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!
- 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).
- Ca'n Rom, Fornalutx, Mallorca
This urban sketch is from our visit to Mallorca last May/June. It's called Ca'n Rom which is in Fornalutx - the most beautiful village in Mallorca. It's at the top of the steps above the Placa d'Espanya with the most stunning views over the Soller Valley. Google "Ca'n Rom, Fornalutx" if you would like to see the amazing interiors. Just had to draw and paint the house from this dramatic angle! More from Mallorca (soon).
- el tren arriving at Soller, Mallorca
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.
Fornalutx, Mallorca (again)
Fornalutx, Mallorca, where the best Police and most honest Taxi Drivers on the Island helped recover my mislaid wallet in September 2014 - forever grateful. A postcard of Fornalutx tumbling down the hillside from a work colleague was the reason we first visited the Soller Valley in 1999 and almost every year since - quite often twice in the same year.
- 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!
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.
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.
Valldemossa again!
This is my sketch on October 6 (just over 2 weeks ago) from our visit to Valldemossa, Mallorca. I sketched it from the most excellent Café Cappuccino looking down the Carrer Cami Antic a Palma. I'm just about prepared/ready for the "10 Artists and 10 paintings" at Baslow (next to Chatsworth) in Derbyshire this weekend. Pop into the Exhibition - there are prints and cards for sale as well as original artworks.
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!
Palma, Mallorca
Placa del Mercat - Palma, Mallorca last week. It's a bit Gaudi-ish!
Valldemossa, Mallorca
Valldemossa, Mallorca from our recent holiday. This was a really unusual sketch for me - I did it standing up! (looking over a wall)
Postcards from Mallorca
We're back home safe, sound and (a lot) colder! Attached the full range of grandchidrens' postcards sent from Puerto Soller - no words, just drawings again!
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.
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
Old Monastery Puerto Soller
Deia, Mallorca
