Castle in Portugal

"Castle in Portugal"  Watercolour   8" x 10"

(thank you Mandy for foto!)

A very fast daub - I liked the drama...and the silhouettes.   And the colours are such an irresistible trio: Violet, Cobalt Blue and Burnt Sienna.   Watch out for them - you'll be surprised how often you see that combo.

Enjoy

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Another Estuary!

 "Estuary - St John's Lake"  Watercolour  9" x 14"
(from photo by Kate Jewell, geograph.org.uk)

I am not totally sure where St John's Lake is...and some liberties with shore line taken.


Oh, and this is my assistant...

Enjoy!

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Industrial Skyline

Pastel   9" x 14"

A view over a muddy estuary toward a "steaming" power station, somewhere in the north of England.  A segment of sky is used as background for the new header.

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Nossa Senhora da Guia, Vila do Conde, Portugal

Watercolor  9" x 14"

Orig Photo, Mandy Martyn

I must admit religious symbols are not something I'd choose to paint, however the drama and the rawness of that stairway got to me - it's almost primal the way it reaches up and out, as if it's trying to placate the sea.   

This small chapel is on the coast about 35 miles north of Porto.  It's name:  Nossa Signora da Guia or Our Lady of Guides - looks out over the Atlantic, which you can just glimpse beyond the rocks at the left.   It's location and that dramatic stairway must have been visible from quite far out and perhaps was first sight of land for the fishermen, quite probably sailing home from as far away as the banks off Newfoundland where they'd fished for cod.  Imagine their relief when the chapel hove in sight:  LAND and HOME!
 

A bright sunny day above.   I wondered about BAD weather, and imagined "a dark and stormy night" with a screaming gale at sea and a priest kneeling below the cross, his robes whipped by the wind and his face streaming with rain as he prayed that the incoming fleet make safe harbour....  WOW!  Quite takes you breath away!  

My cousin took the photo about 2 years ago.  Sadly no-one around to provide information so this past week we did a lot of detective work to find out more about this chapel.  Thank you Mandy.

Enjoy!

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Sketchbook

A few from the past.
Clockwise from top left:  Jenny-Jenny-Jack-Rockie

Enjoy!

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Sketchbook & 103!

Pastel & Ink

Flipped thru sketchbook from last year.   A few of the finds above.

YAHOO!   Just reached 103 paintings!    One of these four is ONE HUNDRED!

Enjoy!

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In the Making

Canyon & Stream, Wyoming    Watercolor      10"x12"

Sketched to help lockdown a river/canyon wall view before moving up to a half sheet.   

Above began as "just" watercolor.  Looked bland so I picked up an ink pen and threw in some detail.   Totally not in original plan.   Apart from black blob in upper right of wall, I was startled 3 days later to find how much I liked it.   The detail on the left enhances the fading away on the right.

Enjoy!

Tongue River Canyon, Wyo

Tongue River Canyon, Wyoming     Watercolor   14" x 20"

I surprised myself on this one.   I framed it - which I sometimes do just to "test" whether the visual is comfy to look at and live with - and was pleasantly surprised.  The water was "moving", but not aggressively;  calm where there were pools, then winging around or stumbled over rocks.   The trees were a mix of pines on the left and aspens on the right, as you can see.

Enjoy!

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Sylvie, Fernand & The Gang!

Photo Portrait 18" x 27"

Taken early December, framed at last today and now hanging over the fireplace!   The main picture was chosen quickly, the selection below was much tougher.   All the dogs, and Taylor, are rescues.

Main Picture
Back of sofa:  Simone, Fernand and Shaddie.
Seated:  Mia, Sylvie, Daisy and Coco (turned away from the camera)

4 cut in below L to R
* Simone & Fernand  * Chaos!  * Sylvie & Taylor  * Fernand & Sylvie with Shaddie & Coco

Enjoy!
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Daisy - to Sylvie

Pencil & Pastel   9"x12"

Daisy is one of Sylvie's kids.   Very very sadly on New Year's Eve an accident to one eye meant it had to be removed.   (I do not know which one).   She came home last night, after the operation.

So this is for Sylvie.  (Hoping Daisy recovers fast and thinking of you, both.)

UPDATE
Daisy doing well!   In a cone collar for about 2 weeks and not traumatised.   So good news in the end.

Update Update!   Jan 8th
Was over at Sylvie's and Daisy is skittish, playful and racing around the apartment with toys in her mouth.   Awesome!.   



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