This months challenge was chosen by Mick www.thepaintingstruggle.blogspot.com/ and is a scene in Venice showing The Bridge of Sighs.
When Mick sent this photograph I was unable to save it and various e-mails went back and forth without a resolution, Finally I searched the web and came up with a free utility called Pixillion Image Converter. I downloaded and it worked first time! I was able to convert the photo file enabling me to save, crop, print etc.
Venice is one of the most painted cities in the World - actually many think over painted. I remember reading of a judge at an exhibition saying if any more Venice paintings appeared he would...!!! On my last visit - a cruise in the Venice lagoons - we explored beyond the normal tourist limits. I knew that the population has fallen dramatically in the last decade or more and this was evident in the empty buildings and semi-derelict shops as soon as you got beyond the centre and main tourist areas. A dying city?
The first two paintings attempts were unsatisfactory. Yesterday I had a final shot and first of all cropped the photograph.
The right hand (facing) side has been cropped. This is the view I decided upon. I completed the drawing trying not to be over fussy but getting everything in their right place.
Bridge of Sighs- Fabriano Artistico Extra White 18" x 10" Not
Modified by lightening the small rear bridge using a damp sponge.
I used quite a few colours in this painting. Blues were Cerulean, Cobalt (Rowney PB72) and Cyan (Maimeri Green shade PB15-3). The Cerulean mainly on the bridge, Heavily diluted Cobalt for the water and sky, with Cyan for the darker areas of the water. Also some Ultramarine for the darks in the boats. The walls were Raw Umber, Raw Sienna, Quinacridone Gold (Daniel Smith PO49) and Yellow Ochre (Graham) with Burnt Sienna , Ultramarine Violet Deep (Graham PV15) and Permanent Magenta (Rowney PV19). Some Viridian on the poles sticking out of the water and Burnt Umber and Indigo Daniel Smith) for the darks. I think that's it. Oh yes a touch of Permanent Carmine (W & N PR N/A) on the small boat.
Brushes by contrast were the Isabey Size 8 series 6228 and Da Vinci Maestro 10 Size 6, both Kolinsky sable plus a size 4 .
One thing I'm frustrated with. I photographed the original using two cameras, a Nikon DSLR with 55mm lens and a Canon Powershot, different settings and under different light. Despite producing over 20 photographs not one conveys the actual painting in a satisfactory way. It is better than the reproduction on here - by a margin - but unfortunately you'll have to take my word for it. I'll have to consult Mick the camera expert. Comments welcome.
