Sunday, May 24, 2015

The Art of Retirement

    

Last September we took a memorable (what other kind is there?) trip to Italy.  Probably the highlight of the trip for me was Venice.
I’d always been fascinated by the idea of buildings with their feet perpetually soaking in the sea. Who knew that the city is actually composed of 118 islands, all strung together with bridges and canals? Not me. 


          After going to Venice, Florida, this past March and falling in love with that town, it only made sense: My resident artist would have to memorialize both towns with a painting. 


          His rendering of a sunset at a Cape Cod lake had been so successful, I knew it would only be a matter of time before I had another masterpiece for the wall. We chose a photograph I had taken from our gondola as we cruised just off the Grand Canal. (Where, by the way, George Clooney was passing at the very same time after his wedding.)




          It looks like we’re off to a good start.

21 comments:

  1. Nice work, I've always liked Venice too, though it's been a while since we've been there.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've never been off this continent. Your resident artist is doing a fine job. I never took to painting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Painting is the last thing you need to think about, with the stunning glasswork that you produce.

      Delete
  3. I am in awe of painters. Such skill, patience and talent.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nice! I look forward to seeing the finished work. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too! I need more walls.. . . . .

      Delete
    2. It will look good on the new Venice wall! I like to display meaningfull art.

      Delete
  5. Wow. Does he sell his work?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nope. It's MINE ALL MINE!
      Actually, though he has made prints for some people.

      Delete
  6. I've never been, but it's beautiful, isn't it? I don't quite understand the logistics of the houses actually being on an island..to me it looks like they are all floating right on top of water.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, right? It makes no sense at all.

      Delete
  7. Replies
    1. It's even more amazing when you figure that he painted his first picture about two years ago.

      Delete
  8. That looks like great fun to do.
    I loved Venice... even though it can get a bit smelly. We got completely lost for a while in the little streets.

    ReplyDelete
  9. How wonderful to have a resident artist! The photo is lovely and it will make a great painting to remember your trip.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ooh, can't wait to see how this one goes. He did such a great job on the last one. Does he paint for food?

    ReplyDelete
  11. An activity like this makes the trip all that much more memorable.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Looks promising! That Cape Cod painting is terrific.

    Funny thing: I lived and worked in Venice, Florida, for several years in the mid-'90s. It was even smaller and quainter then.

    But of course Venice, Italy, outdoes Venice, Florida (and Venice, California, for that matter) every time!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We fell in love with Venice, Florida this past winter - lovely town.
      I haven't been to the one in California.
      And of course, the original Venice is in a class all its own.

      Delete
  13. That's a very detailed sketch; I begin to see why anything I try to paint looks like a one year old could do better. I'll stick to painting furniture and writing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, about all I can manage is painting a wall.
      But then again, I'm in charge of spelling and grammar here.

      Delete

Thanks for stopping by and I'd love to hear what you think.