Venice Scenes

The top and bottom paintings are of areas in Venice proper. The second one is of colorful Burano. Days are passing quickly and my brush is still wet. lol Ciao!

Lido Beach Scenes

Of course I have to get to the beach here. Both of these were done on the barrier island of Lido which faces the Adriatic Sea. The top one is of the vendor cart on the beach selling all kinds of drinks and treats. The bottom one is just outside the beach entrance and is a stall where you can get a snack or sandwich. Ciao

Venice Scenes

The top painting is somewhere along the many streets in Venice. I can never identify them. lol The bottom was painted on the island of Burano were all the lace is made. I love the vibrant colors there. Ciao!

Bridges and Realto Market

I definitely love the old buildings and bridges here. The first painting is of the Realto Market. I didn't get to paint the fish vendors yet. lol

Gondola & Murano Restaurant

Here are two of the paintings I've done here in Venice. The top one is of a typical scene along the canals, and the second one is of a restaurant on the island of Murano, where the Murano glass comes from.

Castiglion Fiorentino

Here is a current painting that is a change of pace from Venice. I spent the last few days visiting with Robyn Sinclair and her husband, Graham in the town of Castiglion Fiorentino where they live in Tuscany. Robyn and I have been internet friends for a few years, but never met in person before. She and her husband are two of the most gracious people and I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them.

On Tuesday Robyn and I painted in her lovely town. This is a view down one of the very steep streets looking out into the valley. In addition to painting with me, Robyn took me to the print studio that she has access to and showed me how to make prints...mine is still drying there, so you will have to see it after she sends it to me.

For those of you who do not know Robyn, and would like to see some of her work her blog is http:www.havedogswilltravel.blogspot.com There is also a direct link to her in the side links on my blog under Robyn Sinclair.

Venice Balconies

I painted this sitting under an overhang by a church doorway while it was drizzling. I love the balconies here and all the flowers...very inspiring. Ciao!

Early morning San Marco

Lots of detail, but I tried it anyway. I sat in the square before the crowds arrived this morning.

I can still only upload vertical paintings, since I am not able to rotate the photos I have taken (or crop them) without using another program and time on the computer is limited. The first painting is of San Marco from across the lagoon sitting on the steps of San Giorgio Maggiore. The painting on the right is of a tiny restaurant right by the Rialto fish market. There are so many wonderful views. Ciao!

New Style

I went out to paint here in Venice the other day. I set up my stool, took out my paints, and realized I did not have a paintbrush or a waterbrush. I did not even have my ink pen. All I had was a ballpoint pen and pencil. I sketched with the ballpoint pen and then used a twig to add the color to the building. It gave it a textured effect, dont you think? I also used my fingers to add bigger areas of color and then painted the sky when I got back to the apartment. I guess that just shows that you can use anything to paint. lol

Burano & Venice

It has taken me a while to get to upload these. I have more to post, but found out that if I take the photos in landscape form, I can not turn them around so you can see them. I also can not adjust the color so the way the photos come out is the way they will be. lol

The painting on the left is Burano, where they make lace. I love the colorful buildings there. I felt like I was walking through sherbert colors. The painting on the right is Venice (as if you did not know).

I will try to post more in a few days. Now I will quickly visit a few blogs. Ciao!

Smith Point to the Mainland

This was done in plein air at Smith Point Park looking toward the mainland. It is 3 1/2 x 4.

This will be my last post from home for a while. I am leaving for Venice tomorrow. Hopefully now that I have a memory card reader I will be able to upload to my blog while I'm gone...as long as I can read the Italian phrases on the computer at the internet cafe. It may take me a few days to post my first painting, but please check back and see if I've been successful. Ciao!

Squassux Landing Marina

This was done in plein air on Saturday at a local marina. It is 3 1/2 x 4.

Lighthouse Beyond the Dunes

This was painted at Robert Moses State Park. I sat on a bench on the boardwalk and painted the Fire Island Lighthouse in the distance. This is 3 1/2 x 4

Smith Point Bridge

I've done many paintings of Smith Point, but never painted the little bridge before. Most parts of Fire Island are visited by ferry because cars are not allowed in the towns. But the eastern and western ends of the island have bridges to public beaches. This is the smaller bridge on the very eastern end. The painting is 3 1/2 x 4.

Brookhaven Gazebo

This was painted last Wednesday when I met with the Patchogue Sketch Club. The gazebo is in a small park in Brookhaven. It also has a pond that I plan to go back and paint. This is 3 1/2 x 4.

