Venice, My Muse

Venice, My Muse By Antonio Masi Venice is my muse-my inspiration, my amusement, my source of wonder. It’s the place where I feel closest to my true artistic self. Throughout the ages, artists, writers, poets and musicians have been drawn to its charms, and I understand why. Every time I return, I’m reminded that inspiration isn’t always something we seek. Sometimes, it seeks us. Venice has sought me, and it has claimed me. The inspiration of Venice fills the pages of Antonio Masi’s sketchbook with watercolors that capture not just the sights, but the spirit of the city. First Impressions The first time I set foot in Piazza San Marco, I understood why people refer to it as the most beautiful city square in the world. It’s not only the impressive scale and exquisite architecture, but the atmosphere. Standing amidst the Basilica’s golden mosaics, the imposing Campanile and the refined arcades of the Procuratie, one experiences a remarkable perspective. The piazza feels alive, vibrating with centuries of history and with the footsteps of countless visitors who, like me, came to Venice in search of something and left changed. Ponte dei Sospiri (watercolor on 100-lb. rough paper, 12×16) The Spell of the City When I paint in Venice, my senses are heightened. The sound of water lapping against stone, the aroma of coffee drifting from a café, the distant bells echoing across the lagoon-these impressions filter into my brushstrokes. The city blurs the boundaries between sight, sound and feeling. It’s as though all five senses are magnified at once, converging on the page. This is why I tell my friends, students and anyone who asks: When you visit Venice, bring a sketchbook! Bring a set of watercolors, too, if you possibly can. The city almost demands it. Even a casual sketch becomes a kind of dialogue with the place. You’re not just recording what you observe-you’re participating in it. Bridge of Sighs (watercolor on 100-lb. rough paper, 12×16) Sketching the City In my sketchbook, I generally keep the painting loose and fluid, with forms dissolving softly into one another. In art, suggestion is a powerful tool. Some of the greatest works are created not with rigid detail, but with the strength of implication. In my painting, Notte-St. Marco Square, Venice , in the slideshow below, for example, I wanted to capture the mystery of Venice in the evening. As dusk falls, people gather in the square. You feel a magical thread that weaves strangers into community, binding them to the night and to one another. For my sketching, I use a Lamali metal artist’s book, handmade in India, using 100-lb. rough, acid-free paper, with deckle. The book is hardcover, with a binding that uses four screws. I opt for the 12×16-inch size, which includes 50 sheets of paper. Some pages are more complete paintings; others, like Gondolas (featured in the slideshow below), I approach as vignettes-whenever the subject seems to call for that. I use Winsor & Newton watercolors, an aluminum...

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