Rio Tera Secondo - A Quiet Canal in Venice Series No. 2: Hidden Passage in Venice, Italy - Watercolour Painting

 

Buongiorno! I’m pleased to share the second painting in my A Quiet Canal in Venice series. 

Venice is a city unlike any other, built upon a network of canals that have shaped its identity for over a thousand years. Instead of roads, these waterways serve as the main routes of movement, where boats replace cars and daily life flows with the rhythm of the water. From the grand Grand Canal to the countless narrow side canals, Venice is a place where architecture and water exist in quiet harmony.

The canals have long been central to Venetian life—once carrying goods, traders, and travelers during the height of the Republic, and still supporting everyday activities today, from deliveries to simple commutes. Beyond their function, they create a unique atmosphere where time seems to move more gently, and where the connection between people, history, and place remains deeply rooted.

Even now, away from the busy routes, Venice continues to reveal a more intimate and enduring way of life, shaped by water, tradition, and a sense of quiet continuity. In a hidden Venetian canal, life is quieter, more personal—balconies with flowers, narrow bridges connecting neighbors, and the gentle presence of water shaping every moment.

Below are the painting proces:

 

 

 

 The finished work in my garden

 

 

 This 12.2" x 16.1" watercolour painting is available as an original and Limited Edition of 75 Prints. 

Nesso, Italian Lakeside Village, Watercolour Painting (Work-in-Progress)

 

Buongiorno! I’ve been working on this painting for the past 10 days. It depicts the charming village of Nesso in Italy, with its iconic ancient bridge, the Ponte della Civera. The piece is now about 90% complete.

Nesso is a quiet village on the western shore of Lake Como, tucked between the better-known towns of Como and Bellagio. Its small size and low profile mean it often escapes the typical tourist trail, leaving its charm intact and its streets peacefully unhurried.

The village is most famous for the Orrido di Nesso, a narrow gorge where two mountain streams, the Nosè and the Civera, rush down in a striking waterfall before joining the lake. From the Ponte della Civera, a centuries-old stone bridge that spans the gorge, you can watch the water cascade below, framed by ivy-covered buildings and lush greenery.

Nesso’s lakeside houses reflect the traditional Lombard style, with cream and white walls, colorful shutters, and stone foundations that seem to rise naturally from the rocky shoreline. Climbing plants and ivy soften the edges, blending architecture with the surrounding nature.

For anyone who enjoys wandering beyond the usual paths, Nesso offers quiet corners, dramatic natural scenery, and a timeless atmosphere—a small gem on Lake Como that feels almost untouched by time.

 

Tuscan Poplar Road, Italy, Watercolour Painting

"A winding road breathes through poplar trees in Tuscany."

Poplar trees (Populus) are a beloved feature of the Tuscan countryside, often planted in long, elegant rows alongside roads and pathways. Their tall, slender forms create a sense of rhythm and direction across the landscape, guiding the eye toward distant farmhouses or hilltop villages. In Tuscany, they are not merely trees — they are living architecture, framing the land with grace and purpose. Their leaves shimmer and rustle in the breeze, catching the golden afternoon light in a way that feels almost painterly. In autumn, they turn a warm amber and yellow, adding yet another layer of warmth to an already sun-drenched land.

 

This artwork is available as original and limited edition of 75 prints in my shop DeniseWongArt.

 

 

 

Lakeside Harmony II, Lake Como, Italy, Watercolour Painting

This is my second Lake Como watercolour painting. It is painted in 2025. Lake Como, in Northern Italy, lies at the foothills of the Italian Alps. Its deep blue-green waters are framed by gentle mountains, pastel-colored villas, and charming lakeside towns, making it one of Italy’s most picturesque and tranquil destinations.

This piece is available as an original and as limited edition of 75 prints. 

Villa Balbianello, Lake Como, Watercolour Painting

Buongiorno! This is another location in the beautiful Lake Como, in the northern Italy with Villa Balbianello rising from the water's edge. Perched on the small wooded peninsula of Dosso d'Avedo on the western shore of Lake Como, Villa del Balbianello is one of Italy's most breathtaking historic villas. Built in 1787 on the site of a 13th century Franciscan monastery, its terraced gardens, elegant loggia, and sweeping views of the lake and mountains have captivated visitors for centuries — and even a galaxy far, far away, as it served as a filming location for Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones where the secret wedding of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala took place. 

This piece is available as an original and as limited edition of 75 prints (coming soon). 

Lakeside Harmony, Lake Como, Italy, Watercolour Painting

Buongiorno! This is my first Lake Como watercolour painting! What drew me to paint this in the first place were the charming pastel-hued villas of Lake Como, followed by the lake itself and the mountains beyond. Lake Como, nestled in the foothills of the Italian Alps, is a place where terracotta villas tumble gently toward impossibly blue-green waters, with ancient mountains standing quietly in the distance. 

 

Behind the scenes of the painting process:

 

 

The original and limited edition of 75 prints are available in my shop.

Italian Restaurant, Volterra, Italy, Watercolour Painting

 

Ciao! Welcome to my blog. This is my first Italian restaurant painting. This restaurant is located in Volterra, Tuscany. Volterra is one of Tuscany's most ancient hilltop towns, perched high above the surrounding valleys and steeped in Etruscan history dating back thousands of years. Nestled along its narrow cobblestone streets is Il Pozzo degli Etruschi — "The Well of the Etruscans" — a charming ristorante that embodies the warmth and simplicity of authentic Tuscan dining, where good food, good wine, and good company are all that matter.

Behind the scenes of my painting process: 

 This piece is available as an original and as limited edition of 75 prints.

 

 

Tuscany in Bloom, Italy, Watercolour Painting

 

Ciao! This is my second watercolour painting of a lovely spot in Tuscany! Tuscany, located in central Italy, is one of the country's most celebrated regions, renowned for its gently rolling hills, cypress-lined roads, and vast stretches of vineyards and olive groves. It is home to some of Italy's most breathtaking natural landscapes, including the UNESCO World Heritage listed Val d'Orcia, where wildflowers carpet the fields each spring in brilliant shades of red and yellow.

Limited edition of 75 prints are available for this artwork, details in my shop DeniseWongArts. 

Welcome to My Italian Watercolours Art Blog

Benvenuti! Welcome to my Italia watercolours art blog! I never planned to become an Italian landscape artist, but 2023 had other ideas. I still remember the moment I was captivated by a beautiful photograph of the Tuscan countryside, and painted my first Italian landscape painting (it was sold). and there was no looking back. 

 The Quiet Heart of Tuscany

Since then, I have explored other beautiful corners of Italy through my paintings — a charming Italian restaurant in Volterra, another sunlit landscape in Tuscany, the pastel villas of Lake Como, the magnificent Villa Balbianello, a garden overlooking a villa on Lake Como, the timeless canals of Venice, the tall Tuscan Poplars, and coming very soon - Nesso village, Italy with the iconic bridge Ponte della Civera. 

Grazie for being here! One brushstroke at a time, la bella Italia lives on in my heart — and on my paper.