Thursday 29 May 2014

Barcelona





So where did I go in Europe for a short break?  Well to start with I didn't go anywhere as the flight was delayed for four hours!  Luckily the view was good from the departure lounge.







We eventually arrived at our destination late in the evening....yes Barcelona! 



Our hotel was in Gràcia, just slightly out of the city centre.  Everyday we walked down Passeig de Gràcia past Gaudi's Casa Batllò, just one of the stunning examples of his work in Barcelona.



  
You either love or hate the Sagrada Familia with its towering spires and ornate decoration.  To me the side I sketched looked like a fairytale sandcastle, I loved the carefully thought out madness of it all.

Just around the corner from our hotel was Gaudi's Casa Vincens, his first important building.


No visit would be complete without seeing Parc Guell and one of the reasons why I wanted to see Barcelona. 



A walk along the Ramblas to see the famous Boqueria market, Liceu Theatre and a pavement mosaic by Joan Miro-





So much to see  ( so many tourists) and not enough time...I will have to go back one day!




Tuesday 20 May 2014

Somewhere in Europe!





I'm just back from a short city break somewhere in Europe, I will be posting some sketches soon!  In the meantime just for fun can you guess where I've been?
Here are some clues......







Wednesday 7 May 2014

Mandala





It's been quite a while since my last post but I never stop painting!  
Sometimes there is the need just to reflect on what I'm doing, I like to learn, experiment and think about where I'm going.  I think everyone needs to do that occasionally.
I've been trying out painting on mdf boards instead of canvas, working on new ideas in mixed media and planning a trip to Spain,  (more about that later).
The shape of this Aloe reminded me of a Mandala, with its repeating patterns and the terracotta pot forming a circle around it.   What do you think?
Oil on board 35x31 cms.