Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Venice in Pastel


After all the art documentaries I have been watching, some of which included beautiful paintings done in Venice, I was inspired.

I got out my little, purple velvet, photo album that I put together after my first trip to Italy in December of 1996. My parents were living in Pakistan in '96 and instead of spending two days on either side of the trip in transit, they decided my sister and I should meet them for Christmas in Italy. (wahoo!)

It was a strange time for me, having just gone through a very difficult break-up, but Italy was amazing (of course) and very healing. My crying stopped and I fell in love again, but this time it was with Italy. We spent our time in Florence and Venice with a lovely day trip to Siena. I remember thinking on that very first trip, I could live here! I had done a lot of traveling and loved many places but that was the first time I'd thought that. The connection was there from the beginning.

Here is the pastel (below), with a watercolor underpainting, that I did over the weekend. Although, I didn't end up covering up much of the watercolor! Sometimes you have to let go of your plan and just let things happen the way that they are meant to. A good life lesson ...


For things to reveal themselves to us,
we need to be ready to abandon our views about them.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Venice, Italy
Pastel and watercolor June 2011


Here are some photos from my old Minolta that I pulled out of my little velvet album and scanned this morning. It was freezing when we were in Venice, by the way. Part of the canal froze, fountains froze ... My mom said she had never been so cold. (And we'd lived in Alaska when I was little.) Nothing like a Siberian cold front to make things interesting.

Much to my family's dismay, I was determined to take a gondola ride, so the gondolier (who I am sure thought we were nuts) piled us up with blankets and off we went.

Venice Italy December 1996
35mm film camera









We have more possibilites available in each moment than we realize.

~Thich Nhat Hanh


Hope you are all having a beautiful week!!!


26 comments:

Marty said...

beautiful Venezia and wonderful paintings ! love this post !
have a nice day

PoetessWug said...

A beautiful water-color and beautiful photos...very warm. :-))

none said...

I love the soft colors you used in the painting...so calming.
I've just finished a book by Thich Nhat Hanh and enjoyed these quotes.
:)

Tammie Lee said...

such lovely and dreamy photos, memories of your wonderful time there. Your painting is dreamy wonderful too~

Kerry O'Gorman said...

That first photo...is...breathless!

A Brush with Color said...

The pastel/watercolor is beautiful! and your photos of Venice are ethereal--love them!

Joyce said...

The pastel and photos are beautiful!

Cobalt Violet said...

Thanks ladies for the comments and your encouragement! :)

shayndel said...

These are gorgeous--the photos, the pastel, the post.
They all have a special Cobalt Violet tint to them:)

shayndel said...

PS the quotes and the font color too:)

Merisi said...

Such beautiful painting and those old velvety analog film pictures are out of this world, I love them!

A wonderful weekend to you,
Merisi

graziano tessarolo said...

I live close to Venice and I studied in Venice and in any different season I found it wonderful... When I travel through Italy I always say I could live here, forgotting that I am living here. To see the wonder we must let us go and see with clean eyes.
"Ciao da Venezia".
Graziano

;) said...

My week-end begins "in" your beautiful photos and your delicate quotes ;) Thanks.

KathyA said...

The photos are wonderful, but your painting is spectacular! The colors and depth!!!

I'll get a chance to see Venice next year. I can't wait.

I'm glad Italy was healing for you after your breakup.

Leovi said...

Lovely watercolor painting and pastel. The photos are beautiful. I have also pictures of Venice from a gondola with a beautiful sunset on the Grand Canal. Also with 35 mm film. Your photos are great.

Candy said...

Your watercolor/pastel is lovely. I love the photos and the quotes, too. Have a wonderful weekend!

Don said...

I like all of these moments, full of possibilities.

erin's art and gardens said...

hi lucinda,

i love seeing and hearing about your travels. such wonderful perspective in your photos and your pastel work is just lovely and inspiring!

erin
xxoo

Tito said...

Your Venice's pictures are simply fantastic....and the painting even more!! Bravissima Violet!

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

Simply beautiful images of venice on your old minolta!! And what a gorgeous painting you' whipped' up!

You'se got talent, girl!

JANE MINTER said...

lasting impressions and wonderful memories ... love the pastel painting lucinda .. the photos are so very beautiful .

Joop Zand said...

Wow....this is very nice,
my compliments.... i love italy.

greetings, Joop

Unknown said...

The painting is just beautiful and I'm glad you scanned these photos as they are some terrific compositions!

jane said...

damn!

isabella kramer - veredit said...

so touching!! Love your work, very poetic .. both ... painting and fotos!

have a nice day !!!


hugs from isabella

Davide Marrollo - Segnifotografici said...

Wonderful shots about Venice... I just love them!!! :D ... I like your blog, and I'll follow you!!! ;)