Inspire Me Thursday #2 - watercolors

It's been a busy week of getting ready for Kindergarten which will start in just a few days, taking in of what's remaining of the summer, taking the kids to the pool, scheduling our last summer playdates.....when I stumbled upon this watercolor of Villa Giustinian and felt the longing to go back and just draw and paint all day.

So I'm taking advantage of another week of watercolors at Inspire Me Thursday to share this one. I have yet to pick up my old set of watercolors to paint something new. Perhaps I can paint what remains of summer and long for those days when snow is falling softly out my window.

More Watercolors from Venice Travel Journal

I love the immediacy of watercolors and how all you need is a little bit of water in a 35mm film container, some paint, a versatile brush, and a little room to sit on - the curb or a corner. It's not a huge set up at all which is what I love about it.

I found some scans of more watercolor sketches from my trip to Venice.

Watercolor plan of Venice, Italy

Looking at the Arsenale

Looking at Giudecca from the Arsenale bridge

Studying light and color as the day passes across the Grand Canal. Pencil with watercolors.

Redentore from Salute. Pencil with watercolors

Salute from Giudecca. Pen and watercolors

Venice from Lido

Inspire Me Thursday - watercolors

I came across "Inspire Me Thursday" today and just had to post one of my watercolor sketches from Venice. Ok, I cheated a little by using something I had done 8 years ago (wow, has it been that long?)! Anyways, the little painting is of a typical little courtyard in Giudecca, Corte dei Cordami, where I wandered into after meandering through a maze of Giudecca's streets. It was a hot September afternoon, no one in sight except for the laundry line flapping in the wind.

The plan of the Corte dei Cordami is illustrated above, and the little watercolor sketch to the left was my attempt at capturing the tactile qualities of the surrounding walls of the streets. I wish to go back there again someday....