Artist Utilizes Vibrant Black Ink Lines to Capture the Essence of Classical Architecture
**Antonella Positano: The Architect Who Breathes Life into Structures with Black Ink**
For the acclaimed architectural illustrator [Antonella Positano](https://www.instagram.com/antonella.positano/?target=_blank), her passion for art and architecture finds its roots in her formative years. “In my childhood, I enjoyed imagining houses with LEGO, and many of my early drawings featured landscapes and small homes,” the artist reveals in a conversation with *My Modern Met*. These formative creative encounters have laid the foundation for her unique perspective on architectural illustration, where energetic strokes of black ink infuse vitality into buildings, interiors, and settings.
### Embracing the Soul of Architecture
To Positano, architecture transcends mere buildings or fixed structures—it embodies an emotional and visual journey. “When I select an architectural subject to depict, my aim is to emphasize its core through my hand,” she states. “I frequently allow the connection I sense with a particular subject to guide me, but it’s usually the subject that chooses me rather than the other way around.”
Her affinity for architecture as a medium is not restricted by a certain preference or aesthetic. She seeks inspiration in structures that naturally inspire curiosity, irrespective of their source or function. What holds the most significance is their ability to provoke a vivid interplay of shapes, forms, and shadows.
### The Impact of Giovan Battista Piranesi
Positano preserves a profound admiration for the 18th-century Italian engraver Giovan Battista Piranesi, renowned for his intricate and dramatic architectural illustrations. Similar to Piranesi, Positano aspires for volume and depth in her creations. “I continually pursue volume that can translate into striking contrasts and allows me to manipulate shadows,” she expresses. “This is why I gravitate towards complex subjects featuring dense textures. It’s about grasping what others often overlook: I transform geometries and volumes into lines that unveil a drama that might otherwise remain hidden.”
Her inclination for shadow-rich, detailed compositions imparts a distinctive and expressive character to her work, captivating viewers and directing their attention to the underlying drama and beauty of commonplace structures.
### Discovering Form via Photography
As she completes her architecture degree, Positano employs high-quality photographs as visual references for her illustrations. “The photographs enable me to meticulously analyze the details and thoughtfully engage with the composition, contemplating the final outcome I aspire to achieve,” she clarifies. However, she stresses that while photographs are crucial references, they are not intended for verbatim replication. “At that stage, it would simply become a faithful reproduction, and I cherish authenticity.”
Positano aspires to immerse herself more in the practice of *en plein air* sketching in the future, particularly due to the close connection it fosters with a specific environment and its vibe. While sketching outdoors, she can envelop herself in her surroundings, experiencing the architecture firsthand—an experience she treasures.
### The Importance of Black Ink
Though Positano has explored various tools and mediums, she believes that the use of black ink is unmatched in both technique and expressive strength. “I appreciate the gestural nature of using a pen and the ability to modulate my strokes as I desire. I incorporate ink in my work because I view it as the connection between the past and the present,” she articulates.
Specifically, black ink gives her a sense of timelessness—each stroke an enduring imprint that transcends transient trends or ephemeral visuals. “This approach renders the work tangible: it transcends time and the transient. Every detail symbolizes my quest to reach beyond, capturing what others fail to see.”
### Sketchbooks vs. Individual Sheets of Paper
For Positano, the surface on which she creates is equally significant in shaping the creative endeavor. She recognizes that both sketchbooks and standalone sheets of paper possess unique advantages. “Working in a sketchbook feels like occupying a neutral space where I can express myself without total control and without the burden of needing to achieve a particular outcome,” she expands.
Sketchbooks, often filled with a collection of fragmented ideas and explorations, grant her the liberty to revisit and reinterpret her work over time. Conversely, singular sheets of paper offer her a sense of control and discipline. “Drawing on a single sheet fills me with a profound, almost primal satisfaction. It provides a sense of control and discipline, enabling me to refine each stroke with intention,” she reflects.
Regardless of the medium or surface, her objective remains unwavering: to express the unseen sentiments and components of architecture, transforming stone, steel, and mortar into personal narratives conveyed through ink.
### A Message from an Artist to Aspiring Creatives
Despite her rising acclaim in the realm of art and architecture, Positano’s aspirations are more intimate than commercial. She does not pursue notoriety or financial benefits.