Greetings from Venice!
Dear friends, students, and fellow adventurers in art,
We made it to Venice! Eleven suitcases in tow—twelve, but one decided to take a detour. The days leading up to this trip were a blur of last-minute preparations, little sleep and scattered vision. But now, here we are, jet-lagged, exhilarated, and ready to take in the light, the water, the impossible beauty of this place.
If there’s one thing travel and painting have in common, it’s that a white-knuckle grip only gets in the way. A lost suitcase? No matter. Like a brushstroke that goes somewhere unexpected, the best approach is to stay open to outcome.
A huge thank you to all my students who have sent me photos of their castles! I haven’t been able to reply to emails yet, but know that every single one has been received, and your magic is fully embraced.
Looking ahead, our next FREE Sunday class is on March 30th at 10 AM Pacific on Zoom, where we’ll have a Venice-inspired show-and-tell and dive into costume design and fashion sketching. As always, these classes are open to everyone, and you can find more details and enroll on the Cammellot website HERE.
I’ll write more soon, once my feet touch the ground and my mind catches up with the time zone. Until then, wishing you all a little improvisation and a lot of beauty in your own corner of the world.
With heart from Venice,
Karima
Optional Homework Assignment: "Venetian Color Study"
Venice is a city of stark light, soft pastels, glowing sunsets, dark foggy nights and shimmering water—choose one of these color palettes and create a small watercolor study. Let the colors flow, blending like the reflections on a canal or the aged walls of Venetian buildings. Keep it loose, focusing on atmosphere rather than detail.
Show up, and choose to be present.
Pay attention to what has heart and meaning.
Tell the truth without blame or judgment.
Be open to outcome, not attached to outcome.
– Angeles Arrien