Venice Rising, last week of August, 2009
Venice painting in progress, April 6
The innocence and honesty of children can be so refreshing at times. My 14 year old daughter came into the studio the other day and I asked her what she thought of the painting of Venice? Well, that was a loaded question!! Her comment to me was, where is the city? “I liked the painting when I could see Venice, Dad.” “Why do you always paint over the good parts of a painting”? Yep…kids, but she does have a point. She is not the first person to ask that question. I do it every day.
I am not trying to paint a picture that looks like Venice. That’s too easy, too predictable, too safe. What I strive to create is a painting that embraces what Venice is and what I felt when I walked those narrow streets that early summer morning.
The beauty…the richness… the starkness…the smells…the taste… the colours…
No matter how dark, cold and grey the city could feel at times, the colours, vibrancy and vitality of life always shone through. You could just feel it!!
You tell me? When you look at the 2 pictures here, which one feels more like that town Venizia?
Venice Rising, detail, August 2009
detail, almost actual size.
Venice Rising, August 2009