Lightkeeper's House

I went to see the wonderful art exhibit at the Robert Moses Lighthouse the other day, and brought along my art materials. Rather than paint the lighthouse which I've done so many times, I sat close to the buildings and did the lightkeeper's house instead. This section is attached to the light tower. This is 3 1/2 x 4.

Beach Boardwalk

This was painted the same day as the foggy one below, but after the fog lifted. I had done most of the painting when the lady and little boy came along. I just had to put them into the painting. This is 3 1/2 x 4 in my journal.

Fog Over the Dunes

When I headed out to Smith Point Beach on Sunday it was so foggy you couldn't see the island from the foot of the bridge. I decided to give fog painting a try. This is in my journal and is 3 1/2 x 4.

Baby & Brother

This was done for the WDE on WetCanvas this past weekend. I just couldn't resist these two. This is about 4 x 5.

Forest View

I went upstate to visit with a few friends and had a bit of time before I was due to meet them. I stopped at a park to paint this view. It was at Downing Park in Yorktown Heights. This is in my journal, so it is about 3 1/2 x 4.

Beach with Umbrellas

This was also done in my journal, so it is about 3 1/2 x 4. I painted this at Robert Moses State Park. I usually focus on the lighthouse there, but climbed up on this bird viewing platform and was able to see the beach itself, and I loved peeking at the umbrellas.

View Across the Bay

This was done in my NY Plein Air Journal that I started. It is about 3 1/3 x 4. This is the view from Smith Point Park across the bay to the mainland.

French Town

This is 7 x 10 and done in watercolor and ink for the WDE. The reference was from Robert's wonderful photos, so I thank him!!!

Young Boy

This was done for the WDE on WetCanvas from a reference by "skappy." Robert had this poor boy and his friends with their heads inside a hippo's mouth...a hippo statue of course. I cropped it a bit. This is 4 x 4.

Corey Beach

I went out plein air painting with the Patchogue Sketch Club on Wednesday evening. The group meets at 6:30 and sketches/paints until the light starts fading. I liked the way the foliage framed the lifeguard chair.

Moored Sailboat

I met with a plein air group on Tuesday at the Firehouse Boat Basin in Brookhaven Hamlet. I enjoyed the views as well as meeting the other artists. This is 7 x 10.

Fence in the Dunes

This is another view I painted at Smith Point Park the other day. I sat on one of the landings of the visitors' center so I could see the water over the dunes. This is 5 x 7 done with watercolors and ink.

Smith Point Dunes

This was done in plein air at Smith Point Park looking east toward the visitors' center. It is about 3 x 4 done in watercolors and ink.

Standing Man

This was done for the WDE on WetCanvas. I cropped the reference a lot to focus on this man. I did him without any pencil drawing first. That takes a lot of concentration on my part. lol

Key West Pink Shutters

I am still working on my ATCs (2 1/2 x 3 1/2) for the Windows Exchange on WetCanvas. This was done from one of the many photos I've taken in Key West, and sent to my friend Bonnie in Canada who is very happy with it.

Path to the Water

I went back to Smith Point Park the other day and did a larger version of this path. You can see the first one below titled "Flowers Along the Fence." This one is 7 x 10.

More Views of Montauk

While I was visiting Montauk I also did two small pieces in my journal. These are about 3 x 5 done in watercolors and ink. I found that you could access the beach at two different spots and see the lighthouse from the east or the west. This view of the lighthouse is looking west.

Montauk Point Lighthouse

Yesterday I decided to take a drive out to Montauk Point before the busy summer season starts when you don't want to be on the busy roads out there. I haven't been out there in a few years, so it was a nice day. This is the largest of the paintings I did yesterday (7 x 10).

Croissant & Coffee

This is the third reference I did for the WDE from Kat's photos in Paris. Doesn't the croissant look yummy?

Paris Musician

This was also done from one of Kat's references for the WDE. I loved being seranaded on the trains in Paris, so I had to do this one. This is about 3 x 4.

Pond with Wisteria

"Scattykat" is hosting this week's WDE on WetCanvas with references from her trip to Paris. Of course I plan on doing more than one, but I had to start with this one from Monet's Garden. When I was there in September, the wisteria wasn't in bloom. This is 4 x 6 done in watercolors and ink. Kat, thanks for the great photos.

Lifeguard & Seated Seniors

These were also done for the WDE last weekend from Desiree's photos. Both are 4 x 6.

Two Cuties

These two adorable girls were done for the WDE on WetCanvas from reference photos by Desiree. I just had to do both of them. Each one is about 4 x 4.