Cordoba - the Mosque

In June we were guided around Seville, Cordoba and Granada by Riviera Travel. This is my abiding memory of the Mosque of Cordoba and how it would look as a Travel Poster!

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Spanish Idea-02

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Cordoba Arches - another idea I'm thinking of developing into a full size painting

5 Sketches

• These are 5 sketches which I completed on a folded/layflat A3 sketchbook the day before we rushed off to Rhosneigr in Anglesey just over a week ago.

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Alhambra panorama Granada Spain

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Anthurium at Sheffield Winter Garden

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Higger Tor - just 8 miles from Sheffield City Centre

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St Paul's Cathedral, London

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Inspired by the waterfalls of the Vale of Neath, South Wales

Spain, Andalusia, Granada

A very fast sketchette of the Alambra in Granada from the Mirador in front of the Church of San Nicholas across a very steep and narrow valley. It had to be a very quick sketch - friends were waiting. I perched myself astride (like on a horse) a low stone wall to stop the crowds on the placa pushing me off the wall and down a 20 foot drop to the road below. I met a very nice Spanish lady who had enough English to say she liked my painting - I only had enough Spanish to say grathias!   

The Alambra panorama

The nice Spanish Lady.

Seville, Spain

While my wife and friends went on a riverboat trip on the Canal de Alfonso X111 - an arm off the Rio Guardalquivir I spent the morning drawing the Cathedral and part of the afternoon painting it. I was sitting under a shady tree just outside the exit from the stunning Alcazar which we had visited the day before. A guide on one of the many packs of tourists that stood in front of me while I was drawing said to them that it was the best view of the Tower - my instinct to sit in that spot was spot on! 

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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.

Deia, Mallorca

Beautiful Deia about 12 miles south of Puerto Soller from Café Sa Font Fresca. This time the medium was a touch of the coffee I was drinking. We then walked down to the stunning Cala Deia for lunch overlooking the turquoise Mediterranean. 

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!

Heeley Art Club Collage

Last night's exercise at Heeley Art Club - collage of your choice. Somebody said it reminded her of Torremolinos.... then she said she'd not been there.

MALLORCA - Puerto Soller

View inland from our Mallorcan bolt-hole - Hotel Miramar - Cati always gives us such a good welcome

SPAIN - Castellon de la Plana

This is my Castellon Triad - the place where I re-started my urban sketching adventure. To celebrate I re-drew these as a group drawing last year. See the original centre view above!

SPAIN - Caceres

SPAIN - Cuenca

Pencil sketch + bucket fill in Spanish colours

Mallorca - Puerto Soller

10+ minutes walk inland from the Port - our beautiful Mallorca!
Sitting under the shade of an ancient olive tree - bliss.

Spain - Castellon de la Plana

What a welcome they gave us at Fiesta time - wish I was there again.