The Tourists Walk Downhill in Asissi

14" x 11" watercolor study

Study for Venetian Mask Maker

10" x 12" Watercolor

So many complex bits to this image, it quite got away from me.  IF i decide to do a "real" painting from this, I'll have to figure out how to simplify and yet still give the impression of the cluttered chaos of this little Venetian shop.

Cafe Navona on 2nd go-around

Just walking through, picking out negative shapes, trying not to work too hard at it. I am always surprised at the colors things end up; I certainly did not intend to use quite so much purple or for this to be a cool painting. But since this is a warm-up practice piece, I can't be worrying about all that. My goal is to aim for a fuss-free application, put it down an leave it alone and move on.

Starting to Paint again........

I tried to simplify this drawing, but there are still too many little fiddly shapes and a lot of "itemization" going on. I've tried painting this image many times (because I really like it) but not very successfully (those who know me know how I feel about layers and glazing). So, I decided that this would serve as a warm up exercise to get back into painting after my long sojourn as a mosaicist. No worries, no pressure and no expectations. I'm just going to work my way through, doing whatever, and see what happens. So far so good.

This is a waiter at an outdoor cafe in Piazza Navona, where Bernini's Four Rivers Fountains is located, and where there is a street fair of sorts just about every evening.