Taking a trip...

This Spring's trip to the Finca proved to be extra exciting ! After a few days to get to grips with a few techniques we set off to the coast for a few days, travelling westwards towards Gibralta and beyond.

Lunchtime and we stopped off for a drink and a bite to eat at the Hurricane Hotel and boy was it well named. There was a really fierce wind blowing but that didn't stop me dashing off a quick sketch of the beach area even though I had to tie my sketchbook down to stop it flying away !

We had now left the warm waters of the Med and were now on the Atlantic Coast.

Travelling further up the west coast of Spain towards Cadiz we stopped off at the small resort of Zahara de los Atunes where we stayed the night.

Doing a sketch atop a large sand dune I was almost sandblasted by the time I had finished.

Next morning we set off inland to Medina Sidonia, a small viilage named after the Admiral of the Armada. After a very pleasant mornings painting we headed back to the Finca through some really stunning scenery. Must get to paint some of these scenes one day !!

All Columned Out ...!

This year our first overseas Painting Holiday was to Greece. We stayed on the coast on the mainland due east from Athens on Vravrona Bay. Our hotel was in a very quiet position overlooking the water and a pretty headland which we painted a few times perched on the bar balcony ( with the odd Methos or two for good measure !)

Our first trip out took us south to the temple of Posidon on Cape Sunio which gave us our first taste of a real Greek temple. The main attraction was a day out to Athens and the Parthenon which I have always wanted to see. After climbing the many steep and slippery marble steps we passed through the entry arch of the Propylaea and got our first glimpse of the Parthenon. What a structure, quite exhilarating. After picking a spot right next to the guard rail I sketched this pic looking up at the temple. For the purists among you I have only included 7 columns in the front

portico instead of 8 as I was running out of steam but I'm sure my secret is safe with you!

Managed to get another 2 pics done before it was time for lunch and by that time we were all ' Columned out' as Ann said . After lunch there was a mass migration to the Ice Cream parlour for some great flavours and some even went on to the bakery for a Baclava ( I mention no names !)

Next day we visited the small temple of Artemis which we could almost see from the hotel. When we got there it was closed to the public which was a real nuisance but did manage to get this other sketch done from the boundary fence so all was not lost .

The weather on the whole was very warm and sunny but there was the odd cold wind which brought out the jumpers and fleeces !

Up North...to SUN !

Going up to North Yorkshire to the Leven Arts Society is always a treat and this year it was even better...we had sunshine, and loads of it ! After the surprise results from last years session I decided to do the workshops using Mixed Media, Pastel and Watercolour.

The results were truely amazing ! I have never seen so much colour and excitement in everyones paintings before. The watercolour washes that went on to the paper were
really bold and free which is a 'Brucie Bonus' believe me ! Then in with the pastel to bring out the highlights and the paintings glowed.

After the workshops came the Great Day Out, and this year it was to Swaledale. I have not been to this part of the country since Sally and I took her parents on holiday there in the height of the foot and mouth epidemic...which was a while ago ! And was not dissapointed. What a beautiful Dale it is with its miles of stone walls , barns and villages and ever present river gliding slowly along.

The day started off a little overcast but by lunchtime the sun was out and lit up the scenery for us. So all in all another VERY enjoyable time 'Up North'...thanks again Folks !

...and some MORE SUN !

Our second week at the Finca was another very pleasant break. We visited the wonderful gardens with palm trees, waterfalls and Roman remains at the Jardin de Conception just outside Malaga. The sun was at full strength but we settled under the shade and sketched a rather nice waterfall and pool which was quite a challenge as the light was moving as we painted.

Then we set off to Malaga for lunch at a small restaurant Denis found in one of the side streets which served up some very tasty dishes. After lunch some of us went to the Cathedral Square where we had coffee, ice cream and did some sketching while the others went shopping !!

In the evening we got 'Picks' round with his guitar and PA unit for some golden oldies which went on into the early hours. Songs included 'Dock of the bay', ' Midnight Hour' and the one that got us all going 'Rehab' ( backing vocals by the Fincarettes !)

Our boat and beach day was down at El Palo where the plastic chair I borrowed from the beach shattered beneath me sending me and the water container flying !

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At last...SOME SUN !

Thank goodness for the Finca and some Spanish sun! Got off the plane and felt really hot and uncomfortable, but once in the pool and a cooling cerveza and all was well !

Once again Denis got us to some different locations together with some old favourites.

An early walk down each morning to the beach for morning coffee at the Estacion Hostal set us up for the day .

One of the new places we visited was Stephen and Zara's house in Canillas which was an absolute joy to paint...and what a lovely spot. The small white village is very small and quiet and tucked underneath the towering bulk of Mount Moreno at around 8000ft behind it. The village itself is a few thousand feet above sea level and the views of the surrounding countryside are amazing.

We stayed in the shade of their garden for the morning session and had a delicious lunch on their patio, finishing off with our feet cooling off in the pool.

The afternoon was spent sketching at a small bar just around the corner with an ice cold beer in one hand and a paintbrush in the other.

We also got back to Nerja on the coast for a very enjoyable days painting. I set up in the shadow of the Balcon de Europa to sketch the beach and cliffs. The Denis arranged lunch at a local pizzeria which really hit the spot.

These are the sketches I did on those two days.

Wiltshire Villages

The start to the 'Wiltshire Village' painting workshops started off rather slowly as the first afternoon was decidedly dull and damp, so it was studio work to kick off the week.

Tuesday was altogether different. A morning sketch at the little village of Bremhill was overcast then the sun came out and stayed out so the afternoon was bright and sunny.
We set off in search of a 'watering hole' and stopped in the delightful village of Biddestone. I was so taken with it we did our afternoon sketch here on the village green outside the White Horse.

This is the view looking up the main street with the village pond on the left. Afternoon tea and cake, curtousy of Urchfont Manor , and it was back to base for a great evening meal.

After the rather dull and wet day we had on Wednesday, today was really hot and sunny so we set off to paint the small village of Alton Barnes with its Saxon church and thatched cottages.

Having set up in the field opposite a herd of cows decided to take a look and proceeded to block everyones view plus trying to eat my sketchbook and easel.!

Lunch at the Barge Inn right on the canal side then off the hill to the village of Lockeridge where I did this sketch of the road leading into the village. I originally set up on the roadside but it was so hot I had to move under the trees to finish it off.

Preston Court, Herefordshire

After rather a dull start to the morning our painting day with the Herefordshire Art Group turned out rather nice ! The main building , which is off to the right of my sketch, had just completed a two year roof renovation so there was still a lot of scaffolding about.
This is the view as you drive in behind the house with the small church on the left.

After lunch on the lawn I did another sketch, this time from the front of the house looking over the pond. A super venue all round .

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