The Door of Spirito Santo in Venice by S'anna

The Door

Throughout history doors have been steeped in Symbolism.

Many believe that the symbolic door represents

a passing from darkness to light.

For me a door represents a change in life's journey that has opened.

                                   

Chiesa Spirito Santo
Dorsoduro

May your life bring you many doors to choose from,

some of joy, some of challenges. 

The diversity of the doors we choose to 

Open

is what makes this journey we call

"LIFE"

worth all the effort.

I hope whichever Doors you have walked through 

has made your Life worthwhile!

                                 

Enjoy Life Now...

It Has An Expiration Date

S'anna

Chiesa Spirito Santo in the Dorsoduro section of Venice

Chiesa Spirito Santo

History

The church and its Augustinian convent were founded in 1483 by Maria Caroldo and rebuilt in 1506 to a design by Antonio Abbondi (known as Lo Scarpagnino). 

The door of the church

The church in art

Five watercolours by John Singer Sargent 1902-4 (see below) and one by his sister. The watercolour below was once owned by William James, son of William Sr and nephew of Henry, having been given it by Sargent's sister.

Painting of Chiesa Spirito Santo

I fell in love with the doors and windows of the old churches and buildings of Venice. This church sits right on the water in the Dorsduro section of Venice. Approaching from the water gives you a great view of the facade.




The painting of the door is almost finished and I should have it posted tomorrow.
I hope you will stop by and check it out. I worked it up in soft muted tones, which placed all the emphasis on the door itself.  

Enjoy Life Now...

It Has An Expiration Date

S'anna

Voga alla Veneta

All the world knows the image of the Venetian gondolier, but few people notice the unique style of rowing he /she uses to thread his gondola through narrow canals or propel it across the bacino and lagoon beyond: the voga alla veneta. Whether practiced for sport or leisure, it’s a vital activity that connects today’s Venice with its very origins.




Grit and Grazia is a documentary on the the unique rowing style that has propelled Venice through the centuries from its inception right to the present day and the women who are fighting to keep it a part of Venetian daily life. I hope you enjoy this documentary.I have watched it a couple of times and love watching the fluid movement as the gondolier guides its gondola through the lagoon.

Grit and Grazia

Enjoy Life Now...

It Has An Expiration Date

S'anna

   

Saying Good-bye

                A little over sixteen years ago my son returned home from a trip around 2:00 am with an extremely small bundle of happiness. As they were leaving a Waffle House, in the dumpster in the parking lot he heard a small meow. What he found was a three and a half week old kitten, half of its lip cut off, filthy dirty and obviously thrown away for good. This is what he handed me that early morning and this small cat has been my companion since. In these past few months she became a constant shadow, sitting when I sit, sleeping when and where I sleep, always present for her morning meal when I enjoyed mine. This past Thursday I said good bye to my Maple. Over the years we have had many pets, but this small cat burrowed into my heart more than any other.

Maple this past summer!

Today we buried her, as we have all our other pets. As we were preparing her site, my neighbors came over with a gift, a Dwarf Japanese Maple Tree. It now sits in my garden as a constant reminder of the love and companionship my little friend gave to my family and myself. Each day as I glance upon it's graceful leaves I will be reminded of Maple, and the joy she brought to my life. Thank you so much Kelly and Jeff!


Sue

Murano, Island of Color and Sunshine

We finally made it to open water leaving the Grand Canal behind. The view from the back of the boat as we sped across the lagoon was completely breath taking.

Heading Across the Lagoon towards  Murano

We spent time at a glass factory and then wandered out to the main canal. The photo below was of a small walkway we meandered through to get out to the main canal to catch the Vaporetto back to Venice.

The colorful homes of Murano

It was down this small walkway that I was able to get a shot for the painting, "Sunshine".

Photo for the painting 

Sunshine
6x8
Oil on Museum Quality Canvas
Available at Art on the Levee Gallery

The rest of the afternoon was spent exploring the Doge's Palace and just relaxing and enjoying where we were, after all ,Venice isn't just any old city.

Enjoy Life Now...

It Has An Expiration Date

S'anna

Traffic Jam Revisited

I was sorting through My photos from last springs trip to Venice and came upon a few more photos to add to the ones I posted on Saturday.  We had just left our hotel and were headed out to the Island of Murano to explore and enjoy the glass factory. Check out what we ran into just under the bridge.

The people on the bridge should of given us a clue.

Just a small traffic jam Venetian style.

Picking up speed and heading for open water.

It really is amazing that everyone is able to navigate their way through the canals. Some of them are really narrow. The training to become a gondolier is very rigorous and requires hours of practice.


If given a choice I would love to have to commute this way to work each day. This sure beats sitting in my car for hours getting no where. 

How is your commute to work each day? What is the best way you can think of to travel to work?

Hope to hear from you.

Enjoy Life Now...

It Has An Expiration Date

S'anna

Venetian Architecture, roofs of Venice by S'anna

Spring 2011 in Venice

The architecture of Venice has an attraction to so many people. I think it is the combination of the water, age and style of the buildings. There is almost no place to build, so you don't stumble upon modern pieces jammed in-between the great antiquities. I am in particular fond of roofs and doors. The photo on the side was taken this past spring. I loved the deterioration and colors of the walls.

Up on the Roof
6 x 6
Oil on Museum Quality Canvas covered Panel
SOLD

This is the first painting I have completed from the photo above. I love working with intense colors and adding that sense of age and deterioration. Using oils allows me to push and pull the paint to achieve those affects.

What's your favorite type of architecture?

Enjoy Life Now...

It Has An Expiration Date

S'anna