Working from Sketches

When travelling, I make sketches and notes and some may remember I posted some pages from my watercolour sketch book on my return from Venice. One of the sketches was of this interesting church in Cannaregio.

I decided it was about time I tried to work something up from that sketch. The result is here. I did try to retain some of the freshness of the sketch but pay a little more regard to the value relationships. I'm not sure I've got those quite right as some of the shadows aren't strong enough. However, it still has some feeling of light so I can't complain too much.

Madonna dell Orto - Watercolour on Not paper 12" x 9"

Venice - Part2

Some further pages from my Venice sketchbook. As I said in my previous post the weather in Venice during my stay was changeable in that it varied between rain and fine sunshine so panting opportunities had to be taken when they came up. This was one reason why I abandoned the oils early in the week. Using them meant carrying a much bigger load of equipment whilst the watercolour sketchbook is light as is the accompanying paint box. Using them meant I could move about rapidly and get down some images and notes that I can use for painting now that I'm home. Before leaving the subject of oil paint, I made the mistake of taking Underpainting White as a quick drying alternative to my more usual whites. The mistake was not trying it out prior to leaving. I found it very difficult to work and whilst it did dry quickly it didn't provide the sort of result that I like. Try before risking spoiling a week with unfamiliar materials will be my watchwords in future.

On the Salute steps - Watercolour on Not paper

Pescaria - Watercolour on Not paper

Fondamento Barbariga - Watercolour on Not paper

San Marco - Watercolour on Not paper

Madonna dell Orto - Watercolour on Not paper

I could write a lot more about my trip but I'm running out of time before a trip to Ireland for a music festival so I'll have to save my further thoughts till I return.