#401 'My Last Sunrise in Venice!' 10x12"

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 next Venice post I will do tomorrow and will show a summary of all my work :-)

#389 'Early Morning, San Marco Square' 11x14"

I convinced my family to come with to San Marco at 6am sunrise no people just pigeons. It has a magical quality at this time, they really enjoyed it. I wanted to paint a bigger more of a statement piece of this square. Not easy to get the drawing and perspective right. I was lucky to put the Giorgio Maggiore in from the start as within half an it had disappeared just white mist! Its a very tonal painting with a hint of warm colour.

#388 'Sunrise 3, San Giorgio Maggiore' 8x10"

The final sunrise painting in a series of 3. I was pleased the sun was near enough to paint a portrait format with the San Giorgio next to it. I am happy with the glow I managed to get from the light of the sun, not easy!

This week I have had my family staying with me in Venice. It's been a treat to show them the sites and also to accompany me on my painting outings.
Here is my Mum who experienced the sunrise with me :-)

#387 'Sunrise 1 & 2, San Giorgio Maggiore' 6x12" & 20x50cm

The first in a series of 3 paintings I did of sunrise one after the other.
This stage is when the light is low and the colours rich. A small quick sketch to capture the moment. Then I changed to a bigger board:

The sun just peeping over the horizon, with very light water and darker sky.
See next post for the final painting...

#382 'Mist St Marks Square' 20x50cm

An atmospheric morning, I wanted to capture a bigger area of it so tried this shape board.
Very quiet but a lot of brides having their photo taken this morning!!

#380 'Late Afternoon, The Grand Canal' x2

I painted the one below first as it was above the San Giorgio Maggiore and a huge sparkle 
on the water. 

and then as the sun went around it was above Maria Della Salute which is the main picture.
I had started this one the other way up see pic. But thought the composition would be stronger if I turned the board to portrait!

#379 'Sunrise, San Giorgio Maggiore' 20x50cm

I did this one straight after the previous painting. The sun just popping up over the horizon.
A longer format to get the sun and building in.
Soft misty light not so much colour as pre dawn.

#378 'Early Morning, San Giorgio Maggiore' 6x12"

Early morning rich colours strong silhouetted shape
Iridescent water
Before the sun came up.

#376 Time Lapse Video - 'Dawn, San Giorgio Maggiore' 8x10"

I faffed with the set up for the video getting it all my easel in and the subject behind it.

The painting took 40mins the video is 37 seconds...

I was there first at 6am and then there were  5 photographers, a meditation sitter, tourist with selfie stick and a flying drone all in a very small space!

I used a platte knife to apply the paint but it broke half through the sky, back to a brush but at least I got lots of paint on the board.

Once the sun is up above the horizon line you cant continue to paint its way too bright!

So pleased the time lapse video worked and on such a location!!

#374 'Morning Light, San Giorgio Maggiore' 8x10"

I took a risk and included the foreground wooden structure, I wasn't sure whether it would work until I had done it. 
Using a limited colour palette of warm and cools and limited tones too.

Bringing colour sin from the sky and the building into the water also allowing the brush marks to be visible.
I put in the sparkles on the sea quite quickly as they disappear out of view. Also how the light effects the buildings where it hits and if they are very silhouetted.
Making sure the closest structure was darkest in tone.

Remnant sparkles on the bottom right corner.