Portugal

A few insights

Welcome, thankyou for being here and supporting me.

I just wanted to share with you some insights into my recent holiday in Portugal.

I couldn't take many supplies on the plane as we were travelling light, and to be fair it was not a sketching holiday. I find it difficult with my wife to separate my time between art and husband duties. My wife is not demanding, it is absolutely of my own doing. I also like to explore the vicinity and be present for her.

I'm now understanding the idea of an artistic retreat. A time to just do art and think of nothing else. I realise this is the internal dialogue going on inside me constantly. Maybe one day I can treat myself and be comfortable with that decision.

I put out a Substack note about my first Portugal venture to draw plein air, it was so uncomfortably hot I had to get inside. The marble shop window floor I sat on was caning my ass and the heat was doing its best to cook me from the outside 🥵 like a flame grilled burger. The place was a delightful scene I saw on my first day whilst walking to the seafront from the hotel.

The sensible thing was not to pile the pressure on, so I didn't. I hope you can understand and may possibly relate to what I’m babbling on about. This drawing sat for a few days as I actually couldn’t be bothered to finish it.

I did finish it though, while sat by the pool in the shade at Hotel Cidade de Olhão A fantastic place with friendly staff and simple, clean air conditioned rooms.

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This was our first visit to the Algarve and Portugal and we were not disappointed. With a joint celebration of 30 years married and my 60th birthday, an equal amount of exploring and relaxing. This picture was taken in Faro after a short train journey [very reasonble too] The Arco da Vila is one neo-classical archway entrance to the old town.

Arco da Vila

I ended up starting my new Etchr sketch book here, [well actually this page started with the splash of colour and text in the Hotel room] I ended up drawing a snip of the scene below over the top of it. All totally unplanned and spontaneous.

First page Etchr

This cafe sits in the old town of Faro

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Another train journey in the opposite direction later in the week took us to another small coastal town of Tavira on on the East of the Algarve. A beautiful place with castle ruins, ancient church and a lovely, well kept walled garden with great views over the town

Tavira

It was here in Tavira where my next bit of inspiration struck in the form of La D🖤lce Vita and this scene

La Dolce Vita, Tavira

Pencil sketch started but I wasn’t in the mood with the heat, .. I knew it would wait

So here it is , finished at home, I think it turned out pretty well.

SUMMARY

I have learnt something on this trip and that is not all your best endeavours go to plan… and that’s OK. I had every intention of sitting for hours drawing Portugese life, however I soon came to realise I had my life to carry on with and art had to fit into that rather than the other way around.

The heat, sights, smells , exploring and internal dialogue all had there part to play. Take it easy on yourself and the journey will unfold.

☀️ Warm wishes ☀️

Carl

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