Tree with Atlantic Ocean beyond

Another coffee time view from the Magic Café - looking south - there's a 100 foot drop down to the Atlantic beyond the tree and planting.

Capelo Corpo Santo, Funchal, Madeira

Capelo Corpo Santo on the east side of the Old Town, Funchal, Madeira. This lunchtime sketch turned into an afternoon sketch. Nice place to while away a bit of time!

Pestana Grand Hotel from the Magic Cafe

Yet another coffee time sketchette this time a view of the Pestana Grand Hotel from the Magic (on the) Rocks Café. The Atlantic below the cliffs on the left and the truly Magic Gardens behind us - don't miss a visit to this garden if you're ever in Madeira, there's an amazing range of ex'otic plants to be drawn/photographed.

Bank of Portugal, Funchal, Madeira

Coffee time sketchette at the Golden Gate Café on the Avenue Arriaga in the centre of Funchal, Madeira. The corner entrance to the Bank of Portugal caught my eye as well as the armed guard at the door!

Camara de Lobos, Madeira

My first sketch in Madeira. Camara de Lobos - about 90 minutes walk from our holiday apartment. It took a lot longer than that - we had a lunch of 4 grilled sardines at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean at Praia Formosa. It was perfection - sun, sand, sea and sardines! It wasn't the last time we passed that way - it was my favourite walk and destination.

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.

Selfie at Miranda

Went to see Miranda at Sheffield Arena last night. We weren't allowed to use cameras. Luckily I had a 3"x4" piece of paper and my Pentel pencil handy so I drew this selfie while waiting for her to appear. I'm the happy looking one on the left - not that I was dragged along! Liz loved the show. Thank you to the audience behind us - I guess they were wondering why I kept turning around and staring at them. Hello Sheffield.

Muse Cottage and Apple Tree Cottage on Main Street in Calver

More from our Ezra's diary. Muse Cottage and Apple Tree Cottage on Main Street in Calver. There are some trout lazing about in a crystal clear brook just the other side of that low stone wall at the front of the drawing - I think they're family pets The water gushes out from the spring less than 100 metres up the road and looks good enough to drink (depending on what the fish are doing in it of course).

All Saints Church Curbar

This Church is just over the frontier between Calver and Curbar (ie. the River Derwent) 

 

Derwentwater Arms Calver

More from our 13 month old grandson's illustrated diary. Ezra's local - we've already taken him out with us twice to this pub for an evening meal. Wonder if we'll still be around when he's 18 - very much doubt it! On our morning stroll with him we pass this view on the way back from our coffee at Palmer's Café.

Returning to Calver Village in colour

Watercolour added

Returning to Calver Village

Returning to Calver Village from the Curbar side off Kingsgate (the A623) onto Main Street...... the pen sketch. Ezra's asleep by this stage and we're on the way to Palmer's Café for our mid morning cappuccino and sausage roll/toasted teacake. That's G A Shepherd the bespoke tailor's shop straight ahead.

Doug's dog Spike

More from our travels around Calver with our grandson Ezra. We usually stop (when the weather's okay) to say hello to the old gentleman Spike. He's Doug's dog. Doug used to be landlord of the local Derwentwater Arms and they live on the corner of High Street and Lowside. Ezra likes Spike and likes pointing at him! 

Whitby boats

My latest boat painting - another from Whitby

Siena Cathedral doodle

My memory of our first view of Cattedrale Di Siena as we walked around the massive Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico to reveal this view across the valley.

'omage to Van Gogh & San Gimignano 02 - finished

'omage to Van Gogh & San Gimignano 02 - finished and ready for submission day. This is the central section - hopefully it'll all become visible at the Great Sheffield Art Show in July.

'omage to Van Gogh & San Gimignano 02 - stage 1

'omage to Van Gogh & San Gimignano 02 - stage 1 - the pencil sketch. It's A3 size and follows our visit to Tuscany last September and my lifelong liking for Vincent VG's paintings. This one is for the Great Sheffield Art Show Selection Day in April. I'll post the finished acrylic painting tomorrow.

Venice Rialto - stage 3 - finished

The finished work (part of). The complete work is ready for selection day for the Great Sheffield Art Show. I'm thinking of starting the Sheffield Colourists Movement!

Venice Rialto - stage 2

The collagey bit

Venice Rialto - stage 1

My next bit of artwork - Venice Rialto - stage 1 - the pencil drawing. It's going to be another over the top colourful acrylic/collagey painting! I suppose it should really be called "working boats at the Rialto Bridge".