Working on It

These are two practice watercolors. I'm working on control of the medium but still trying to give up control at the same time. They're over worked and I have a very long way to go. Thanks to a class with David R. Becker, I'm enjoying the trip .

Speaking of which- the paintings are done from photos from a trip to Barcelona in 2010. The top one is the old Cathedral in the Gothic Quarter and the one below it is in Antoni Gaudi's Sagrada Familia.  It struck me how this cathedral builder is a living link to those nameless artists who labored centuries ago. I'm also reminded of the book Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett – a great read.

Sailing O'er the Bounty Main

Going away for three weeks in November wreaks havoc on Christmas planning and organization. I do plan to post my sketches from the trip eventually but today I had to post these randoms sketches from days at sea.





The first one is the view looking down, the second is Stromboli, and the third group are sketches from the solarium done on a day at sea.

According to the news today, The Brilliance of the Seas, the ship we were on last month, was caught in a huge storm in the Mediterranean. It's hard to imagine a ship of that size being tossed around like a toy boat but it was. We had a smooth ride the entire time and the crew was fabulous. I hope all is well on board.

Home from the Sea

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way,
where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.
From Salt-Water Poems and Ballads, by John Masefield

We had a wonderful and long vacation. As I slowly dig out from the daily flotsam and jetsam of life that collected at home while we were gone for almost three weeks, I'll post some of my sketches. I sketched more than I thought I would but, of course, less than I hoped! From five glorious days in Barcelona to quick stops in Aix en Provence, Florence, Rome, Athens, Ephesus, Santorini, Amalfi and back it was an unforgettable time.

I'm looking forward to catching up with what all of my favorite bloggers have been doing.