by Clare Bowen | Feb 16, 2019 | Grand Canal, Impressionist, Italy, Sky, Sunrise, The Grand Canal, Venice
One for my exhibition, an idea taken from a small 8×10 plein air did in Venice September last year. I loved the building on the right with the light shining on it. I took a risk with the wooden poles, quite dominant structures but it gives depth and a sense of...
by Clare Bowen | Jan 31, 2019 | Architecture, Dawn, Italy, Maria Della Salute, Pink, Purple, Sunrise, The Grand Canal, Venice
A studio painting developed from a plein air piece. I painted this subject over 15 times, so I know it well and felt comfortable painting it bigger. One for my solo show in May in London!Plein air studySketch book drawing on location (later in the day with more...
by Clare Bowen | Dec 14, 2018 | Buildings, Cafe, Cityscape, Italy, Venice, Yellow
This week I have been looking after the family Shih Tzu dog, while my Mum is away. He is 12 and has lost his hearing from old age, plus he has gone blind from bad breeding, poor sausage, so it makes painting a little tricky! But I did manage this one in the studio...
by Clare Bowen | Nov 26, 2018 | Campo Barnaba, Canal, Gondolas, Italy, Sunset, Venice
A studio painting of a small plein air study from my recent Venice trip.This is the plein air painting and the starting point for the bigger painting above…1.Drawing made on location, helps to really see the subject.2. Studio shot to give an idea of scale and...
by Clare Bowen | Oct 9, 2018 | Academia Bridge, Artist Life, exhibition, Italy, Maria Della Salute, St Marks Square, Studio, The Grand Canal, Venice
Home from Venice and my studio line up, I can’t fit them all in! I do feel pleased and proud with what I achieved in a month. I felt sad leaving such a wonderful & inspiring place. I am already planning a trip to go back next year! I enjoyed...
by Clare Bowen | Oct 8, 2018 | Italy, San Giorgio Maggiore, Seascape, Sunrise, The Grand Canal, Venice
The morning we left Venice I got up at 5am and did one more paint, and it was this.A fleeting sunrise where the sun just peeped until it went behind the cloud. I used a slightly bigger board in portrait format to capture the light and movement on the water. My...
by Clare Bowen | Oct 8, 2018 | Accademia Bridge, Boats, Italy, Maria Della Salute, Sunrise, The Grand Canal, Venice
I experimented with putting the glow around the building next to the sun to give a sense of strong sunlight. There’s not much water activity early on but I managed to paint the Vaporetto water bus as it was moving across the Grand Canal! By around 8-9am its...
by Clare Bowen | Oct 6, 2018 | Accademia Bridge, Italy, Maria Della Salute, The Grand Canal, Venice
Braved the afternoon crowds on the Academia Bridge, it can be so hectic on there, I had been put off doing it the whole trip, also the risk of being moved on by the police, they have been known to move artists on from prominent tourists spots.Anyway I love the...
by Clare Bowen | Oct 6, 2018 | Accademia Bridge, Bridge, Grand Canal, Italy, Maria Della Salute, Nocturne, Reflection, Venice
An impulse paint! As I hadn’t planned to do a nocturne, I usually arrive early get myself set up and draw in and wait until the light hits the sky and water and then scrabble to get it down! This time I really noticed the lights on the water and intense orange...
by Clare Bowen | Oct 4, 2018 | Gondolas, Grand Canal, Italy, Maria Della Salute, The Grand Canal, Venice, Yellow
We went back to this spot to do it again! With a wider format board and looked at the aerial perspective, there is a lot of sky colour put in the distant buildings. The colours of the sparkle are tricky to see, but they start warmer yellow/warm colour and go to...
by Clare Bowen | Oct 4, 2018 | Bridge, Buildings, Canal, Italy, Reflection, Venice
It’s hard to believe this lovely old white building was used as a hospital, such grandeur in Venice! I focused on getting the colours vibrant as they were sunlit and the strong shadows on the building and the water.
by Clare Bowen | Oct 2, 2018 | Contra Jour, Gondolas, Italy, Maria Della Salute, Sunset, The Grand Canal, Venice
A great spot at the end of a jetty close to the Maria Della Salute for a wonderful sky line and also near the gondola action! The sparkle was a so bright on the eyes!
by Clare Bowen | Oct 2, 2018 | Canal, Contra Jour, Impressionist, Italy, Venice, Yellow
I’ve not painted this before, canals are always a challenge this one was in contra jour which helped to simplify the tonal shapes. With morning light so the sky is a warm yellow, the sparkle moved across the canal and was gone within the hour. The boat in the...
by Clare Bowen | Sep 28, 2018 | Buildings, Italy, Maria Della Salute, Sunrise, Venice
8am – Strong tonal contrast with the sun peeping over the building. Warm sky and cool water colours.Blocking in and simplifying the tonal shapes with a yellow glowing sky.beginning stages with water sparkleSee next post for 9am….
by Clare Bowen | Sep 25, 2018 | Accademia Bridge, Italy, Maria Della Salute, The Grand Canal, Venice
My favourite spot from the Academia Bridge! I don’t get tired of this view. The sun coming up and just peeping over the buildings creating a lovely warm glow, contrasted with the cooler water.
