My favourite place in Barcelona - Park Guell

Park Guell is just spectacular! Had been told to include it in our visit by a few friends and it lived up to all expectations. Gaudi was such a visionary creative and evidence of that is all over Barcelona.

Was hot on the day we visited and absolutely heaving with tourists, but still, was fantastic. Amazing architecture and bold, exotic planting. No drawing that day but just captured a few snaps on the phone and bought the most gorgeous book to relish at home.

Would love to visit this place again - perhaps out of season and I would plan to spend the whole day there next time.

Barcelona

What a fantastic city! Beautiful architecture, wonderful to walk around and so many amazing things to see. We has a thoroughly great time. Of course, didn't see everything we wanted to see, but that gives me an excuse to revisit.

Managed to squeeze in some drawing time:

Standing, waiting for the open top tour bus - great way to orientate yourself in the city

Back of some apartments with huge amounts of washing hanging off their balconies.

More drawings Barcelona drawings in a day or two!

The Diary Project

Came across this really interesting idea on Happiness Project for a milestone/landmark/achievement journal. You record significant events that happen under their dates - anything from a holiday, to buying a pet, moving house to a meal with friends, whatever holds some meaning for you. Then you keep using that same diary or book year on year, so gradually over some years, you see a map of your life and a journal of your personal highlights.

Example 12 April
2007  Adam's birthday party in London
2009  Finished bathroom renovation after 6 weeks work
2011  On holiday in Paris with Amy - today Eiffel Tower and drawing in cafes


Wish I'd thought to do this when my daughter was younger, as there are so many great milestones with a child.

But am going to start now and have bought my book this morning!

Drawing messy cupboards

Have been bit frustrated by my lack of discipline in carving out drawing time recently. So one evening, in a fit of pique, sat down on the kitchen floor and drew 1 shelf of a very messy kitchen cupboard.

Am sure it will shock some people, iron crammed in with packets of rice and lentils. But cupboard space is at a premium in our kitchen...my excuse anyway.

I did this pencil drawing with a Staedtler 780 lead holder, which I am absolutely loving using. Am not sure whether it's the actual lead or the holder, but finding it much more friendly to use than my regular pencils.Came across it via Gabi Campanario, over on Urban Sketchers, when he blogged about these amazing drawings! Hoping a little of the lead holder magic will rub off on me :)

Drawing at the bus stop

Have been trying to sharpen my people observation skills and have found trying to capture people very quickly as they wait for their bus is ideal.

Has also been fun drawing with coloured pencils. Got a set of these Staedtler pencils given to me me recently and they are great. Don't break when sharpened and just the right softness for a very quick sketch.

Hopefully, if the weather is OK, may be some more bus stop drawing over the weekend. Is amazing what makes us happy!