"Venetian Parking" by D Allnock

From the Artist: During a recent visit to Venice, I was intrigued with their mode of transportation around the amazing city built on water, and took a photo of some gondolas waiting for passengers. For this first project submission, I hope I've simplified it enough with only the blue color scheme and touch of sienna for contrast.

From the Painting Guide: There isn't any right or wrong degree of abstraction, or simplification, with this project. The degree to which you do it depends for starters on what your usual style is. Someone who usually does very detailed painting will likely simplify less than someone who usually works in an Impressionist style, for example. The aim was to get people to step out of their comfort zone to try something new, and as a lot of people have discovered, it can lead to unexpected and pleasing results.

I find the dark reflections of the gondolas in the water a bit hard, with very definite edges. I wonder if the edges shouldn't be broken a little more and if there wasn't more variation in tone in the water ripples. The abstraction of the distant buildings is lovely, giving a sense of location but not competing with the main subject (gondolas) for attention.