Matera, Southern Italy

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Due to unforeseen lack of artist talent, had to put my painting of Portofino on hold this evening. Did this sketchette of Matera in Southern Italy to cleanse my mind... and palette! 

Venice Washday 02

Another washday in Venice. That's my ironing board  and iron in the background - thought it was apt with all that washing hanging there!  I do multie-task in my studio (ie. workroom) - the ironing board usually supports my paints, brushes and water bottles.

Cappella Vitaleta, San Quirico, Tuscany, Italy

Cappella Vitaleta, San Quirico, Tuscany, Near Siena, Italy. Couldn't resist painting this one - it's probably been painted a zillion times before! I've started drawing my Siena project - it's 18 months since we were there, time flies.

Edinburgh finished

That's it. I've (plus others) decided to stop there. It's such a complex scene I thought I'd emphasise the part the attracted me - Cockburn Street curving up to the Royal Mile  topped by the crown steeple of St Giles' Cathedral or more properly known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh (according to Wikipedia). Every time I visit Edinburgh I wonder how the steeple/lantern stands on it's 4 legs without spreading, but it's been there since the 15th century so they must have got it right! 

Sheffield Skyline

Sheffield Skyline looking up Fitzwilliam Street towards the University Arts Tower - that's where I spent the last 2 (of 5) years of my university career - a long way up (20 storeys) and a very very long time ago now!

Manarola, Liguria, Italy

I started (top left hand corner) some time ago! I'll be packing it in soon before I go crossed eyed. Time to blow the candles out. goodnight.

Camara de Lobos - 02

Finished this last night

Comogli, Italy

The finished (maybe) work. thought I'd try a low angle shot with my camera phone again. It's "very colourful" I've been told!

Edinburgh extra

By accident, my phone camera caught these views of my painting. They reminded me of being there - looking up at the cliff of buildings tumbling down from the Royal Mile!

More Edinburgh

It's coming along nicely but very, very slowly - this is not in my loose style! I might just stop sooner than I originally intended.

Edinburgh - my favourite view.

Photo of stage 2 of my Edinburgh view. Not sure if it's politically correct to admit to but I do love drawing straight(ish) lines! I've been wanting to do my favourite view of Edinburgh since our visits there in 2013 and 2014. Just the watercolour bit to do now - should be ready for Christmas!

Comogli, Italy

Started another. Love churches, love Italy so that's decided! Stage 1 again - rough pencil sketch that's going to be plastered with acrylic. 

Camara Del Lobos 02

Great news. I've started painting again. I've not done a "proper" painting since August last year - apart from some outside sketching, adding to our Ezra's diary/book and a couple of commissions! This one's another acrylic of Camara Del Lobos in Madeira. The attached photo is the pencil (stage 1) version with some tissue paper glued to the foreground to give a bit of texture. I've set myself a target of 20 paintings by the last week in October this year.... can I do it, will I survive that long? I'll let you know.

Our Ezra's 2nd birthday card

Our Ezra loves diggers as much as tractors so for his (2nd) birthday card on the 23rd inst I've drawn him this JCB digger 3CX with front bucket and back actor. He adores back actors so I'm hoping it'll be a winner.  

Daughter's Wedding

20 second sketch of our younger daughter's wedding on 31 January - drawn without spectacles (I wasn't looking at the paper anyway) and on the only piece of paper I could find in my (top) pocket. It was one of those moments I realised I couldn't miss.

Stocking Farm, Calver - our Ezra's book/diary

Stocking Farm, Calver - our Ezra's book/diary. This is as far as we get on our Tuesday and Thursday walks with our little prince. The kissing gate on the right of the drawing is in the top 3 of Ez's favourite gates. It's quite difficult to prise his fingers off the woodwork - we usually have to drag him away! We wonder if he would stay there all day opening and closing the gate if he had the opportunity (it does make a nice "bang" when it shuts).

Ez's diary/book - concrete chickens

Calver Sough Nurseries - the koi carp pool is surround by various products. These were concrete (I think) chickens. Ezra loves to watch the fish sticking their heads above the water expecting to be fed. Some have human like features to their faces, some are golden, some have red and white patches and they all look pretty and tasty!

The Bridge Inn, Curbar..... Ezra's diary/book

The Bridge Inn, Curbar - just over the frontier with Calver (the River Derwent). This is where Ezra starts yawning and we often turn back to Palmers Café. There's also a very interesting pavement gully (shown in the foreground) with chevron shaped gratings which Ezra loves to use as a trampoline. 

Ezra's diary - sketching re-starts

Our Ezra's fascinated by tractors (or "actors" as he says). This one which I think is rented out by Froggatt Edge Garage did a U-ey outside the garage on the very busy A625. Nice manoeuvre!

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!