Venerdi in Venice / Shell Sherree

Venerdi in Venice

Showing posts with label Venerdi in Venice. Show all posts

Venerdi in Venice Fashion Illustration : Sweeping Gowns and Steeping Them

29.9.17

Venice fashion illustration: Sweeping Gown Steeping in Venice © Shell Sherree

Venice fashion illustration: Sweeping Gown Steeping in Venice © Shell Sherree

It's been too long ~ hello, Venice!

The grand tradition of fashion photoshoot theatre should not be reserved for photography. Equal rights for illustration, I say, when it comes to scandalously crazy treatment of gowns that probably cost more than a small crumbling palazzo to buy!

But thanks to the magic of drawing, no silk taffeta confections were harmed in the making of today's flight of fancy. No, we can steep that hem with its thousands of fairy handstitches in the Grand Canal - or even a piccolo one - and break not one single luminescent bead of anxious sweat over its possible demise.

So come, dangle your feet with mine if your derring shall do, and possibly even sit a while. And on that note ...

Happy Venerdi in Venice to you!

PS: You'll find prints, cards and all kinds of Shell Sherree goodness via the menu at the top of the ShellSherree.com. I'm prone to moving the shop furniture around, so that's always the best way to find me! Merci, grazie, thank you.

Venerdi in Venice : Venetian View

19.5.17

Venice View Illustration, Fashion & Fluffballs © Shell Sherree

Venice View Illustration, Fashion & Fluffballs © Shell Sherree

Weekend in Venice, anyone? This watery-coloured scenery is long overdue Chez Shell. My apologies and pass the prosecco, per favore.

Today's Venice illustration sees us consulting a somewhat dubious source for a palm reading. I don't even know why, as I'll see your soothsayer and raise it by my naysayer. I'd rather be surprised with what each day unfurls than go through life wondering how to think ahead of every predicted contingency. I can't even plan my wardrobe the night ahead let alone the rest of it!

So come, let us hoik up our skirts or palazzo pants, perch ourselves at a Venetian vantage point and wave at the locals. You never know who might stop along. And on that note ...

Happy Venerdi in Venice to you!

PS: Please click here to get in touch or check out the site menu to shop for made-to-order Shell Sherree prints, cards, totes to save the planet from plastic bags and cushions to cosy your world. Merci, grazie, thank you!

Venerdi in Venice : If the Boater Fits

28.10.16

Venice illustration: Venice Boaters and Kitty Gondolier © Shell-Sherree

Venice illustration: Venice Boaters and Kitty Gondolier © Shell-Sherree

I've been slow to hop on board the boater hat trend. In fact, I haven't. Being five foot two, I don't need to plant a bottle cap on my head thusly and thereby verily taking another couple of inches off the overall demeanour of my height. No, thank ye.

But ~ today's illustrated tour of Venice called for it, and while I don't believe in air-brushing, I'm not averse to adding a foot to my stature when paint-brushing. Boater Hat Crisis: averted.

So come, let us hitch a ride with yonder kitty gondolier who happens to be moonlighting as a florist. Or is he daylighting? No matter. I have it on good authority there's a galvanised bucket of ice with a bottle of Prosecco that has our name on it. And a few spare armfuls of blooms that fell off the back of another gondola. Nudge nudge, wink wink, say no more. And on that note ...

Happy Venerdi in Venice to you !

Venerdi in Venice: Flirting with Lilac Frills

17.8.14

{Lilac Frills in Venice : ink pen, pencil, watercolour illustration by Shell-Sherree}

Ciao! Patience is a virtue ~ and Saints preserve us, thank heavens I have some very virtuous Venice-loving souls amongst you. {Bless your fuzzy loyal hearts!}

It's a glorious day for lilac frills and the clink of glasses lending a splish-splash of prosecco to echo the lapping canal below. Let us twirl. And on that note ...

Happy Venerdi in Venice to you!

Illustration inspiration via Pinterest

Venerdi in Venice: If the Boat Fits

18.5.12

ink pen & watercolour illustration, 7" x 8.75" [18 x 22.5cm] BROWSE PRINTS

Venice. {"And about jolly time," I hear a small-yet-dedicated bunch of you cheering, waving your proseccos in the air.} See that little chink of light over on the far side? Under the archway? Guess who's waiting yonder. And this time, Hugh's brought his beautiful French bulldog Peaches along. {Everybody say, "Awwww!"} Her booties will come in handy in case of a very mild acqua alta this weekend. And so we don't feel left out... our apartment is stocked with plenty of these in every size. {Grazie to dear Danielle of VenetiaMicio for the glorious inspiration for today's illustration.} If we decide to take it easy, we can avail ourselves of the boat and Hugh can steer us in the right direction. And on that note...

Happy Venerdi in Venice to you!

