Ischia

The IV° Naples Urban Sketching Workshop took place on Ischia Island, in and around Castello Aragonese. The tourist season was mostly over by mid October and the setting was superb- picturesque, peaceful but not too smooth. The family owned castle was a treasure, with its own garden, labyrinthic paths and beautiful views. Simo organized the event, did a lovely workshop,as did Caroline Peyron and Kelly Medford.

The castle still houses the studio of Signore Matera, the castle owner/painter. It has been left in its original condition since Matera´s death ten years ago. Caroline Peyron encouraged us to do collage in her workshop and we tried to recreate the shapes and colours in the oil paintings standing in his atelier. I was fascinated by the huge pile of brushes that was left behind.
Nowadays his children continue to manage the Castle, which is a tourist attraction and houses cafés, a restaurant and a hotel.

Our last day was spend in Negombo, a beach/botanical garden/pool plus hot springs that was named after a srilankan beach- no similarity whatsoever, but it has a nice ring to it. The hosts were incredible and accomadated the sketchers in every possible way.

I spent four days at Castello Aragonese but i could have easily stayed and sketched a couple more- like in Cattedrale dell'Annunziata, a cathedral ruin. There were also spectacular views of Ischia and the mainland everywhere you looked.

Two days in Napoli

I spent two days in Naples on my way to the IV° Naples Urban Sketching Workshop (which actually took place in Ischia). Naples was incredibly busy, and it felt quite different from the Italy i knew; i had never been this far south. The narrow streets of Quartieri Spagnoli (supposedly not the best neighbourhood) were much calmer than the city center and were great to sketch. I had various very nice conversations with locals in my non existent italian while i painted the view below.

There where some beautiful places to explore, especially old book and antique stores. The weather wasn´t great, but it´s a chance to draw people with colourful umbrellas. And of course, a panoramic view with the Vesuv in the background was a must.

 

USk Treffen Darmstadt

This year i had to cancel my participation to the Symposium in Singapore due to work commitments.
I had Simos Ischia Workshop to look forward to, but that´s October, and a summer without some sort of big Sketching event taking place-impossible. So Birgit and me got together and sarted planning our own event.

A month ago, the first big meeting of Urban Sketchers in Germany took place in Darmstadt, a town just 30 min from Frankfurt/Main. Sixty sketchers came together to draw in the  beautiful art déco quarter of Mathildenhöhe, and some of them traveled quite far- from northern Germany, the Netherlands and even Paris- to be with us. The program included workshops by Urban Sketching veterans such as Omar Jaramillo, Arno Hartmann, Birgit Dreesen and me. We also hat demos by Daniel Nies and Catalina Somolinos  and activities like a Portrait Party (inspired by Paraty) and Drink&Draw just like at the Symposium and lots of sketchbook browsing! After a beautiful and intense weekend, we had a little exhibition of sketchbooks.

Phrix

Drawing with the Rheinmainsketchers on the windiest afternoon. Phrix is a former paper factory which has been shut down for decades, only a small part has been rented to an artists collective. In Hattersheim Okriftel, close to Frankfurt airport.

Freiluftsaison

At the Mainaue in Mainz Kastel and at the swimming pool.

Eltville

Osthafen

Industrial loveliness at Frankfurt Osthafen, drawing together with Jörg, Katja & Clara despite the rain.

Last days in Sri Lanka

Last days spent in Colombo and Jaffna, in good company.

Pettah & Galle Road

Drawing the busy market bazaar of Pettah is not easy, as every inch of space is used by vendors and pedestrian. To say i found a spot between a distribution box and a shop window..that´s already stretching it quite a bit.

Further down south is Galle Road, the main artery of Colombo, changing a lot between the city center and  what used to be the suburbs..

Hill Country

Kandy was best enjoyed from further away, at night when the city lights were reflected in its artificial lake. Instead of visiting the crowded Temple of the Tooth, i looked at the tombstones of the British Garrison Cemetery an learned about strange ways to die in old Ceylon (being trampled to death by an elephant, having one´s house collapse on oneself, falling on a pike while trying to get off a horse).

The badly lit cave temples of Dambulla and the surrounding countryside, then on to the impressive ancient rock palace of Sigiriya. While painting this view, a gardener sat by my side to see what i was up to. Along came a sinhalese, then a muslim school group. When my view was completely blocked by giggling girls in ponytails i decided my painting was finished.

And finally making my way to the hill country with its lush green tea plantations and the town of Nuwara Eliya.

At an altitude of 2000 m, it has a mild climate that appealed to british settlers. Their specific architecture is the trademark of Nuwara Eliya, and only the colourful trucks and Sri Lankans trying to sell fake North Face clothing remind you you´re not in England.