Barcelona sin Gaudi - Part One

Friday, July 19, 2013

That's right, you won't see any sketches of the city's fabulously undulating buildings here! I spent four and a half days in Barcelona attending the 4th International Urban Sketching Symposium and somehow managed not to draw anything by Gaudi. Here's how it went down.

Wednesday
Arrived after an overnight flight and sank happily into the bed at Le Meridien for a nap. Wandered over to La Sagrada Familia. Was not impressed by its perpetual construction site-ness (I'd been warned, but somehow wasn't quite prepared for all the sheathing-scaffolding-craning.) Meh. Didn't inspire me to whip out a pen.

Dinner at Els Quatre Gats was more promising. This ancient cafe played host to one of Picasso's first one-man shows.

At Els Quatre Gats, Barcelona, Spain

Thursday

Let the games begin! We convened at the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona, were given our massive bags of sponsor swag and sent off to our first workshop. Mine was Dynamic Ink, with Norberto Dorantes, where we had to draw with non-waterproof ink and wash. Not easy! Our subject was Carrer Comtal.

Looking up Carrer Comtal, Barcelona, Spain

From the balcony, Carrer Comtal, Barcelona, Spain

Buildings, Barcelona, Spain

At midday, I attended a demo on Digital Urban Sketching, with Monica Cid and Josu Maroto. Of course, I trotted out my iPhone and finger-sketched while I listened to the instructors talk about various app and stylus options.

At the Digital Urban Sketching demo

Was very excited for my afternoon workshop, Drawing from the Heart and Over Color Splashes with Tia Boon Sim and Paul Wang. It was raining, but happily we were inside the cafe at the Palau de la Musica Catalana. We were encouraged to play with wax, ink, sticks, salt, and splashes. So play we did.

Palau de la Musica Catalana cafe1

Palau de la Musica Catalana cafe2

Palau de la Musica Catalana cafe3

Palau de la Musica Catalana cafe4

Palau de la Musica Catalana cafe5

To be continued...

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2 comments

  1. These are lovely. It was a pleasure to sketch with you on Norburto's workshop. Do you have any photos?

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