Venice, Italy, 15" x 11"

A smallish canal in Venice and a fairly typical scene with figures and small boats.  Quite a loose picture done with my three colour palette and a bit of fun trying to connect all the different shapes - the background - the boats up the canal side and the figures almost as one.  Just a minor bit of the use of white gouache on the railings on the bridge.

Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press 300 gms

Venice, Italy, 15" x 11"

A fairly recent painting of people in Venice which I videoed but have not published yet on YouTube.  What do you think?  If I posted it, would it be interesting maybe as a subject for getting people into your landscapes?  Let me know and I can post the video.  I think this is up the Arsenale end of Venice and the far bridge just melting into the background.  So it's open to a public vote with your comments below or email me.

Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press, 300 gms

Venice, Italy, 15" x 11"

Didn't know what to call this one, but then it was obvious - a guy on a barge in Venice.  Much of the scene with the boat and figure is made up, but a proper square and bell tower behind.  This is just up the canal from a recent YouTube video I published recently.  Well that one was in the shadows but this one is more in the light.  With many narrow streets and canals in Venice, there's plenty of opportunities to have light and shade.

Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press, 300gms.

Venice, Italy, 15" x 11"

The Arsenale area of Venice and a fairly quiet canal.  Based on a photo of mine taken last year.  Good exercise in simplification and leaving out all the architectural details and just going for an impression of the old buildings and all the different colours you find in their old facades.  Again a contra jour, into the light study which works well for figures and light things against the shadows.

Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press, 300 gms.

Venice, Italy, 15" x 11"

The right hand tower and the entrance to the shipyard.  Maybe an interesting angle to paint just the one tower and part of the footbridge.  I introduce a few figures in the foreground, connecting with the background shadows so that I can get a bit of contrast with their lighter clothing.  Also I have simplified the parapets along the wall of the museum on the right, but still try to get the perspective about right.

Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press, 300 gms.

Here is my latest demo video featuring a scene on Burano and Island close to Venice.  Please place any comments on my YouTube posting.  Thanks for watching!

Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press Paper, 300 gms

Venice, Italy, 22" x 15"

A second plein air from the first days painting on the recent Venice Painting Holiday I ran.  This is the footbridge over to the Fondamenta dei Penini, just a short walk from the Arsenale Ferry Station.  Looking around this area, there were a dozen possible scenes within 50 metres or so - lots of choices.  But for the second one I decided on personal comfort and positioned myself in the shade and out of people's way.

Burano, Italy, 15" x 22"

A plein air on the island of Burano and a view up the main street towards the bell tower of Parish S Martino Vescovo.  A couple of challenges with this one - It was a warm day with quite a bit of wind.  The larger the size of your picture, the quicker you need to work or use very big brushes!  Second challenge was half the way into the painting I had to stop and make way for a funeral procession plus coffin.  I was blocking the way because of the view, so my fault 100%.

Painted on Saunders Waterford, 300 gms NOT.

Watercolour - 11" x 15".

Back after my trip to Venice and Wednesday night sketch night with the Bristol Savages Art Society.  Topic for the evening given by the Chairman was "Changing Times".  So we have two hours then to complete a painting with this theme in mind.  I went for a scene (yes Venice maybe!) of someone up a ladder changing the time on a large street clock and some onlookers seeing what's going on.  Quite a loose painting with plenty of Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna and Alizarin Crimson used.

Painted on Saunders Waterford, NOT paper, 300gms.