Sarah Sze's clandestine work in the Giardini Delle Vergine

and a post card after a painting of a stern nun in the Accademia

I am looking forward to seeing the artist journals in Melbourne.

Un'abraccio a tutti, Martina.

Islands of Veneto - watercolour in Burano

Drawing in the early hours in San Marco as the light rises and forms appear and shift into the movement of day

Venice at night (Janet)

Tried a different sort of scene for night drawing using the white pencil on black paper once I got home. This bridge caught my eye on the way home on the last night in Venice. It is an interesting experience drawing highlights instead of shadows and watching the scene emerge from the blackness.

Drawing in the French Pavilion (Martina)

Notes on Perspective (Martina)

A sunny Saturday in Piazza San Marco (Mandy)

Just a few more people in the piazza today!

Ciao Lovely Venice! (Jacinta)

Studies have finished and today I leave this wonderful city.

Being in Venice with my fellow students and with Martina & Honor to guide us through the beautiful maze of the City's streets and art has been amazing.

Thank you Venice, Honor & Martina.

Footprints in Stone (Michele)

Venice Lights (Michele)

All The World's Futures (Geraldine)

Below is something I wrote in my journal at the beginning of my trip to Venice – it is written in the context of the biennale title "All the world's futures".

I have an internal struggle with the idea of 'the future'. We are told that 'the present' is all there is – and yet we are also told we must sometimes use our will to fight for what we want. Clearly we must sometimes plan for assumed time ahead for ourselves and for others.

So the next questions that emerged for me were 'What if my art making matters – and even affects my future and the future of others'?
With these ponderings in mind I set forth into the Venice Biennale – so far it is mid-way and I am returning at times to these questions. I'll write again and let you know what happens.

Geraldine Richards 

Colours of near darkness (Michele)

Honor mauve goes to top please.

Just sent you a blog post with a typo!

Hi Honor, I spelt the name of the Indian artist mentioned in my last post incorrectly. Can you please change it to " Shilpa Gupta"
Thanks

Japanese Pavilion (Sandy)

Santa Maria Della Salute from Giudecca (Ann)

Sunset & Night Drawing (Jacinta)

 

Headed down to the water tonight for a view of the sunset and a night drawing class. An awesome sunset and plenty of challenge capturing those silvery night tones. Had plenty of fun with my new zinc and indigo pigments.

Fantastic night drawing class with Honor (Mandy)

Torcello

Ponte del Diavolo
Torcello
28 September 2015

Karen (Martina)

Sharing Journals on the way to San Lazzaro (Martina)

Celestial Glory as witnessed from the Mekhitarist Monastery (Honor)

Scale and space (Janet)

Tempera with missing step! (Sandy)

First "Futures" page (Mandy)

I know I'm not yet in Venice but couldn't resist posting from London, especially when "All The Worlds Futures" has suddenly caught up with me (or I with it)... I turned the page of my journal to find my first "futures" page that we created back in Melbourne. It was a concertina page that prompted me to draw my impression of the endless procession of commuters on the tube.

Found Objects (Michelle)

Just home from a delicious dinner ... Simple fresh produce... I'm sitting at my kitchen table... Home for two weeks... Listening to the Thursday night life of Via Garibaldi...and here is my take on 'wrong way' inspired by Fiona Hall.

A Lesson in Perspective (Jacinta)

Many highlights and thought provoking art viewing, way too many to list here. One special moment after a morning of visual and information overload, was falling into an almost catatonic state in the French Pavilion while drawing and listening to the mediative drone of one of Celeste Boursier-Mougenot's kinetic trees.
http://www.designboom.com/art/celeste-boursier-mougenot-venice-art-biennale-french-pavilion-05-06-2015/

A great lesson in perspective - I'm finally beginning to get it.

An unexpected surprise as I limped back to my apartment. A stunning jellyfish floating down a quiet canal. I think he felt like I did in the French Pavilion, totally chilled.

Sent from my iPadDay three and two mind-blowing days at the Venice Biennale.

Venice reflections

On the first day, we went to a special church called San Pietro Di Castello. I was drawn to a beautiful marble statue of Christ on the cross, so I drew a large picture of it in my visual diary. Usually I avoid religious imagery, but I loved the grace of the body hanging dead from the cross, with its beautifully shaped legs and torso.

Keys and trees (Janet)

Biennale highlights included The Key in Hand installation at the Japan Pavilion by Chiharu Shiota (I had been looking forward to this and loved it) and the moving trees inside and outside the French Pavilion (by Celeste Boursier-Mougenot).

Curls (Paulina)

when drawing at the church I noticed that all Cherubs, Angels or for that matter anyone close to the Devine have curly hair. What about spiky hairs and more ? I drew one that looked like a magistrate .....strange stuff happens to me when in a church Sent from Yahoo7 Mail for iPhone

Day 1 at The Lions.

I wasn't looking forward to tackling 'The Lions' but am loving the Pilot Fineliner - must remember to go easy on the water!!

Lions & Soccer Balls

 

The morning started with the traditional drawing of the lions who guard the entrance to the Arsenale. The sun just the right tempature to warm the muscles of my drawing arm and the warm genial breeze providing the courage to tackle those subtle tonings on the stone white beasts.

During a brief pause to reflect on my drawing, I couldn't help noticing that the lions seemed sad, a pathetic look of longing. Then someone mentioned that the loins had been stolen.

Two of the lions standing beside the entrance gates were taken from Greece and added in 1687 (thank you Wikipedia).

My thoughts drifted to home and the people there. I would be sad if I was set in stone with no way to return.

The afternoon was a serene session of drawing in San Pietro Di Castello. The church has stood on the site since at least the 7th century. Lots to be inspired by, but I focused my energy drawing the elaborate altarpiece by Luca Gordono. So much overwhelming detail to draw!

But what caught my eye was the soccer ball lodged in the muted facade. I wondered if this was the work of an energetic child who aimed too high for that winning goal, or of a local football fanatic priest who secretly climbed the facade in the middle of the night and carefully wedged his favourite soccer ball (perhaps signed by his faviourite soccer player?) up high, closer to God to seek divine intervention for the next premiership. I hope it was the latter.

Venice- a visual artist's paradise

This my first time to Italy and Venice has already captured my heart, visually the city is full of historic architecture- with some buildings having a distinctive Islamic influence, which reflect the trade that took place in the 16^th century, as Venice was the principal supplier in the spice trade, controlling nearly 70% of spices from the far East into Europe. The vast cities of primary trading partners — Byzantine Constantinople and Islamic Cairo — were the showplaces of the world and played a critical role in shaping the Venetian aesthetic.

Everywhere you look in Venice; there is something that captures the eye and the imagination, whether it's the distinctive Winged Lion sculptures- mascots of Venice. Or perhaps you are intrigued by the small painted cast iron figurines of Venetian  men, which sporadically line the doors and windows in Venice, with a backdrop of a rendered ochre wall.

​

These artistic nuances, always require a closer look to uncover the history and arts man ship that is all around us. When technology did not exist but there were skilled artisans who loved their city and wanted to capture the diverse culture that makes up Venice.

When we meander around Venice, particularly into ancient  buildings or churches, we exhale sweet perfume, the air of Venice toasted by the sun.

I am looking forward to continuing my artistic journey here in Venice, through using my senses to hear, smell and a see- a city laden with culture, that is so untouched by industrialisation.

--

S a r a  L a v o i p i e r r e

Through Martina's Eyes

 

 

 

Day One - Drawing Lions in the Sunshine (for Jane)

 Wish you were here. xx