venice challenge
September 6, 2015
We’ve reached the finish line, limping all the way. This was somewhat beyond my abilities as a painter. Whether a success or not, every endeavour provides a great learning experience. All the watercolourists looked up to for advice offer the same counsel: when it comes to watercolour as a medium, suggesting detail far surpasses actually getting bogged-down in it. The pitfalls begin when the painter keeps trying to improve on what’s there.
Despite the overworked areas, enough aspects work to allow this to maybe escape the scrap heap — but probably not. It would, however, be useful to begin it again and learn from the errors.
weisserwatercolours 
How in the world did you get those details and that lovely light!? This is extraordinary!! Scrap? NoNoNo.
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Forgive the delay in replying to your thoughtful and encouraging comment. I am going to visit you now to discover what’s happening (smile)
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lovely 🙂
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Beautiful end result , Lance. I hope you dont send this to the scrap heap. It breath the atmosphere of Venice.
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Beautiful..Lance
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Whether a success or not! It must be a success, surely? I was reading through the thread and nodding my head int agreement with the other commenters who said it was very successful and that you were your own worst critic.
But then I had to step reading because people began talking about how they’d been to Venice before and I was becoming too envious. 😦
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Victor, just your saying it looks and feels like Venice is very reassuring, and thank you very much for your words.
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This is fabulous Lance! I kept looking for what’s “wrong” and I came back with nada. 😉 It has a dreamy quality to it that I love. Great work!!
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Aww, thanks so much, Lance!
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we’re always, our worst critic. I Love all your soft washes throughout the painting! filled with mood/atmosphere and that really is the main thing. the design is very good, the depth is great, palette selection wonderful. 🙂
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Oh…. I wish I was offering a course. It would be Sanity 101.
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….how encouraging, Victor. It makes me very happy to know you feel this is true to your experience of that charmed city.
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….thank you David. I have never been to Venice–and, I have never heard the heartbeat of a squirrel! hahaha. Your post today is so apt. We have much around us we don’t see.
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….ah, Barry–thank you–and when next you’re in the interior of B. C. (not quite the same scenery as The Sunshine Coast), you can sign me up for any course you’re offering. I’d truly love that.
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….thank you Teresa, very very much. I have never been to Venice, so to read your words makes me have a big smile. I hope everyone goes to visit you and find more than ‘One Good Thing’.
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…thank you for going back to view the photo itself and then giving me your very welcome boost, Cynthia. Like you, I’ve never been. I never saw a moor, either (smile). Absorbing what’s around me seems more than I can handle. THANK YOU for your encouraging words.
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….and I love seeing your challenging life take us to new heights, Andrew, thank you for this.
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…kind words from the master of colour and mood–thank you Melanie for always being there.
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Interesting perspective and beautiful colors. Lovely!
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Love seeing the progression of your work.
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It’s a treat to be allowed to follow the progression from start to finish. I went back to look at the photo referent, and was reminded once again of my own bias to favor the mark of the human hand in the making an image. It doesn’t matter that I’ve never been to Venice…looking at this painting I can imagine its beauty, bridges over the canals, ordinary people, classic architecture, water and light…and I can daydream about being there.
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Like Victor, I’ve been to Venice, too, and this transported me back. I commend you on a beautifully rendered piece with great perspective and mood!
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Bravo, it’s a triumph and happy you have shared this experience.
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Wonderful.
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I’m very impressed. I understand you feel you were pushing your ability. But the result does look so good. I’ve been to Venice and immediately it stuck me as true. Well done.
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