Venerdi in Venice: Romance

10.2.12

pigment ink pen & watercolour illustration, 7" x 8.75" [18 x 22.5cm] BROWSE PRINTS

While I believe it's lovely to make every day Valentine's Day in simple and unassuming ways {a note with sweet nothings tucked in his pocket ... the outline of a heart magically appearing in the steam on the bathroom mirror ... remembering not to call him 'Hugh'}, I'm happy to have a formal excuse to stroll upon the romantic side of life. When I saw this old photo shoot in Venice by Mario Testino {with styling by Grace Coddington} for Vogue US 2005 not long ago, it was easy to slip into the picture and start dreaming ahead of time ... of Bellinis at Harry's Bar {where perhaps we can arrange something like this, but not indulge in too many of their signature champagne cocktails lest we end up looking like this}. And for dessert, dark chocolate gelato and moonlight lapping on the canals. And on that note...

Happy Venerdi in Venice to you!

Venerdi in Venice: Florist by a Whisker

6.1.12

ink & watercolour illustration, 7" x 8.75" [18 x 22.5cm] BROWSE PRINTS

Happy New Year! Special delivery for our weekend in Venice. Our little kitty is just applying one last fluff of the flowers before he pulls on a plump red satin hand-plaited and tasselled rope to ring the doorbell. No need to change out of your silk pyjamas. A cat always appreciates the value of such fineries. Thank you to dear Danielle of VenetiaMicio for the beautiful inspiration. We visited nearby another day, but views like this are worth returning to, and it's been a while since Venice graced us with her beguiling beauty. And it's not every day one's flowers are delivered via boat. Or a kitty cat. And on that note...

Happy Venerdi in Venice to you!

Venerdi in Venice: Gelati Palette

12.8.11

ink & watercolour illustration, 7" x 8.75" [18 x 22.5cm] ACQUIRE PRINTS

Pale turquoise doors with pistachio and raspberry accompaniments. Several colours of the gelati rainbow within a half-dozen paces. The gradual accrual of verdigris and moss thanks to the poetic drip of a languid drainpipe. An overhead cherub with modesty drape so we can retain our G-rating. Kitty cats admiring eternal bronze doorknockers cast in their likeness. {As one would.} Just another colourful day in Venice. Grazie mille, thanks to dear Danielle of VenetiaMicio for the gorgeous inspiration... This door ajar has saved us the trouble of lifting a finger to gently tap-tap-tap the knocker. Could it be a signal our Hugh has returned from his sabbatical? Well, what are we waiting for?! And on that note...

Happy Venerdi in Venice to you!

Venerdi in Venice: Morning Muneghete

8.7.11

ink & watercolour illustration, 7" x 8.75" [18 x 22.5cm] ACQUIRE PRINTS

Just another morning of quiet reflection in Venice. The weather's fine. The coffee is brewing on the stovetop. The tiny pussycat is wondering whether the boat is aqua with a pea green cover or pea green with an aqua bottom. The air is rich with the promise of an owl. Thanks to Danielle at VenetiaMicio for her gorgeous inspiration ~ I followed her lead and named the aqua pea green boat in her honour. This seems the perfect excuse for a magnum of champagne and the opinion of a man named Hugh. And on that note...

Happy Venerdi in Venice to you!

Venerdi in Venice: Shutters & Flowers

17.6.11

ink & watercolour illustration, 8.75" x 7" [22.5 x 18cm] ACQUIRE PRINTS

Last Friday, we soaked up the atmosphere of flowers and shutters in Paris, then made ourselves at home for the weekend. And the weekend became rather extended. I'm still trying to retrieve lampshades from the heads of some of our guests {not mentioning names ~ sometimes discretion really is the better part of valor}. To expedite our departure, it seemed prudent to simply exchange one royal flush of flowers and shutters for another... but with a change of city to keep us on our toes. Thank you to dear Catherine Hédouin via sweet Danielle's VenetiaMicio for the beautiful Venice inspiration. I'll continue to work on the lampshade removal while you open those shutters more widely and embrace the canal view. And on that note...

Happy Venerdi in Venice to you!

Venerdi in Venice: Flock to Pink Lamplights

27.5.11

ink & watercolour illustration, 8.75" x 7" [22.5 x 18cm] ACQUIRE PRINTS

I've read it's flattering to our complexions to use pink lampshade linings and lightbulbs. These birds silhouetted against the skyline in Venice have the right idea. Grazie mille to Catherine Hédouin and Danielle for the broodingly-beautiful photo inspiration posted at Venetia Micio. {If you can't get enough of these Venice lamps, you'll find more of Catherine's lovely photos here.} It looks like rain, but I'm happy to linger a while if you are. We might learn a thing or two. I hear these birds know how to pastry. And on that note...

