Facing the Grand Canal in Venice, directly across from Santa Lucia Station, stands the majestic San Simeone Piccolo — a neoclassical church with a striking green dome that has become one of the first architectural icons visitors see upon arrival. I’ve sketched this view multiple times, each time using different materials and approaches. My goal was to explore how medium, technique, and palette influence the mood, texture, and expression of the same subject. Here are five distinct ways I captured San Simeone Piccolo — each sketch with its own personality and purpose.
If you love to capture the beach, ocean and coves my recent post is for you. I sketch there in different beach locations you shouldn’t miss.
Classic Realism with White Nights Watercolor
For my first sketch, I used White Nights watercolor on cold-pressed paper. This palette gave me a vibrant yet natural feel, especially with the deep greens of the dome and the cool blues of the canal. The smooth blending and strong pigment load of White Nights allowed me to build luminous washes and soft shadows. This version feels realistic, light-filled, and ideal for capturing a sense of place. It’s a great starting point for urban sketchers who want vivid colors with classical transparency.
Earthy Mood Sketch with Schmincke Desert Set
In the second sketch, I switched to the Schmincke Desert watercolor set, known for its granulating, earth-toned pigments. The resulting sketch feels warm, moody, and almost antique — like a faded memory of Venice at sunset. The pigments settled into the textured paper beautifully, especially in the canal reflections and dome shading. This approach is perfect for artists who want to evoke emotion, age, or nostalgia in their sketches. The desert tones made the whole scene feel timeless and weathered.
Graphic Contrast Sketch with Daniel Smith Watercolor Sticks
Next, I tried a two-color challenge using only Daniel Smith watercolor sticks — Cobalt Teal Blue and Pyrrol Orange, two highly saturated complementary pigments. This created a high-contrast, bold composition with intense reflections and graphic energy. The vibrant clash between cool and warm made the church pop dramatically, while still hinting at the architectural structure. Limiting the palette helped me focus on composition and emotional impact rather than detail. This method works well for anyone exploring expressive, poster-like styles.
Expressive Flow with a Chinese Watercolor Fan Set
For the fourth version, I used a portable watercolor fan set, which behaved more like gouache than transparent watercolor. The pigments were bright and soft, and flowed quickly across the page. This sketch feels light-hearted and spontaneous, almost like a fleeting impression caught during a sunny afternoon. The looseness of the paint, combined with its smooth texture, made it easy to work fast and embrace imperfections. Ideal for quick plein air sketches or playful visual journaling.
Illustrative Finish with Children’s Watercolor and Brush Pen
My fifth and most stylized sketch came from a children’s watercolor set, which surprised me with its opacity and gouache-like finish. I added details and contours with a brown Pental brush pen, turning the sketch into something illustrative and bold. The result feels like a mix between a comic book panel and stained glass — colorful, outlined, and bursting with personality. This method is great for experimental work, playful storytelling, or when you want to shift from realism to a more graphic style.
These five sketches taught me that the same view doesn’t mean the same vision. From realistic to expressive, minimalist to moody — every material and technique pulls something different out of the subject. San Simeone Piccolo became not just an architectural icon, but a creative playground for experimenting with color, emotion, and style. If you’re ever stuck or craving inspiration, try revisiting a single subject with fresh tools — you might just surprise yourself with what emerges.
