Colin Slater

Catching Breath in Venice

8 – 10.1.06

Learning from a Master

A daunting prospect
Following giant footsteps
And reputation

Walking in a dream
And looking through Turner’s eyes
With captivation

*

Drowning in adjectives!

Incomparable
Majestic, ethereal
Unbelievable

Irreplaceable
Mystical, sensational
Unforgettable!

*

Looking back at Canaletto

They’re inaccurate
But entirely convincing.
Paintings come alive!

Walking in oil paint!
Canaletto’s vedute!
Can’t believe my eyes!

*

Spellbound, overwhelmed
Eyes filled and spilling over
A life’s wish come true

*

Travel Notebook

Scribbled distortions
Inaccurate proportions
Mental absorptions

*

Time frozen
In a Blue Lagoon
– It’s Venice!

*

Ink black pond skaters
Floating matchstick silhouettes
Crossing a mirror

*

Déjà vu? Perhaps
A second coming? Maybe
I’ve been here before

With Canaletto
In magnificent Turners
Many others too

It’s not a stranger
No introduction needed
A friend already

*

My notebook practice
‘Edit the inessential’
Not easy at all

Not drawing
Just ‘scaraboti’
Dash. Dot. Scrawl

*

Bridge of Sighs

How to bridge the gap
Between site and studio.
Turner did. Can I?