Out And About in Venice

I'm still trying to find new places to sketch, but since I've been here four times it is getting harder. We had cool temps and cloudy skies this morning, so armed with my sweater and umbrella I headed out. I did find this spot. 

I headed back to the apartment for lunch and was surprised to find Jerry there. He had gone to work with the musicians this morning. He turned his ankle yesterday and since it was swollen he wanted to keep off it and came back early. So I had company for lunch.

After lunch it looked nicer so I left the umbrella behind and went wandering. This is the view I found. I had bought some basic gouache paints before I came here and that is what I used for this painting. I'll have to experiment more with the gouache.

By this time I needed a break from all my walking so I stopped at for a drink at a table in San Barbera Square. I sketched some of the people in front of me. We were just opposite the Leonardo da Vinci exhibit.

Today was the first day since I've been here that I saw other artists painting. (Except for this obnoxious, egotistical man I ran into at least three times who thinks he us a "master painter" and that he is the best.) Anyway there were four different artist working in sketchbooks. I didn't speak to any of them, but I wonder if they were part of a group.

Venice Assortment

Today started out mostly overcast and went dowm from there. I had started another sketch of the rooftops from our apartment yesterday using the Elegant Writer to get some shading. This morning I added color.

I went exploring beyond Santa Maria Formosa but kept ending up in the same area as I started in. Nothing seemed to be calling to me...maybe because there were no great shadows. I didn't give up. I ended ip sitting on a bridge to do this. I was sort of in the way for people delivering things but I tucked myself into as small a space as possible.

I went back to the apartment for lunch and just around the time I was ready to leave I heard thunder. I grabbed my rain jacket and umbrella just in case. It started raining. I swore on the days that weren't nice I would actually go see one of the sites. I was right near Galleries Dell' Accademia so I went in. First I sat in the lobby and sketched the crowd of people who also came in out of the rain. That was my favorite part of the museum.

Then I headed upstairs. Painting from the 1400s to the 1500s are just not my thing...too religious for the most part. Here's my proof that I was there. Lol

It looked like it was clearing up a bit so I went to one of the squares. There was a woman playing the cello and she was quite good. I had seen her traveling on the vaporetto the other day with all her equipment. She loved that I sketched her. I sat and listened to her for quite a while.

It was a nice day after all.

A Viisit to Murano

This morning started off overcast and it must have rained or drizzled early this morning. Considering the weather I decided to take a trip to Murano, the island known for their glass. At one time the glass factories were in Venice proper but then they decided there was too much of a chance of fires and they moved them all to Murano. The trip takes about 10 minutes by boat once you walk to the other side of the island. I thought there were factories that gave public glass blowing demos to the tourists in order to get you interested in the glass...but maybe you had to be part of a tour. On the way from the boat to the shops there was one open doorway where you could see the glassblowers, but they weren't too close. I had to be satisfied sketching there standing up.

My zoom lens came in handy.

After the sketch I needed to relax and sit for a while so I found a spot to have a cappuccino. I found my Liz Steel mojo and sketched it too.

I probably went into about 90% of the shops in Murano...and there are a lot. I bought a few small things and then stopped for a delicious lunch of prosecco and fried calamari. Then it was off to shop a little more and then find a spot for a final sketch in Murano.

It was a very full day.

Street View & Regata Storica

Today in Venice the were having a special Regata called the Regata Storica. Apparently it

Is a culminating celebration of the annual rowing races and has been held since the 13th century. I knew it was being held along the Grand Canal, but since that is the major waterway here in Venice I wasn' sure how I would be able to get around since I assumed the vaporetto would eventually stop running. It was supposed to start around 4 but I wasn't sure if the bridges would be affected. So I stayed local to paint this morning. I saw this view along one of the streets and there was shade so...perfect. 

After lunch I headed out to find a shady spot to sit and watch the regatta with the rest of the Venetians and the tourists. I had one advantage over most of them...I had my stool to sit on. As long as I can find a wall to lean against it isn't too uncomfortable. I went down by La Salute, the church I sketched a few days ago, figuring there would be some shade but there were a lot of people...models! There were a lot of boats with their crews waiting for the parade of boats to start so I did some sketching of the boats and the people watching.

Here is a photo of one of the boats in the parade. I only saw one race...the whole thing was too slow for me, so I came home for happy hour.

View from the Square

I usually try to find a new spot to sketch when I go out. Today I got off at the Sam Miracuola vaporetto stop. I liked the combination of buildings and their roofs in this spot.

Tonight we went to Taverna San Trovaso for dinner...yum! Grilled calamari and pasta with scallops.

La Tavola (WIP)

I went up near the Rialto Bridge this morning. I wanted to do a view that included part of the bridge and the vendor's stalls, but there wasn't any spot that was out of the incredible traffic and still gave me a view. So I looked for another vspot and found this table with this couple. It still needs some work and I hope to finish it soon.

I keep mentioning the vaporettos. Here is a photo of them by the Rialto Bridge. Notice the traffic on the bridge.

Tonight after dinner I rode the #1 Vaporetto which is the slow route down the canal. That way people might be on board longer. There was a little girl seated behind me who kept looking over my shoulder as I sketched. Finally she just came and sat next to me to watch. When she got up to leave with her mother she turned around and waved goodbye.

By the Gondola

Almost every canal has gondola rides on them, but I think the rides starting on the Grand Canal are the most popular. On our first trip to Venice we took a gondola ride. We wanted to do the smaller canals rather than the Grand Canal that has so many other boats in addition to the gondolas. Even those rides go along some of the smaller canals too.

I did some ink sketches of people that were in the square where I was sketching this morning and then on the vaporetto.

Here's a photo of a fruit and veggie stand I passed this morning. They had a sign saying, "Do not touch the fruit...don't even think about it." That's something I still haven't gotten used to. You let the vendor select your items. You can pick your own at the supermarket, but it is highly frowned on at the stalls.