Monumento a Alfonso XII, Madrid

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This is a small studio painting of the artificial lake in the Retiro Park. I can’t wait to be able to walk in the Retiro Park again.

Monumento a Alfonso XII Retiro Park Madrid 2020

The marble and bronze Monument to Alfonso XII, designed by Josè Grases Riera is located in the Buen Retiro Park in Madrid. It is 30 meters high, 86 meters long, and 58 meters wide. At its center is the equestrian statue of King Alfonso XII, cast in Bronze, which was created by Benlliure in 1904.

Fuente del Àngel Caìdo September 2019

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If you come to Madrid, don’t miss out on seeing this impressive fountain.

This is the Fallen Angel Fountain.  If you’ve ever read John Milton’s epic ‘Paradise Lost’  The first page comes to life when you see this awesome statue. 

Watercolor of the Fallen Angel Fountain. There are red flowers around the fountain

Fuente del Angel Caìdo September 2019

I’ve painted parts of this fountain a few times, but this is the first time I painted the whole fountain.

 

La Plaza del Màrmol

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A pen and ink with watercolor wash of a double dish fountain in a loose style.
Fuente en la Plaza del Mármol 2019

This little square in the Retiro Park is called Plaza del Màrmol.  There is a limestone fountain in the middle of the square.  Four young Tritons sustain the main dish.  At one time this fountain was completely hidden by overgrown bushes.  Since then the bushes have been cut and the little plaza is in plain sight.

The day I went there to paint the little square, the gardeners had just finished pulling all the flowers to replace them with new flowers.  I will have to go back soon to paint the fountain with flowers around the pond.

 

A watercolor of poppies and daisies with little purple or violet flowers in a pickle jar.

Poppies and Daisies in Pickle Jar 2019

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In the spring I like to paint the wild flowers since they are so colorful and my favorite painting theme.

A picture of a watercolor in process. You can see a light grid, pencil drawing and red watercolor paint of poppies.

I started off with a grid and a light drawing, then I started putting in the poppies.

Since I’m painting from life, I put in the poppies first before they wilt.

A watercolor of red poppies, daisies and a glass jar in the process of making.

The next step I take is painting all over the paper since all the shapes and colors influence each other.

Then I start putting in other flowers, not forgetting about the equally important background which includes the glass pickle jar.

A picture of a watercolor almost finished. You can see red poppies, white daisies with a touch of purple or violet flowers in a glass pickle jar.

Here I am almost finished. Just putting in the finishing touches. Not too many.

The watercolor is almost finished here.  I paint what I see and leave a lot of the white of the paper.

A watercolor of poppies and daisies with little purple or violet flowers in a pickle jar.
Here it is finished. Poppies and Daisies in Pickle Jar 2019 Watercolor on Arches 300gsm 19×28 cm – 7.5×11 in

This year the wild flower season was brief.  Less rain, less flowers…

 

A watercolor of Spanish red poppies and little purple and yellow flowers in a glass pickle jar.

Plaza Conde de Barajas, La Plaza de los Pintores in August 2018

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Although this Sunday, the 9th, the Art in the Street show is cancelled due to the heat wave, We’ll back back on Sunday the 19th of August.

Aunque este domingo, día 9, el espectáculo Art in the Street se canceló debido a la ola de calor, regresaremos el domingo 19 de agosto.

A large watercolor of a popular street in Madrid in Plaza del Conde de Barajas.

Plaza Del Conde de Barajas July 1st 2018

The Plaza de los Pintores is located in the heart of Madrid, right around the corner from el Mercado San Miguel.  It’s a quiet Plaza even though it’s surrounded by busy streets.

A watercolor of a small stree in Madrid

Plaza Conde de Barajas July 2018

Here at the Plaza, I painted a few street scenes like this one that leads towards las cuevas de Luis Candelas.

watercolor of a small street in Madrid.

Calle de la Pasa Madrid 2018

This is calle de la Pasa which leads to the quiet little plaza.

The Paseo del Prado with Neptune fountain in the center.

Paseo del Prado Madrid, Spain August 2016

This is the well-known Paseo del Prado with Neptune fountain in the middle of the round-about. The Retiro Park is nearby.

A line and watercolor wash over pen and ink of the Crystal Palace.

Palacio de Cristal 2018

This is the Cristal Palace in the Retiro Park.  

