Watercolor Artist - USA (2019-02)

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Venice

To some, Venice may simply be a lovely little town in northern Italy, but, in
truth, it’s a city and the capital of the Vento region of Italy. It’s comprised of
six districts or sestieri that sit on 118 small islands separated by a labyrinth of
winding, picturesque and often very narrow canals. h ese canals are linked by
some 400 bridges, each one unique, which is why Venice has earned the name
“h e City of Bridges.”
I’ve been to Venice during the months of May, September and October. It’s
magical—unlike anywhere else on earth. h e textures of Venice, in every mean-
ing of the word, are stunning. h e beautiful and elegant palazzos, grand piazzas,
maze of narrow alleys and crumbling buildings make for a beauty that’s both
enchanting and poignant.
h e light in Venice reads as ethereal. It’s soft, delicate and full of atmosphere,
with an average humidity at a substantial 76 percent. Water twists the light,
bouncing it from surface to surface, and the buildings are mirrored everywhere
in the rel ections.

LEFT

A Back Canal (watercolor

on paper, 11x14½ ) depicts a

waterway in the San Polo sestiere

and shows a contrast of light,

color, texture and atmosphere.

There’s a stillness and quietness

to the painting. The motionless

water acts like a mirror,

emphasizing the abstract quality.

OPPOSITE

Rio dei Mendicanti (watercolor

on paper, 144⁄x11) features a

limited palette of complementary

colors and a strong sense of

aerial, atmospheric perspective

due to the moist air. The colors

lack saturation; the blues are

toned or grayed down with raw

umber, and the background is

painted with a pale tint of the

colors used in the foreground.

I’ve been to

Venice during the

months of May,

September and

October. It’s

magical—unlike

anywhere else

on earth.