #artstr #grownostr #plebchain

The infamous junction where rush hour traffic bottlenecks: The Plain. Three main roads from the east meet at this roundabout and converge to cross Magdalen Bridge into the city center. Navigating this roundabout by bicycle is dangerous—too many have already died. I always keep my eyes wide open, watching in all directions. #artstr #art #watercolors #plebchain #grownostr

Wisteria is blooming all over the city, and it's a delight to the eyes. Every house looks better with wisteria vines climbing its walls. #plebchain #grownostr #watercolors #art #artstr

Linocut print of the beautiful Saluzzo #linocut #art #artstr #plebchain #grownostr

The tower of St Mary is my favorite among Oxford's spires. I sat among parked bicycles at the corner of Brasenose Street and sketched the view of St Mary, illuminated by the setting sun on a beautiful day. As it turned out, free-handing straight lines is difficult. #artstr #art #watercolors #plebchain #grownostr

Wandering around central Oxford in this amazing sunny weather is so nice. I stumbled on a cool view of the back of the Sheldonian Theatre, with those cartoonish oversized emperor heads. Even spotted the moon in the daytime sky. #grownostr #plebchain #watercolors #art #artstr

Broad st, Oxford #artstr #art #watercolors #plebchain #grownostr #artnostr

Beside what used to be a prison in Oxford, there is a mound. This is all that remains of the motte-and-bailey fortification built by the Normans in 1071, usign Saxon foced labor. I climbed the artificial hill, now barren except for two trees. What is left of the old structure is the entrance of a well, but is fenced. The view from the top is not particularly impressive: a large sector is dominated by the Westgate shopping center, the rest is uninspiring buildings. It would have been nice to draw the prison and the tower, but they were against the sun while I was there. So, I chose to sketch the side overlooking Nuffield College, where some of the city's spires can be seen in the background. #artstr #artnostr #plebchain #grownostr #art #watercolors

Third one of my #oxford #linocutprint serie! I went a it crazy experimenting with texture. The view of the Radcliffe camera is from a photo I took from the balcony of the tower of St. Mary #plebchain #grownostr #art #artstr

Second one of my #linocut Oxford serie (...and second linocut I've ever done). Also this one inspired by one of my previous watercolors #artstr #art #plebchain #grownostr

I only recently dabbled into #linocutprint. This is the very first print I made all by myself, inspired from one of my watercolor works. #artstr #art #plebchain #grownostr

According to the little sign attached to its blue little fence, this house is called “the museum lodge”. It is in fact located a bit up the street from the Natural History Museum, but I do not know if or how it is linked to it. Anyway, it is a peculiar old-looking house, and I like its roof. #grownostr #plebchain #watercolors #art #artstr

Since I was a child I knew the uppermost part of Via Griselda, just before the sharp turn that goes through a tunnel, is called “Belvedere.” I never questioned the reason, as it is quite self-explanatory: one side of the road features a balcony overlooking the western part of Saluzzo and offers a broad panoramic view of the Alps and the Po River plain. That was until I noticed, shockingly recently due to my aimless wandering in the old town, at the very top of the building overlooking the view, an old and faded wall inscription in large letters that says “BELVEDERE”. This made me curious: Is Belvedere an eponym? Was there, a century ago, a hotel or some other kind of commercial establishment called “Belvedere” (clearly named after the view) that gave the place its name? Or was it the other way around? Did they paint the word “Belvedere” on the building because it stands at the top of a place already called that? Who knows… In any case, neither the panoramic view nor the building with the inscription is visible here in my drawing. #watercolors #artstr #plebchain #grownostr

Among all colleges, Trinity is the one I know better, because of friends. I have been lucky to be invited to listen talks, attend formal dinners, and just simply for hanging out. This drawing is for my friend, a very popular guy, which name opens many door at Trinity college. #artstr #art #watercolors #plebchain #grownostr

The Natural History Museum is a fascinating place. It is such a complicated building, where every single column, every single arch base, is decorated differently. Beneath each pillar, facing toward the hall, stand statues of the greatest figures in natural philosophy and science history. The roof, made of iron girders supporting a glass ceiling, would be a nightmare for me to draw, which is why I was always intimidated and haven’t dared to try yet. Despite this, there is so much interesting stuff there to sketch, and when it is raining or the light outside is dull, I always try to go there to draw. This time, I focused on a view that included both Darwin and Newton, as well as the fossil skull of an ancient kind of elephant. I went crazy with all the bricks… #plebchain #grownostr #watercolors #art #artstr