On the Monday after the symposium ended I was on my own to explore. The sketchers I had been spending time with all moved on to other locations or home. There were still a lot of sketchers in Porto and I stopped and chatted with some throughout the day. My destination that morning was the location where Ian Fennely had done his demo. I had paid attention to where he was taking us so I was able to find the general area, and after walking around a bit I found the same spot he had taken us to. I wonder what the lady who owned the house thought of all the many people who had sketched her house throughout the days of the symposium. It was a great spot...don't you think?
Just down the walkway to the right in the sketch I did I saw this view and couldn't resist it.
I continued walking downhill and found restaurant called Barrote Encarnado. I sat upstairs and ordered pulpo (octopus) which took a while to grill. Meanwhile I had a 1/2 liter of wine and my sketchbooks to keep me company. By the time I finished my lunch and my wine I needed a bit of a rest back at the apartment.
Later that afternoon I went up to the Sao' Bento Train Station. It was time to bite the bullet and do the tiles inside! I mentally reviewed Rosin Cure's tile method. There was another sketcher from Florida doing a beautiful double page sketch of the inside of the station. I focused on the ticket office and part of the tile wall nearby.
I was really pleased with how well the method worked!
Just beautiful…… What a sketching trip. Thanks again for taking us along.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jo. My pleasure!
DeleteIncredible sketches Joan. So many beautiful details!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Hilda.
DeleteFantastic sketches, Joan, especially the azuleja tiles at Sao Bento Station! I wish we had more time to sketch in Porto like you did. Lucky you!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I could have stayed there much longer!
DeleteWonderful sketches, especially those blue tiles!! Porto is so full of magnificent yet simple views, like the doorways.
ReplyDelete- Tina
Tina, thanks so much. There was a sketch everywhere you looked in Porto.
DeleteI am sure the people got used to you all scattered about and felt pride that you selected their home. You said most were quite friendly? The tiles came out very well. Did they give you suggested locations to draw from or you were just lucky? Housing etc were you given any help at all or just on your own to figure out how to do things according to local culture? I like being on my own. It having a bit of structure especially if you are on your own as you want to feel safe.
ReplyDeleteNelvia, I think most of the people were happy to see us there. It was great for their tourist industry for sure and since so many people traveled to other places like Lisbon & Madrid it helped there too. I checked out the main tourist locations before I left, but as you met people you found out other places people had sketched and locations that the workshop instructors picked. Every night there was a "drink & draw" along the river by the bridge. While the symposium was going on there were 2 sketchcrawls each day with set destinations so you knew those would be good. I found a lot of spots just on my own. Long before the symposium started we were given suggestions for places to stay, but most of the people I knew found apartments or hotels on their own once we found what part of the city we should look at. I never felt unsafe at all even when I was on my own.
DeleteWow! Those are super sketches. The tile one looks great - so very complicated but you nailed it!I am not at all the adventurous type so I especially enjoy your sketches of other places. I don't even explore in my own area - lol - very much a stay at home type
ReplyDeleteWhat an experience! As the others have mentioned:thank you for taking us along and sharing your wonderful art.
ReplyDelete