Settling nicely into the quiet tranquil of the @ngcreativeartresidency here in deepest Provence. A wonderful welcome from Nicky, Edwin, Liz and a great group of artists sharing the studio. I am already feeling at home.
It always takes me a while to adjust to a new landscape before the ideas start to develop. So much to take in from the landscape, olive groves and vineyards and the beautiful local towns of Lausanne-les-Alpilles and Eygalieres.
The market today in St Remy was fantastic! And the local hills and mountains are spectacular. Swipe to see my sketches.
Our three days in Bologna have exceeded my expectations. Wonderful food, wine and staggering architecture and warm sun casting shadows through the collonades. The MORANDI Museum was a big hit for me.
And now on to Le Marche and our art retreat @hotelleone Looking forward to meeting our artists and exploring and painting in and around Montelparo and the Sibbilini Mountains.
An afternoon sketching two buildings opposite one another in the busy Piazza Maggiore. The first one is in watercolour and in an A4 Moleskine. I went straight to the paint, no pre-drawing with pencil, I much prefer the final appearance of the work.
Shops and restaurants occupy the archways and when school finishes, the square fills with schoolkids and the noise level rises, the pigeons flapping and swooping!
The second sketch is Basilica Di San Petronio in black and white using @staedtler pigment pen in my @elementsofart scribble pad. What intrigued me about this building was the stark architectural contrast between the pale cream and pink marble of the lower half with the dark brown concrete of the upper half!
Such an enjoyable afternoon. More building studies to come I think.
FLEETING IMPRESSIONS I always travel with my ‘scribble pad’ – a place to work fast and make a few marks on the go. Often I’m standing in a doorway, on a street corner, ducking under an arch. I try not to think too much, just recording in the moment. It’s been great drawing daily in Morocco and now we are in Italy. Incredible inspiration everywhere I look. My scribble pad is an essential tool- I often draw from these drawings as even a few fast and loose marks contain so much information for me later
The main square in the Marrakesh Medina. Buzzing with activity, a storm threatening…the previous night it had left much of the city blanketed in snow and hailstones…
Swipe to see the build up in gouache, the last image is from my scribble pad, which is always in my pocket!
We are now in the hills of Umbria in Italy for the next stage of our journey. Surrounded by olive trees with distant vistas towards the hilltop town of Montecchio and Orvieto in the far distance. (The second image is Orvieto…🤔 more on Italy later).
I have stayed here so many times and yet it still thrills and delights me. Maybe I was an Italian in a previous life!
Clay walls, dusty streets and far from perfect signage.
Sometimes the hand written signs in Morocco belie the actual experience. That turned out to be the case with Kasbah Imdoukal our @amazigh_art_tours residence for a terrific three night stay in K’Nob. It was a great final stay before our return to Marrakesh.
A kasbah is a type of fortified residence or citadel, traditionally built to house a local leader, family, or tribe. Nekob’s kasbahs feel raw, quiet, and deeply connected to traditional Berber life.
Happily spent an hour painting this one as locals passed us going about their daily lives.
Heading back to Marrakesh tomorrow and then to Italy on Sunday. Many thanks to @amazigh_art_tours for what has been an incredible artistic journey.
From the rooftop terrace of our 17th century Kasbah, the town of N’Kob stretches away to the distant Atlas Mountains.
Our art workshop with @amazigh_art_tours is drawing to a close and my sketchbook nearly complete with great memories. Such a wonderful country, generous, hospitable people and diverse and exciting locations.
The road to the Atlas Mountains, which still wears a crown of snow. A pale and dusty track that winds its way around the huge Skouros Oasis.
Working in gouache, I let the background orange play a role in conveying the low, warm Moroccan sun. Quick layered greens suggest the oasis and broad matte strokes are used for the mountains with the snow picked out in sharp opaque white.
Our Amazigh guide Salah Eddina leading us on a walk through the Skouros Oasis and explaining the family garden. Such a warm and wonderful character and a fascinating insight into Moroccan life.
From the scribble pad, fleeting impressions of Morocco, in particular the Skouros Oasis and the incredible fortified village at Ait Benhaddou.
Our @amazigh_art_tours workshop is going so well, wonderful locations, fantastic food and accommodation and moments that I won’t forget for a long time! And a tremendous group of artists who are throwing themselves into the challenges!
The Moussaine Fountain in the heart of the souks of Marrakesh. Both in the scribble pad and swipe to see the initial black and white sketch.
It was our last day in the city and today we have driven over the high Atlas Mountains to the incredible Ait Ben Hadoud. Our artists are responding well to the challenges of this rich, dynamic landscape.
Hello Marrakesh and a first day out and about amongst the vibrancy of its souks and the Medina. The first two watercolours are of the Koutoubia Mosque in my scribble pad. I’ve deliberately kept them simple, fleeting impressions of the beautiful pink stonework of the tallest building in the city.
The third is a more intensive watercolour and my last sketch of Santa Maria Major before we left Lisbon.
Great to be flitting between watercolour and gouache and can’t wait to give the acrylics go once we get out in to the Atlas Mountains.
Thrilled to be here, many thanks to amazigh_art_tours for inviting me and partner @debbiemackinnon to what feels like quite an adventure.
Our artists are arriving from every part of the world and I look forward to welcoming them tomorrow night.
Our final day exploring Lisbon, riding the trams, walking for miles and of course sketching. Here’s today’s output!
The squares up towards the castle and cathedral are always rich in drawing and painting material and Lisbon’s early spring light makes for dramatic shadows.
The first two are in gouache, each showing a detail, whilst the third is in pen and wash in my scribble pad. I was caught by the perspective and diagonals of the steep road leading up to the castle. It’s from the upstairs cafe Pastelatoa Santo Antonio! AND they bake their own…yes, you know the drill…Portuguese tarts!! Also the best coffee!
