Yesterday I began a four-week series of classes in Fileteado Porteño, an art form traditional to Buenos Aires.

It began as a way to decorate carriages in the early 19th century, and from there moved to doors and windows, and now you see it on all kinds of things. I’ve bought some of the small signs they sell to tourists. (This is not my work — it’s by a master of the art!)

It’s one of those things that isn’t as simple as it looks at first glance. There is incredible precision in the widths and curves of the lines, and the light and shade that make the designs look three dimensional.

I’ve had a hankering for a while to learn how to do it. Last week when I was in San Telmo with Venetia, we stumbled across an association for the artists, and it turned out they give classes. No groups in the summer, so I’m having private lessons with Martin.

Yesterday I learned about the history of fileteado, and the traditional way of getting the design on paper to start with. I also had a go at painting lines with the special brushes, which is clearly something that takes time to learn! Anyway, I can’t wait for my next lesson and I will put up a photo of whatever I produce by the end of the course.

A nice bonus was the tango music in the background!