Venice Cafe After Sargent - Framed

This piece came about somewhat by accident.  I was studying some of John Singer Sargent's watercolors and started doing a pencil drawing of part of one of them, Cafe on the Riva degli Schiavoni, Venice, to understand the composition. 

But somehow the ink pens found their way in, and the work took on a life and rhythm of its own.  I wanted to make the foreground people look rich and luxurious and bring them into focus, while the figures in the background blurred into amorphous shapes.  Originally, I planned to add a light watercolor wash, but I decided to hold off and I'm glad I did.   So, I ended up with this ink study, which has become one of my very favorites. 

Works with a similar vibe include Stepping into Focus, Rapunzel's Vine, and Venice Cafe. 

Original Artwork

Archival Ink on Strathmore 400 series mixed media paper, 9" x 12".  Signed by the artist.