Well, I gotta admit, it sometimes takes a plane ticket to get me to leave the UWS- but getting to draw with the NYC USk folk in Red Hook was too good to pass up. So, I went to the other end of the NYC universe and hopped the ferry and had an incredible day! 

Fun times, good stuff to draw and even a treat from the mayor of the Yacht Club!

Sweet Ceret and Back to BCN

I did not have the heart to leave the South of France, so after some cajoling, we decided to wing our way back to Barcelona by way of Ceret. Oh, how I loved this town! It was so endearing, and seeing the Picasso ceramics was, well, the cherry on top.

One last day in Barcelona, so much to do and see! After a high speed drive by tour of all things Gaudi left to see, and a souvenir spending spree, we managed to get to Mercado Boqueria just before it closed. I so wish that I had been able to take Ea's and Marina's workshop, but I can see why everyone loved being there. I love being in any market, and this was no exception. A few quickies, and back to reality. 

Baguettes et Chiens

As hard as it was to leave Barcelona, and the delicious beach town of Tossa de Mar, off we went to cross the border into the South of France, to Collioure. Flowers lined the highways, with trees that echoed the paintings of the Fauve masters and the spirit of Matisse, Derain, Braques and Picasso
were calling out to us as we drove into the country.
The palette changed, and the characters were quite different-
and there were dogs and baguettes everywhere!
I had my fun every morning.

I adored being in this quintessential French town. Everywhere one looked, there was a picture and as we enjoyed a trolley ride up the mountain, I made some quick notes.

We were so lucky to be there on market day. What a scene- more baguettes!

And then, time for a glass of wine and take in the beach scene. The rain did not deter anyone.

A little more coming for the way back to Barcelona. Stay tuned.

Un Cortado, Une Noisette

I've just returned from a FABULOUS trip to Barcelona, Costa Brav and the South of France. 

When I close my eyes, I am still feeling the Mediterranean sun and the sea breeze, see the glorious tiled roofs and the exquisite palette and of course, tasting my morning cortado and noisette.

First up was the Urban Sketchers Symposium in Barcelona. If you can imagine over 300 people, from over 20 countries!, just covering the city drawing on location. Pretty spectacular! 

Barcelona is Gaudi central and is really magical. 

With my apologies to my architect friends, I am posting my drawings of Sagrada Familia, 

and other Gaudi extravaganzas. Oh, my intentions were in the right place, trying to get the perspective right, the scale in place, all of the nooks and crannies clear, but alas, this aging rocker got so excited and singing Sagrada Familia, baby (in my mind) to the tune of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly, (most of you reading will not know who I am talking about!) my hand got ahead of me:

I could have stayed here all day looking up into this glimmering sky of mosaics, 

all at once celestial and expansive, awe-inspiring and in spite of the throngs of people weaving in and out of the columns, it did feel as if I was there all by myself.

And the treats kept coming...leaving Barcelona up the coast, we arrived to Tossa de Mar, 

a gorgeous beach town where the sea was steps away from our beautiful, Gaudi inspired, of course, hotel. Days on the beach, boat rides, paella and great cortado!

I'll leave you here for today, before we head to the South of France....