Landscape Watercolour of Faro, Portugal, 15" x 11" on Bockingford NOT Paper 140 lbs
With such a rich history, you’d expect to find an atmospheric old town in the city and you’d be correct. The Cidade Vella is crammed with tourists and locals visiting the handicraft markets or just wandering around looking at the old buildings, many of which show signs of the city’s Moorish ancestry.
Landscape Watercolour 15" x 11" of Albufeira, Portugal, on Bockingford Rough Paper 140 lbs.
Midday in the Old Town part of Albufeira on the Algarve and the shops are starting to close for the siesta. I can remember there was lots of detail in the view in front of me and it was a temptation to paint more detail - the church on the hill and merchandise on the point of sale racks outside of shops - but golden rule for watercolour is try to simplify. I think I could have made those background greens a little lighter and bluer to push them back further. Anyway, next time. If I make a 'mistake' on a watercolour, I rarely try to correct it (e.g. wash it out). I would prefer to disguise it in some way, or better still, do another painting and choose a different subject!
Watercolour 15" x 11" on Bockingford NOT Paper 300 gms
The perimeter around the citidel in the old town area of Faro has a great collection of all the styles of period Portuguese architecture with wondeful hues of ochres, yellows, dark terracotta roof tiles and bright white-washed walls. The odd Phoenix palm breaks up the lines and throws shadows on the walls.
Watercolour 15" x 11" on Bockingford paper NOT 140lbs
Albufeira old town is a very relaxed resort on the Algarve and has a lovely central square decorated with trees and colourful shrubs surrounded by street cafés and restaurants for a quiet meal or a cool drink. The streets leading off the square are a shoppers delight with clothes shops, leather goods (fantastic handbags!), gift shops, street stalls and of course, all the practical shops for daily necessities. There are also many more restaurants and bars in between the shops so there is never a shortage of places to eat and drink!
Watercolor 15" x 11" on Bockingford paper 140lbs
Faro centre and nothing is more than a 30 minute walk away. Around the centre of town are tall period buildings. This is the view out towards the marina and an open park space with wide boulevard. Faro is often overlooked as visitors just pass it on their way to the resorts, but those who choose to linger a while find a town of considerable charm and the real heart of the Algarve.
Watercolour 15" x 11" on Bockingford paper 300g
The stretch of river front along the Gilhao River, Tavira on the Algarve, is a great place to walk down the 'Rua dos Cais' (baking hot in the summer), or sit at one of the cafes and enjoy the very picturesque setting. The Roman bridge, Ponte Romana, spans the river with low arches and creates gentle reflections on the water.
After some suggestions from some fellow painters, I decided to crop the picture taking out the left hand side:
I think it's better and just goes to show the importance of composition and I guess, planning your painting before you start!
Watercolour 15" x 11" on Bockingford paper 300g
The golden sands of Albufeira beach surrounded by cliffs and the old town behind. Over the last year, the beach has had new sand imported to a depth of 2 metres - that's a lot of dredging! Apparently the local communist party now call it a landfill site! The white washed buildings on the top of the cliffs certainly give it a picturesque view.
Original Watercolour 15" x 11"
The coastal town of Tavira is cut in half by the River Gilao, and the ferry station near the mouth of the river takes summer visitors back an forth to the "Ilha de Tavira", or the beach islands - a sand spit or archipelago of islands several kilometers out to sea. All around the ferry port are very reasonably priced restaurants, ideal if you're waiting for the next ferry.
Original Watercolour 15" x 11"
More back streets of Faro, and when the sun's out it's great to try and catch a sense of the warm colours of the buildings here and the dark shadows cast by the bright midday sun. Well it's just an ordinary street in Faro and great fun just capturing the moment. I think on the left of the painting was a building site behind a hideous wall of dirty boards, but gave me an opportunity to try my dry brush strokes.
Recent Comments