Bobbing in the gray/green waters of the Grand Canal, the gondolas dance in the misty light. Nothing else represents Venice, Italy, to me like these strange sleek crafts.

Straddling the Arno River in Florence, this structure is the home to high priced shops that delight the tourist. Built in 1345, right at the start of the Renaissance, this is the oldest surviving bridge in the city. While my bride shopped on this bridge, I took countless photos that served as the basis for this piece. Oh yeah, I also had a couple of drinks there.

How vast and long lasting is the fortune of the Borromeo family that they still own this seventeenth century palazzo that occupies an entire island in Lake Maggiore near Stresa. I found the palace itself much to my taste but the gardens that occupy sixty per cent of the island just too ornate with an army of sculpted pieces that were obviously meant to impress.

My concern in this piece was the warmth of the Italian sun. This courtyard in Florence was near the hotel in which we stayed.

A crowded but pleasant town high up on a hill in Sicily, Taormina is on the itinerary of many cruise ships. In 2010 we stopped on a cruise that took us from Istanbul to Civitavecchia (Rome). The warm hues of the toast-coloured buildings broken by many trees and plants was just a dream.

Although the streets were busy, they were populated by happy people enjoying the sunshine and the beauty of the hill town.

The noise and excitement of the Venetian street vendors in a neighbourhood market is most alluring. Prices and wares, fruits and vegetables, are shouted to passing customers. The colour and the theatrical lighting are a perfect subject for my descriptive desire as the clear Italian sun turns everything into drama.

This image is carved out of a broader shot from a Saturday morning street market. I often find when I go back and examine a wide angle photo, new scenes within. This is such a wonderful surprise and such a treat.

The animation in this Venetian neighbourhood on a Saturday morning was both relaxing and exciting. The slant of the light creates bold patterns on the streetscape. Even though we are only a quarter mile from the Grand Canal, the sense of a village is strong.

What an inspiring streetscape as the sunlight creates patterns across the lively street. I wanted to see if I could match my painting style to the rhythm of the scene. For that reason I used a Morris Code like application of dots and dashes. I am trying to bring energy to this lively scene.

There is another world in Venice beyond the tourist path. In these quiet neighbourhoods, the pace of life is much more relaxed. People grocery shopping or meeting with neighbours for coffee or a glass of wine in outdoor cafes beside the canals emphasize the close, friendliness of a small town.

See also the watercoloured ink drawing - Hotel Castel Freiberg (Image # P0586)

Fiesole, Italy. Plein air.