Monday 27 February 2012

February Project

Another shared project with Peter Ward (watercolourfanatic@blogspot.com).
This is a picture from a trip to Venice a couple of years ago. It's a view back to the Bridge of Sighs and the spot where most of the tourists gather to view it. Recommended it's less crowded.

I chose this as it presents a lot of different problems. perspective, recession and water just being three of the more obvious ones.
Bridge of Sighs - Photograph


Not an easy piece and as usual it bears a litany of deficiencies but it was another day at the brushes. On to the next challenge.

Bridge of Sighs - Watercolour on Rough paper 14" x 11"

12 comments:

RH Carpenter said...

Clever boy! I love the colors you've seen in these, instead of the dreary colors in the photo :) Playing the blues off the beige and pale rust colors works really well.

Ray Maclachlan Art said...

Lovely high key colours Mick. A suggestion of the third gondola would take you further back, but very nice as it is.

Unknown said...

Rhonda - Thanks. It was a choice between really pumping up the value range or trying to get interest in other ways. Colour selection was part of my thinking.

Unknown said...

Ray - Thanks. On this occasion I did think hard about colour and the pigments that I would use. if you inspect carefully on an enlarged image you will see that the third gondola is there, but I take your point, it is too indistinct to serve as a lead through.

Unknown said...

I really like your version too. Lovely colors and I especially like your people. They have so much character!

Peter Ward said...

Different to mine Mick. Is the contrast between the gondolas and the rest too great? The small lower bridge seems to have the same problem as my initial one - too prominent perhaps? I like the misty effect of the buildings and bridges.

Unknown said...

Tina - Thanks. The 'people' thing is something that I rarely incorporate but I've been trying to get some gestural sketches done recently and they are helping to build confidence in that area.

Unknown said...

Peter - Cheers. I think that as far as the gondolas are concerned what you observe may be true with regard to the second one but I think the strength of the first one puts it into the correct place in the picture. As to the bridge I think the value is about right but the chroma is making it come forward a little much. I should have greyed it a little to make it sit a little further back. It's accentuated by the misty effect that you refer to. Interesting though and as always they are quite different.

Daniel Corey said...

Nice work Mick! Anyone who draws a gondola deserves An award.. Yours are look good. They are a quite a set of lines and can only imagine how bad they are to do plein air. I bet they move more then lobster boats! Hope all is well friend.

Unknown said...

Dan - Thanks a lot. You are right about gondolas, they are a nightmare to draw and I haven't found a quick way yet. Practice, practice, practice is probably the only way. If you're not up early they are on the move all day and only tie up late at night. At least the lobster boats spend a bit of time at anchor. All is good at the moment and just thinking about my next trip, Venice is moving up the list of possibilities. More gondolas on the way.

Jane said...

Actually you did very well Mick, the prospective is excellent and so are the fresh colors you used!

Unknown said...

Jane - Thanks for your kind comment. Just enjoyed a visit to your blog and loved the range and style of your work.