A Bridge Across

 I wandered and found a spot I hadn’t been to before. A bridge, a walled garden, a staircase, a flag and a canal all converged in one spot. While I was sketching a woman came along and asked if it would be ok if she sat and sketched there too. It was one of her favorite spots. She was originally from southern CA but has been living in Italy for a few years…first in Rome where she got her masters in something to do with the Italian Renaissance. Now she is living in Venice and loves it. We talked for quite a while. Sketching can be more fun with someone to share it with.

Domino Park

The NYC Urban Sketchers met at Domino Park recently. Domino Park is located in Williamsburg along the East River.  It was built on the site of the former Domino Sugar Refinery. There is a great view of several of the bridges from there.

These tank were used for storing the sugar syrup produced as the sugar was refined. I sketched this area where several of my fellow sketchers were working.

Venice 2024 - Part 2 - Bridge to Cross, Gondolas, Cafe in Campo San Polo, Trattoria Dona Onesta

Sketching in Venice is always fun. There is a new view every time you turn around...like this one. 

The afternoon I painted this was iffy...it had been sprinkling earlier so I wanted to be in a covered area. I found a spot just at the edge of the Rialto Fish Market. It was empty because the fish market closes by 1:00. I was under the structure so all I had to worry about was putting my materials and backpack on the wet ground. There was this wonderful view of these gondolas that actually were near the stop for the traghetti, the gondolas that go straight from one side of the Grand Canal to the other side for a quick way to get across.

This cafe is located in Campo San Polo where our apartment was located. It is a good place to have capuccino in the morning, but these ladies were there for lunch and were having something a bit stronger than coffee. When they were leaving I showed them the sketch and thanked them for being such good models. They loved the sketch and asked if they could take a photo of it.

Sometimes when I'm walking around I pass something so colorful that I have to stop, like this trattoria with all the signs hanging on the wall. My Daniel Smith transparent pyrrol orange paint came in very handy on this trip.

Hampton Bays Bridges

 I like wandering all over Long Island and one of my favorite places to visit is the Hamptons. I rented summer houses with friends in Hampton Bays many years ago. I still have a fondness for that town. These bridges can be seen along the Shinnecock Canal in Hampton Bays.