Happy Venerdi in Venice to you!

Venerdi in Venice: Hightail the Fluffy Tail

22.4.11

ink & watercolour illustration, 7" x 8.75" [18 x 22.5cm] ACQUIRE PRINTS

It isn't easy keeping one's fluffy tail high and dry when visiting Venice. This well-travelled little Easter Bunny has excelled. The welcoming committee is in the apartment upstairs, plumping up pillows, scrubbing the finest of carrots and washing freshly plucked leaves. {Grazie mille to dear Danielle of VenetiaMicio for the beautiful photo inspiration.} I've just finished whipping up some dark chocolate truffles for our turndown service. {Mind the cocoa dust on your linen pillowcase.} Your vaporetto driver is tapping his foot impatiently... please mind your step and keep your own tail high and dry as you make your way through the canals to our weekend destination. And on that note...

Happy Venerdi in Venice and a safe and peaceful Easter to you!

Venerdi in Venice: In the Pink

28.1.11

ink & watercolour illustration, 8.75" x 7" [22.5 x 18cm] ORDER PRINTS HERE

It's been a while since our last visit to Venice. And when I started gazing at my inspiration folders, the sight of all that water was too much too soon, given the recent floods. So I compromised and chose this lovely scene with just a hint of water lapping at the bottom of it. {Merci, Danielle, for the beautiful inspiration!} The crumbling pink facade has my mind drifting somewhat nostalgically to sweetheart lollies. I believe someone tall, dark and handsome {possibly named Hugh ~ such a nice name} is upstairs waiting for us, with a 2 feet tall glass apothecary jar full of them. Who dibbs Kiss Me? And on that note...

Happy Venerdi in Venice to you!

Thank you also to Danielle for giving me this Sunshine Award. I'm chuffed! As you give me so much sunshine with your comments and/or blogs, I'd like to bestow it on all of you. If you haven't yet visited the sites of your fellow commenters here, now would be a lovely time to drop in on them. Talent, inspiration and wit in leaps and bounds. You're all grand.

Venerdi in Venice: Ponte di Pepe Peep

19.11.10

ink & watercolour weensy meep miniature, 3.5 x 2.5" [9 x 6.5cm ] ACQUIRE A MEEP

[Update 24th November: Hooray ~ Pepe has been adopted!!! Our beautiful Altadena Hiker has just sent through the wonderful news. Thank you for sending happy thoughts to Pepe, and for the many comments, clicks, links, and posts by the warm hearted bloggers involved. Here's to your new loving home, little Pepe.]

Pepe's still cooling his paws at the Pasadena Humane Society {I know, it's unthinkable} and there are concerns he's depressed, so we're busting him out for the weekend. He's going for a W-A-L-K-I-E-S in Venice with his publicist, Altadena Hiker {rumour has it her heart weighs more than Phar Lap's}. As for us, we're meeting up with them after we secure Pepe some juicy morsels from the butcher. {And some liquid refreshments to revive our own crestfallen spirits.} Thanks to Katie's excellent suggestion in the comments last week and in honour of Pepe, we shall hereby name this weensy illustration a Peep.

If you can spare a moment to click and view Karin's latest {and possibly last} appeal for Pepe, or even better, leave a comment, that will help keep him in the news for a wee bit longer. Please, let's continue to spread the word and send our warm fuzzy vibes, and surely Pepe will captivate the soul of someone who can give him a loving home. Soon. And on that note...

Happy Venerdi in Venice to you, and big hugs to Pepe!

Grazie mille to dear Pierre at Venice Daily Photo for the magnificent photo inspiration.

Venerdi in Venice: All Weather Campo

5.11.10

ink & watercolour weensy meep miniature, 3.5 x 2.5" [9 x 6.5cm ] ACQUIRE A MEEP

I know several people ~ unrelated to each other ~ who coincidentally planned on going camping this weekend. {Until the heavens opened yet again, causing a quandary of risk assessment increasing in direct proportion to the quagmiry likelihood.}

My idea of camping is setting up house in a campo in Venice. How about this one? {Thanks to Danielle of VenetiaMicio for the beautiful inspiration!} Several levels of luxury, black kitty cat included at no extra charge. If we encounter any flooding and need to evacuate, we can easily shimmy down from the windows on 600 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, directly into our on-call gondola, and have Hugh whisk us away to safety. Perhaps I'm being fussy, but that's my idea of roughing it. {1000 thread count would be so much softer.} And on that note...

Happy Venerdi in Venice to you!

Venerdi in Venice: Gondola of Mystery

22.10.10

ink & watercolour illustration, 8.75" x 7" [22.5 x 18cm], private commission

I've been blessed to create some lovely commissions as mementos of holidays and special occasions, and today, I thought I'd show you another one. This delightful client has engaged me more than once, and after some Paris illustrations several months ago, we recently travelled over to Venice to even up the balance.

