El Tren from Palma arriving at Soller, Mallorca. Did this one when staying at Puerto Soller last May. Been visiting the Port most years since the end of last century and is the latest of dozens of my sketches of the area.
- make someone happy!
Apart from my sparkling wit and repartee I can't usually make people happy. I'm not a life-saving doctor, an accordion player or a stand-up comedian. However recently, when I was drawing and painting in the narrow street outside ARTiMANS Art Shop & Gallery in Soller, Mallorca where my prints of local scenes were on sale inside, an old gentleman with a walking stick stopped and spoke to me like a machine gun going off. My complete lack of Spanish/Mallorcan matched his English! The Shop owners were able to translate. Turned out that he wanted me to do a painting of his house a few doors away for the same price as a print. We gently (I hope) explained that an original painting is worth a lot more than a print. Overnight, I thought, I'll give him a surprise and do a sketch of his house as a gift. So I secretly stood outside his house and did the deed. The Shop owners kindly translated my description on the back of the painting explaining it was a gift to him. The following week, when I was painting in the street again, he happened by. I stood up and presented it to him. He smiled, kept walking away, kept coming back and shaking my hand.... he seemed very happy and it made me feel very, very good! Attached is me and my new best friend Jaime Umbert Vicens!
- Carrer de sa Lluna, Soller, Mallorca
Saturdays 7th & 14th May - Carrer de sa Lluna, Soller, Mallorca. I was sitting outside ARTiMANS Art Shop sketching the street views - attracting passers-by. The Shop was selling my Soller artwork, then I signed the prints!
- 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!
- 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!
My Mallorcan sketches
All my sketches from our Mallorcan Holiday in the beautiful Soller Valley:
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.
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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.
