Drawing the Flight of Almerico da Schio

In 2020, during the Covid pandemic, I came across the “Piazza Almerico da Schio: La Piazza si fa Bella” competition on social media. The goal was to create an illustration dedicated to Almerico da Schio and the theme of flight, with the selected works displayed beneath the arcades of the square.

After receiving recognition at Varese Design Week, I wanted to devote more time to illustration a passion I’ve had since childhood but had often set aside because of study and work.

From a Place to a Story

My first proposals focused mainly on the square itself, but I felt something was missing.

So I changed my approach. Rather than simply illustrating the place, I tried to tell its story.

The final artwork brings together Almerico da Schio, the Aeronave Italia, the Cathedral and the Bao, a symbol of the square today. The idea was to connect past and present through a few essential elements, without overcrowding the composition with unnecessary details.

The visual style follows the same principle: clean lines, a limited colour palette and a composition designed to be understood at first glance.

The Selection

As the deadline approached, I submitted two proposals.

The competition attracted more than 170 artists and around 200 artworks from across Italy and abroad. Thanks to the support received by the initiative, the number of selected works increased from the original 12 to 21 illustrations.

One of my illustrations was selected for the exhibition beneath the arcades of Piazza Almerico da Schio. I was also among the five artists chosen in the Under 30 category.

Seeing a project that started as a sketch find its place—even for just a few months—in the very location it was created for was the most rewarding part of the experience.