There’s a gorgeously eccentric shop in town which sells assorted hardware and houses an impressive and beautiful collection of old radios.
The owner plays classical music which spills out onto the street, inviting passers by to enter (worked on me).
I spent a very happy hour in there yesterday sketching this French example and intend to go back again, and again and again…
I was delighted to be commissioned to paint a pen and watercolour sketch style ‘portrait’ of the facade of the beautiful Corredera 55 restaurant in Vejer de la Frontera.
I worked from photos as there was an element of surprise involved in the project.
First I roughed out the composition by making a preliminary sketch (right).
The bike is part of the exterior decor!
Then I made a more careful drawing in pencil on 300gsm watercolour paper with deckled (hand torn) edges which I retraced loosely in waterproof pen (below).
Next came the watercolour painting…
And here’s the finished piece…(click on the image to enlarge)
With a couple of details singled out below…
If you’re ever lucky enough to find yourself in Vejer at any time of year the Corredera 55 restaurant is well worth a visit.
The food is a clever and delicious blend of the homely, exotic, luxurious and healthy; the wine list is extensive and expertly composed; the staff are incredibly warm and hospitable while at the same time being efficient and savvy; the outside terrace is sunny, shady and breezy with wonderful views over the surrounding countryside (Vejer’s perched on top of a steep hill, 200m above sea level); the interior is cosy and gorgeously crafted from reclaimed materials (by Retro Nuevo) and houses an extensive collection of Vejer themed paintings by local artists.
As the sign says Comer – Amar – Vivir = Eat – Love – Live
This is a delightful place full of loving touches.
Loved the way the deep purple-y-ness of this plump aubergine contrasts with the cool green of the plate it’s sitting on so much I just had to paint it!
I have no idea what this plant is…it looks just like grass growing in a pot on the roof terrace but it has these lovely little white flowers and seed pods shooting out of it…
Here’s another version…
Cherry season is almost over so I thought I’d better immortalise these tasty beauties in pen and watercolour before it’s too late. Yum…
For a few nights last week there was a high pitched squeaking noise emanating from the roof above my bed in the attic…was it a bird or a rat?
I was locked out of the house one night so had to beg the use of a neighbour’s sofa and when I returned the next day I found this on my bed and the mystery was solved…poor little bat baby…
A pretty gruesome find you’d think, but according to this page
“Bats represent social relationships, communication and motherhood
The bat is a symbol of communication; Native Americans observed bats to be highly social creatures with strong family ties. They are nurturing, exhibiting verbal communication, touching and sensitivity to members of their group. Bats are sensitive to their surroundings and are seen as intuitive, with the ability to see through illusion and discern truth.
Eastern cultures view the bat as a symbol of wealth, longevity, peace, good health and a good death. In China, the symbol for bat is “fu” — which is also the symbol for good luck.”
I chose the colour combination because there were tinges of them in the poor little creature’s body and they’re reminiscent of the bougainvillea petals that blow into my attic on the gusts of ‘levante’ wind from the most enormous plant of its kind I’ve ever seen, which grows up through the open patio of a neighbour’s house.
Yesterday, Sunday April 24th 2016, was Concentrarte Vejer‘s annual celebration of all things arty and crafty.
Arte Vejer encouraged children to let loose their creative spirits by painting in La Plaza de España and a few adult sketchers, me included, joined the throng.
I concentrated on sketching a tiny bit of the fountain in La Plaza with pen and watercolour before the sun came round and burnt the back of my neck.
Peas! Yum…nuff said, spring is in the air…
I’m not a good sleeper.
The other night I was restless and wide awake in bed so I decided to get up and draw myself:
On seeing the drawing the next morning a visiting friend asked “Who’s that?”
“It’s me” I replied.
“No!” he said, “That’s nothing like you…”
Which is strange because every time I see the sketch I absolutely recognise it as me..
It was lovely to get out in the spring sunshine this Saturday morning with the Vejer Sketchers and capture this view of Vejer in pen and watercolour.
Tricky angle, hence the slanted sketchbook!