Now, you know I'm the soul of discretion, so I've protected the anonymity of my subjects by placing large sunhats on their heads. Yes, that's the kind of privacy you can rely on when engaging me. You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out that the gondolier was not my client and has to make do with his traditional straw number. {And seems singularly unimpressed.} As you can see, this unhappy chappy is not Hugh, who was entertaining us at the time if you can recall. Smiles all around. And on that note...

Happy Venerdi in Venice to you!

Venerdi in Venice: Miaou Micio

1.10.10

ink & watercolour illustration, 8.75" x 7" [22.5 x 18cm]

Lately, I've been seeing a lot of our Hugh in a TV commercial. And while I'm thoroughly enjoying the viewing pleasure, between you and me, I think he has too much time on his hands. Far better that we keep him fully occupied, steering our gondola tea party around Venice and scattering us with rose petals. So our mission this weekend, should you choose to accept it, is to ensure that drinking iced tea is far from his mind. Unless it's in our company, of course. Micio is amused by our antics just out of sight in the canal below. Thanks to dear Danielle of VenetiaMicio for graciously allowing me to use her gorgeous photos for inspiration. If you haven't ventured over to her place yet, I whole-heartedly recommend it. It's a wonderful opportunity to exercise your French language muscles as well if you're so inclined. The best of both worlds. And on that note...

Happy Venerdi in Venice to you!

Psst: You only have until noon Brisbane time Thursday 7th October to enter the giveaway draw to celebrate my 2nd blogoversary. Just pop over here to enter...

Venerdi in Venice: Arte Moderna e Meepea

10.9.10

ink & watercolour weensy meep miniature, 3.5" x 2.5" [9 x 6.5cm] ACQUIRE A MEEP

After Tuesday's high risk of a fire hydrant incident {albeit a fetching one}, I thought I'd raise the tone by taking us for a classy wander to this art gallery in Venice, in the Campo San Stefano. The only incident potential I see here is one of our voluminous totes knocking a Murano glass sculpture from its plinth, so let's see if we can divert Hugh from his gondolier duties and put him in charge of minding our bags. Today's diversion also gives me a handy excuse to thank Pierre of Venice Daily Photo again, not just for today's inspiration, but for his thoughtful and generous feature of our ~ well, I guess you could call them "collaborations after the fact". Grazie mille, dear Pierre! Your kindness is beyond measure.

As for the kitty, unlike the young man in the original photo, she refuses to spend a lovely Friday engrossed in her laptop and missing the chance of gelato with her friends. I vote that we take a leaf from her book {after we've all dropped in on each other's blogs, of course!} And on that note...

Happy Venerdi in Venice to you!

Venerdi in Venice: Princess and the Wisteria-Pea

27.8.10

ink & watercolour weensy meep miniature, 3.5" x 2.5" [9 x 6.5cm] ACQUIRE

As we venture into the weekend, let's put an eensy weensy twist on an old fairytale, The Princess and the Pea. This Princess is Venetian {just run with it} and the pea is a flowering member of the pea family, commonly known as wisteria. Rather than being poked somewhat rudely under the Princess's mound of mattresses, thus causing an irksome night's lack-of-sleep and wan circles under her eyes, our wisteria-pea is allowed to frolic and clamber playfully outside her window. Being a wisteria-pea of the fragrant kind, each night, its soporific purple perfume wafts gently into our Princess's bedroom, tickling her nostrils briefly before allowing her to enjoy hours of deep slumber that chamomile tea can only dream of achieving. {Inpiration for today's Meep Miniature illustration is thanks to the talented Alain Hamon of Destination Venise, via dear Pierre of Venice Daily Photo. Grazie mille to you both!} As we enjoy the hospitality of our well-rested Princess this weekend, here's to sweet dreams for all of us. And on that note...

Happy Venerdi in Venice to you!

Venerdi in Venice: Meep, Meep, We're Here

13.8.10

ink & watercolour weensy meep miniature, 3.5" x 2.5" [9 x 6.5cm] ACQUIRE A MEEP

Buon giorno! Here we are in Venice. It seems we've been invited to stay in this teensy home, with its even teensier garden overlooking the Grand Canal. {Grazie mille to Pierre of Venice Daily Photo for his magnificent photo inspiration!} Did you remember to bring a hostess gift? Not to worry, I brought enough toy koalas and souvenir spoons to cover all of us. Mind your step ~ the gaps on the private footbridge are merciless on stilettos. Here, let me give you a hand with that Vuitton steamer trunk. Don't worry, we'll revive ourselves momentarily with something refreshing in the shade of those trees. And on that note...

Happy Venerdi in Venice to you!

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