Painting On The Accademia Bridge: Venice 2023

 

In Johnny's words:

"It's a real privilege to be here. An artist's dream come true. To be in Venice yet again is beyond anything I could have imagined in my younger working 9-5 life.

"Just one more dream coming true. Every time we manage to get here again, it's a gift."

We are often asked why we keep visiting Venice. Honestly, it's become a place that is deep within our hearts. I think you either fall heavy for Venice, or not. 

We fell heavy on our first visit back in 2007. Venice is a place we'd love to spend 2 or 3 months in. We started by going every 2 years for the Biennale, but now we just can't come to Italy without spending some time in Venice.

Johnny really wanted to paint during this visit, so he brought his kit and set up a few times. He's been doing some small watercolors, as well as painting plein-air, which is what he's doing here...in one of the most lovely spots in Venice. He set up early in the day on the Accademia Bridge. It was a very beautiful morning...

Getting set up to paint.

It's a pretty spectacular scene...

There were people coming and going, but it wasn't really crowded, thankfully.

Painting with oils on panels we bought in Rome.

A view of the Grand Canal with all the water buses and taxis.

Sketching it in loosely.

There is a lot to haul around if you want to paint here.

This gives you an idea of the activity while Johnny was painting. Mostly, people ignored him. Some took photos, and one sweet young couple stayed and watched, asking questions and just enjoying the moment.

I hope it will be a nice memory for them to look back on.

Almost finished.

Signed and done.

We were lucky to have some really nice days, weather wise. A couple of grey days, but mostly sunny and just the right temperature for lots of walking and painting.

Thanks for another fabulous visit, Venice! See you in Autumn.

For information on purchasing paintings, please contact us by email:

johnnyapodaca@me.com

Painting/Torcello

  This trip to Venice is much more about seeing art than making art.

  Though both are equally important to the artist.

  The artist has to be a sponge, and absorb intuitively...everything around him.

  The Venice Biennale always has a treasure trove of inspiration. But so does hearing the bells in the Campo, or watching children play with their grandparents.

  All the unexpected moments that one sees, hears and feels. All these things are distilled in the studio back home. 

  Hopefully to add a layered interest...and some extra meaning.

  At the end of a long day of absorption, it is always a treat to sit and watch the late afternoon activity in the "campo", or main square. A good place to contemplate, and work on my journal.

  A glass of wine is always a good idea, too.

The red paper is classically Venetian

  The boat ride to the island of Torcello is beautiful and very relaxing. The day we visit is a perfect one.

  It's nice to find a quiet spot to think and paint.

  

I love the traveling studio in a cigar box. It's perfect.

Gouache work with a postcard.

A beautiful location to work from.

I needed some shade. This was a warm day....

Work in progress.

This moment is captured. 

  One thing that painting "plein air" in California has taught me, is that the act of painting the moment...whether it is 30 minutes, an hour or several hours....it's all about capturing that particular time of the day. That particular light. That particular place.

  And it's good . And it's worthy.

  It's the magic treasure that painting on the Pacific coast has taught me....

Basic tools.

My best tool.

The traveling studio.

Finished...for this moment.