A small watercolor of the Royal Palace with evergreens on each side flanking a pool with three square fountains in the middle. A big blue sky and bright green grass.

The Royal Palace seen from the Sabatini Gardens 2018

The Sabatini Gardens are exquisite to contemplate.  

A watercolor pen and ink of the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid Spain. Big tree in front of gates with cathedral in the back.

La Almudena June 24th 2018

The Almudena Cathedral  is right next to the Royal Palace. 

There’s a heat wave in Madrid, so…tomorrow’s show is cancelled. Hope to see you next Sunday from 10-2 the 19th of August if the weather allows.

Watercolor of Mormon Temple. A white temple with a cloudy carmen and blue sky with puffy clouds. Cypress trees in front of a red brick wall and leaves falling in the foreground on the left.

Temple LDS in Madrid, Spain – Small Plein Air Watercolor.

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I went out to see the LDS Temple in person to do a few quick watercolors to see which one I wanted to paint on a full size sheet.  The facade is beautiful and angel Moroni is on top blowing a trumpet. I painted this before going into the courtyard.

Watercolor of Mormon Temple. A white temple with a cloudy carmen and blue sky with puffy clouds. Cypress trees in front of a red brick wall and leaves falling in the foreground on the left.

Templo LDS 2016 

 Inside the courtyard the Garden, El Jardín de las Novias, is symmetrical. There is a beautiful flower garden with white, pink and red flowers flanking a double dish water fountain with a round pond.  That side of the Temple contrasts with this serious solemn side with inviting cypress trees.

 

A large watercolor of a popular street in Madrid in Plaza del Conde de Barajas.

2º concurso de pintura rápida al aire libre Taller Abierto, en pleno Madrid de los Austrias En la Plaza del Conde de Barajas.

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Now this is a rapid painting competition, in Plaza del Conde de Barajas also called Plaza de los Pintores in Madrid, Spain. I’ve always had my eye on this plaza.

A photograph of me with a pen and ink drawing on an easel in Madrid's Plaza del Conde de Barajas.

Plaza del Conde de Barajas,

I’ve been doing line and wash lately so I thought I would try it here at the fast painting competition sponsored by Taller Abierto; really nice people by the way.

A photo of a woman painting a street in Madrid on site.

Line and Wash

After about three hours the light completely changed.

A woman standing next to an easel with the start of a watercolor.

The light creeping in.

And the sun started creeping in until I had to leave.

Woman standing in front of easel with started watercolor wearing watercolor gear, hat, scarf and long sleeve white shirt and tinted glasses.

2º concurso de pintura rápida al aire libre Taller Abierto

Here in Madrid the Sun is hot, really hot. You got to be careful and always try to stay in the shade to avoid heat related mishaps. You don’t want one of those.

Two people looking into the camera lense with a smile.

Emilio and I

This is Emilio, he took all the pictures. Thanks Emilio!

The next day I went back and finished the painting as best I could.

A large watercolor of a popular street in Madrid in Plaza del Conde de Barajas.

Plaza Del Conde de Barajas July 1st 2018

This watercolor is going to be in Semana de Arte en la Calle street exhibition at Plaza del Conde de Barajas every Sunday of July. 10-13:00.  Come visit us if you are in Madrid this summer.

A picture of a watercolor in process in the Rose Garden. Easel and paper in front of the fountain.

Plein Air Watercolor: Fuente del Faunito Rose Garden 2015

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Fuente de Faunito en la Rosaleda Madrid 

Esta fuente española situada en el parque del Retiro de Madrid España se llama Fuente del Faunito. Recuerdo este día perfectamente bien. El jardín estaba lleno de rosas y había visitantes por todos lados, caminando y tomando fotos. El jardín de rosas solía estar abierto a todas horas. Solía ir temprano en la mañana cuando no había nadie alrededor. Ahora tiene una hora de apertura y una de cierre, por lo que es difícil pintar aquí ahora.

A watercolor of a Spainish Rose Garden with a fountain called La Fuente del Faunito. Pink and Red Roses under a cloudy sky.

Fuente del Faunito Rose Garden 2015

This Spanish fountain located in the Retiro park of Madrid Spain is called Fuente del Faunito.  I remember this day perfectly well.  The garden was full of roses and there were visitors everywhere, walking around and taking pictures.  The rose garden used to be open at all hours.  I used to go early in the morning when there wasn’t anybody around.  Now it has an opening and closing hour, so it’s hard to paint here now.