Wall Art: A Quiet Canal in Venice (Fine Art Print)

This piece A Quiet Canal in Venice, Italy watercolour painting, is one of my favourites from the Venice series, today I wanted to walk you through a few different rooms this painting has found itself in — the light, the mood, the furniture around it — because I think the answer to "where does art belong" says a lot about how you actually want a room to feel.

A Quiet Canal in Venice, Italy, my watercolour painting, is available as lovely wall art, giclee fine art print in my Etsy shop DeniseWongArts. It's printed on 100% cotton Canson Arches Aquarelle Rag (310gsm) by my printer partner WhiteWall from Germany.

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In a sun-filled living room

There's something about hanging this painting where natural light actually reaches it — the warm ochres and terracottas of the buildings seem to pick up the daylight and hold onto it, almost like the canal is still catching afternoon sun. In a bright living room with sheer curtains and a leafy plant nearby, the painting doesn't compete with the space — it just adds another layer of warmth, like a window that happens to look out onto Venice instead of your street. A simple natural oak frame works beautifully here; it stays out of the way and lets the palette of the painting do the talking.

If your living room leans more contemporary — think a white leather sofa, warm wood coffee tables, a few burnt-orange accent pillows — a softer pewter or antique silver frame can add just enough formality without feeling stiff. It picks up the cooler stone tones in the buildings while still letting the warm canal water be the star of the piece.

In a gallery hallway or entryway

Hang this painting in a hallway with proper museum lighting and a deep charcoal or navy wall behind it, framed in gold with a dark mat, and it stops being "a nice painting" and becomes a moment — the kind of piece people pause in front of on their way through your home. This is where a more formal, gallery-style frame earns its keep. The dark mat creates breathing room between the artwork and the wall, the way you'd see in a proper exhibition space, and it makes the sun-drenched colours of the canal glow even more by contrast.

In a Home Office

Above a wooden writing desk, this painting does something quietly wonderful: it turns a workspace into somewhere you'd actually want to sit for a while. There's a reason people hang travel art near where they work — it's a small, constant reminder that there's a whole world outside the inbox. A black-and-gold frame here adds a touch of old-world elegance that suits a desk with brass lamps and leather accents, without feeling overly formal for a working room.

In a dining or kitchen nook

Near a farmhouse table and bar stools, especially in a space with big windows looking out onto the street, this painting acts almost like a second window — one that happens to open onto a Venetian side canal instead of the view outside. A slim black frame keeps things clean and modern here, letting the architecture and light in the painting take center stage rather than the frame itself.

In a reading corner

Tucked above a velvet armchair with a small side table and a stack of books, this piece changes character completely — it becomes intimate rather than grand. This is where a warm wood-toned frame, like a rich walnut or cherry, feels right; it echoes the wooden shutters and doorways in the painting itself and creates a cosy, layered look, especially next to greenery and soft textiles.

In a bedroom

Above a headboard, this painting brings a gentle, restful energy — the pale blue sky and warm stone tones read as calm rather than busy, which is exactly what you want in a room meant for slowing down. Whether the walls are a soft dove grey or a deeper blue, a light natural oak frame keeps the mood airy. This piece is the kind of scene you'd want to look at first thing in the morning.

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A quick note on choosing a frame 

• Natural oak or light wood — best for bright, airy rooms (living rooms, bedrooms) where you want the painting to feel like a window rather than a statement piece.
• Black or slim modern frames — best for contemporary spaces where you want clean lines and don't want the frame competing with existing decor.
• Gold or ornate frames — best for entryways, hallways, and more formal rooms where the art is meant to be the focal point, gallery-style.
• Warm wood tones (walnut, cherry) — best for cosy, layered rooms with mixed textures — reading nooks, snugs, spaces with lots of plants and soft furnishings.

There's no single "correct" way to frame a piece — it really comes down to whether you want the painting to blend into the room's mood or stand apart from it.

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Bring a piece of Venice home

A Quiet Canal in Venice, Italy is available now as a fine art giclee print, printed on 100% cotton Canson Arches Aquarelle Rag (310gsm) by my printer partner WhiteWall in Germany — you can find it as lovely wall art or as a fine art print in my Etsy shop, DeniseWongArts.

It is available in 6 sizes: 13.6x14.6in, 17.6x18.9in, 21.6x23.3in, 25.6x27.6in, 29.6x32in, 33.6x36.3in

If you're an interior designer sourcing art for a client, or simply someone who's fallen in love with Venice from afar, I'd love for this little canal to find a wall in your home too.