Sunlight refecting off the warm colors of the buildings along the canal is what initially drew me want to paint this scene. I used a reference photograph that I took last summer but really juiced up the color. See the reference photo below.
I made several early morning walks and made sketches and even had some time for a plein air painting further down this along canal while we were visiting Italy in the summer of 2024.
Overall perspective of the composition was modified to make the buildings more oblique and foreshortened. A 24 x 36 inch canvas would have probably been better to use but I didn’t think it was necessary.
I think I was able to capture the image I wanted to paint. Oil painting is a great way to relax and get instant gratification at the end of the process.
Colors included Old Holland Blue Violet, Manganese Violet, Colbalt Violet, Ultramarine Blue, Cerulean Blue, Rose Madder, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Orange, Cadmium Red Medium, Cadmium Yellow Deep and Light, Transparent Oxide Brown, Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna, Yellow Ochre, Phtalo Green and Titanium White. I ended up using a lot of NeoMegalip and Gamsol as well. The painting took 3 weeks of starting; stopping and drying between sittings.
I’ll show a few intermediate steps and the reference photo.
Oil Paintings, Plein Air, Prints, Hand Drawn Tessellations 
One response to “Early Morning Walk Along A Canal, Venice”
Just so lovely! I like the vantage point and how it’s a very inviting composition. It reminds me of scenes I remember while in Venice decades ago. Such a pretty location.
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