A TASTE OF BOLIVIA – WATERCOLOUR PAINTINGS

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A couple of paintings of buildings from around Sucre in Bolivia. Sucre was once the capital of Bolivia and is the now the constitutional capital of the country – whatever that means. However, it is a lovely old colonial styled city featuring whitewashed walled buildings with tiled roofs in an absolutely amazing country.

I did some sketches of the rooftops of Sucre whilst I was there and someone spotted them and wanted a few pictures of their own. Above is the roof and towers of the Convent de San Feilipe Neri which we visited in the centre of the city.

The one below is a building I never went to, Castillo de la Glorieta just outside the city.

I do find architectural drawings very demanding and if I am working for myself I try to simplify them by working into the light for instance. However, it sharpens up your observational and drawing skills to give the customer what they want.

Having done this pair it will be good to get back to doing something in a looser style.

Other townscapes are available for sale on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com

STREET TRADERS OF SUCRE – ACRYLIC PAINTING

I had to sit looking after a painting exhibition today in town. Footfall has been slow, despite being in a prominent place in town, ( I really fear for all the small traders) and this week, the third occasion, I decided to take an easel and paint in the window to try and entice a few in. Up until now I have worked at the back of the shop on a table on some small scale stuff.

Well, today we got twelve punters; most were painters and I gave advice on painting to a couple. No sales. I think this was the lowest number ever – and we’ve done this for a number of years now. Anyway, this was the painting I did as I stood on my lonesome. It is a scene from Sucre, the Judicial capital of Bolivia, where small enterprises still thrive. Long may it continue.

Other paintings are available for sale on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com

THE SHADE OF THE RIAD – ACRYLIC PAINTING

The hotel we stayed in at Sucre, Bolivia, seemed to have been transported from Morocco. As the town was built by the Spanish it is not surprising to find a Moorish influence. The cool corridors interspersed with the light courtyards, painted blue exuded a solid permanence against which the human form seemed fleeting. I tried to dissolve the figure into the light and shade as she made her way across the courtyard.

Other paintings can be found on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com