Santa Maria del Carmelo and Scuola Grande dei Carmini 1910

John Singer Sargent made this oil painting of Santa Maria del Carmelo and Scuola Grande dei Carmini. Look at the way he’s letting the colours mingle and merge! He's not trying to give you every detail, but rather a feeling. The rough texture of the building is captured so well with these dabs of paint. See how he's used the colour to show light hitting the walls? There's something about the way he stacks and layers the paint that gives it this beautiful, crusty surface. Notice the shadow stretching across the plaza, anchoring the building in place. It's just a few strokes, but they’re so effective. It's like he's saying, "Here is Venice, in all its crumbling glory." Sargent reminds me a little of Manet, actually. Both had this knack for capturing light and atmosphere with a few well-placed strokes. Ultimately, it's a reminder that art doesn't have to be precise to be powerful, it’s about the conversation you have with the paint!