- another coffee time sketch in Mallorca

Coffee time sketch alongside the boatyard at Puerto Soller, Mallorca.

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- the interior of Hotel Es Port, Puerto Soller, Mallorca

Another from our holiday in Puerto Soller, Mallorca last May/June. Starting with an urban sketch in pencil from the interior of the Hotel Es Port. I sat in the bar looking at the olive presses which have now been beautifully restored and are part of the sitting area. I developed that pencil sketch (on the left) to a finished painting of the interior - it tested my skill!

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- EsPort, Puerto Soller, Mallorca

This is an urban sketch of Es Port in Puerto Soller, Mallorca from our visit there last May. It's now an Hotel but it's been the centre of the Montis Family Estate for centuries. When I was sitting in front of the building sketching, 3 young people gathered round, followed by their grandfather. He turned out to be a consultant solicitor from London and he asked if I didn't mind that he sat down and had a chat. 90 minutes later we had to break up! He was such an interesting person, we talked about lots of things including "copyright"! I had to go back the next day to finish painting! We were on holiday so it was all part of our enjoyment. Michel, the President of the "Soller French Society" has now got a digital copy of this image to use in his talks and information promoting the links between France and Mallorca - Soller and the traditional export of oranges in particular - so we're all happy! Michel introduced us to the latest Head of the Montis family and showed us around the old, refurbished parts of the House/Hotel - in particular the old olive pressing facilities and storage which I shall post images of (soon).

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- Tram Terminus Puerto Soller Mallorca

This time last week we were there - Miramar Hotel Puerto Mallorca - sitting outside with a coffee looking at the tram terminus. Sketch time!

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- a bit of business.... then RELAX!

Posted the first 100 prints (of 500) to ARTiMANS in Soller Mallorca this morning, called into the Millenium Gallery Shop and discovered my Sheffield Prints and Cards are now on display... nice sunny day, some free time - went on a short cicular walk from home, down into Porter Brook Valley, up through the beech woods, along Fulwood Lane, looked down on Sheffield City 5 miles below, past the Alpaca Farm and back to the Village - Home Sweet Home!

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Michael Portillo @ Puerto Soller Mallorca

Michael Portillo was on BBC 2 last night (and repeated tonight) taking the Train and the Tram from Palma to Puerto Soller in Mallorca! It's our favourite place - but don't tell too many people! My paintings are the view to Portillo's right.   I painted the image on the right from almost exactly where Portillo was sitting but I was actually sitting in the sea behind him and using the sea water as my watercolour medium.

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Puerto Soller Mallorca

This is my last post of an Urban Sketch from our holiday in Puerto Soller, Mallorca at the start of this month. It's the view looking along the promenade from outside our favourite Hotel in the Port it's called the Miramar. I drew and painted it on 1st October and it's now in the private collection of our new friend Shirley in Soller.

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No 2 Cami des Cingles, Puerto Soller, MALLORCA

This is where we stayed in Puerto Soller, Mallorca 2 weeks ago now. First floor above the Albatros (not mis-spelt here - only on the drawing!) Bar. I gave the original to Aug & Ben - they were the sons of Rachel Fox (the photographer for the Majorcan Daily News). Hope it inspires the young men!

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My Mallorcan sketches

All my sketches from our Mallorcan Holiday in the beautiful Soller Valley:

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Puerto Soller boatyard - our breakfast view over a cappuccino con crema & Napolitano chochlatino (not sure about the spelling!)

Can Prohom high above the Soller Valley - good welcome and good cake and fresh orange.

Soller Cathedral - right hand entrance porch from over a cool Coke at Café Aro at Placa Constitucio.

Placa d' Espanya at Fornalutx where we met the Policia Locale who helped find the wallet I lost last September

Fishing boats in the corner of the marina at Puerto Soller below the old monastery now a maritime museum.

The old monastery at Puerto Soller viewed from lunchtime at the Nautilus Bar. The view vertically down to the Mediterranean is absolutely spectacular!

I was sitting under the ramp up to the Town Hall in Soller at the Placa Constituticio to sketch this one looking towards the Carrer de Vives. This was my final sketch.

The Tobacos at Placa Constitucio, Soller over a cool San Miguel at Bar Firo

The upper lighthouse overlooking the Puerto Soller Bay. This sketch is from over lunch at the picnic tables to the Refugi.

The lower and disused lighthouse at the entrance to Puerto Soller - looks good from any direction!

This was the view from our first cappuccino and cake breakfast in the Port. I wasn't quite warmed up.

17 Calle D'Alaro, Puerto Soller, Mallorca

The view from the balcony at the front of our rented house was fan-b*****-tastic (see my previous Bay/Harbour blogs). This is the view round the back and side - shady seating/eating areas and a sunny area for 4 sun beds - but it was too hot to sunbathe! 

Old Monastery Puerto Soller

The Old Monastery (now a Nautical Museum) above Puerto Soller, Mallorca. This view is from the outside area to the coffee shop where I consumed my cappuccino on several hot and sunny mornings. It's a view I've drawn/painted this view many times on our holidays to the Port over the past 15 years.

Son Bleda above Puerto Soller, Mallorca

Hotel Son Bleda from C'an Prohom above Puerto Soller. This time the media was a touch of orange juice from the drink I was enjoying on the shady terrace. I did my back in drawing this one - I was crouching to look under a hole in the grape vine draped over the fence..... still suffering for my Art.

Puerto Soller Mallorca - the Bay/Harbour 2

Another from Puerto Soller - the Bay/Harbour from further round towards the south. We were sampling the champagne sangria which I then used as the medium for the watercolour or "champagnecolour" as it is now known. Tip: champagnecolour doesn't evaporate like watercolour - it remains sticky for ever - wipe out your palette if you don't want it to smear your rucksack (in my case). 

Puerto Soller Mallorca - the Bay/Harbour

Puerto Soller Mallorca. The entrance to the Bay/Harbour from sea level - literally - my feet were in the sea and I was sitting on a rock. I dipped the left hand of the paper in the sea and I used sea water as the medium, so it's my first "seawatercolour" painting. I then went for a swim in the medium!

Sunset bar at the Nautilus, Puerto Soller, Mallorca

The first sketch from our holiday in Puerto Soller, Mallorca. Lunchtime at the sunset bar at the Nautilus. There was a 200 foot drop down to the Mediterranean on the left! I didn't take any equipment out, so daughter Sian tore a sheet out of her sketchbook and loaned me a pen and some watercolours. She was keener than me to sketch... at last I've passed on the baton!