Urban Sketching in Venice

I’ve not posted for a while but I wanted to share some of my sketches from Venice. I’ve just returned from a study trip to the Architecture Biennale with 50 students. Whilst they were off touring the exhibitions and exploring (or probably shopping and drinking!), I took every opportunity to sketch. I know Venice quite well but it always takes my  breath away. We had lovely weather for mid November, last time we were there 2 years ago – we had lots of freezing fog. This time it was bright and sunny…perfect sketching weather.

This was drawn in St Marks Square, students were looking at the Carlo Scarpa designed Olivetti showroom – a must for architecture fans and good to see something contemporary, well circa 1950-’s Mad Men era. We split them into 3 groups as 50 (students) is quite an unwieldy number. I spent time with the first group before sloping off to sketch. What an inspiring view!

This was drawn in the Giardini at the Biennale where there are a collection of National Pavilions each representing different countries. The Biennale alternates between art and architecture each year. Each country has to be invited to build a pavilion. The new Australia Pavilion is under construction and will be open 2015. Britain’s pavilion was built in 1909. The gardens are such an interesting place to wander round, they’re very shady with tall trees and provide such a contrast to the glittering light of the waters of the lagoon.

We were staying out on Guidecca, our students were staying in a fab hostel called the Generator (highly recommended to anyone travelling to Venice on a budget)! And here’s San Giorgio Maggiore. I’ve been writing about using a viewfinder for my book on architectural sketching (to be published by Rotovision / North Light Summer 2015) and here’s me putting one into practice!

Here’s my final sketch of the trip, this is looking towards St Mark’s Square, the light was starting to fade behind St. Maria Salute. I spent quite a lot of time trying to capture the architectural detail. I was outside the 5* Hotel Danieli Gondala Station and a couple of gondoliers were most complimentary about my drawing – if I didnt have a plane to catch (and as tour leader…50 students to check in at the airport), I’d have tried to negotiate a trip in exchange for a drawing!

Great view!