Merry Christmas

This is my Christmas card for this year. The title is "Santa's Gondola." After a summer in Venice I had to do a card with Venice as a theme. I'm not sure if I will get on the computer again before Christmas, so I just want to wish everyone and their families a safe, happy, healthy Christmas. I hope you find yourself surrounded by family and loved ones who make the holiday special. Merry Christmas!

Expresso & Canal Reflections

These are the last of my paintings from Venice. The top one, "Expresso" is another painting I did one evening in our apartment. Some nights I was too tired to go out and walk around, so I set up a still life. These items are so typical Italy. I don't drink expresso, but I do love the pots and that colorful expresso can couldn't be resisted. I'm still trying to decide if I should do a background or a cloth underneath the objects. My husband keeps telling me to leave it as is...I'm not so sure.

The bottom one is the only larger painting from outdoors that I did while I was away...and it is only 6 x 8.

So for now I have to say, "Ciao Venezia!"

Archway Near Realto Market

This painting is the same size as the one below (3 x 5). I wanted to show the height of the arch and the building in Venice.

By the Canals

The first painting, "Corner by the Bridge" is 4 x 6 and is in a spot where I probably did 3 or 4 paintings. It had a lot of atmsophere and crumbling going on.

The second painting, "Fondamentene l'Osmarin" was painted in the same area as the last posting. There was a nice walkway along the canal with many spots to sit and paint.

Venice Treats

Both of these paintings were done on the same morning. I was in an area I hadn't painted in before when I saw all the gondolas lined up waiting. "Morning Lineup" was finished just as the gondoliers started arriving to get their boats ready for the day.

The second painting, "Over the Wall" was started on a cloudy morning, but then it started to rain. I tried standing in a doorway with my umbrella being held in place with my head, but that didn't work for long. I ended up waiting out the rain and finishing the painting when the rain stopped.

San Giorgio Maggiore Sunrise & Buildings by the Park

The first painting was done near the Gardini vaporetto stop along the Grand Canal. These buildings overlooked a small park.

The second painting was done from San Marco Square looking towards San Giorgio Maggiore. I started it when it was still fairly dark and worked on it as the sun rose. I was also taking photos of the sunrise, so I would paint a little, and then take a few photos, paint a little, etc.

Venetian Buildings

The first painting is titled "Along the San Trovaso." This is one of the few grassy areas in the center of Venice. The second painting is "Pellestrina View." Pellestrina is an area outside of the center of Venice. I had to take a vaporetto to Lido, a bus to the end of Lido, and then a ferry across to Pellestrina. It had lovely clear water at the beach but I didn't find much open. Apparently the center of the town was a stop or two before I got off. This was the view from where I was sitting on the beach.

Bridges and Arches

Here are two more of my Venice paintings. I really like the arch in the building on the bottom with the laundry hanging in the middle. I saw that scene many times while passing by on the vaporetto, and finally I decided to stop and paint it. These are 4 x 6.

More Scenes of Venice

This top 4 x 6 painting was done along the Ria della Salute is located. It was just around the corner from La Salute Church. The bottom painting was of Fondamente e Ponte del Albero. Venice has such charming architecture.

Canalside Lovelies

The views along the canals in Venice are all so different. The first painting, "Rio Tera' San Toma" shows one of the rooftop gardens that I saw so often. This is 4 x 6.
If the lighting is right you can sometimes get almost a perfect reflection of the bridges like in the second painting, "Fondamente Contarini." A fondamente
is basically a walkway along the canal. Some of them have them but many of them do not.

Enjoying Lido

In addition to painting, I did find a beach on the island of Lido (where the Venice Film Festival is held). Lido is a barrier island for the Venetian Lagoon. The first two painting are of the vendors who on the beach. One was selling kites and the other was selling drinks and snacks. The last painting is of a stand near the public beach. I had to paint those firey colors. The beach on Lido wasn't very scenic. I am used to dunes as you well know, but the Adriatic Sea is so warm! I spent a lot of time in the water.

Out and About in Venezia

I have only a few more days here in Venezia. Here are a few more of the local area.