Coimbra Station - A Estação Nova

                        

Stabilo pen on Crazy Ideas Sketchbook, page 85

This train station in downtown Coimbra is called “New Station”. Well, the new station will soon be the “Old Station” as it is slated to close down soon, in early 2025. I used many times in the 1970’s when I was in college. Whoever made this decision needs a new line of work.

Esta estação ferroviária na Baixa de Coimbra é conhecida como a “Estação Nova”. É irónico que em breve será a “Estação Velha”, porque vai brevemente ser fechada em 2025. Eu usei-a muitas vezes nos anos setenta quando frequentava o ISEC. Quem quer que fez esta decisão, precisa de um novo rumo profissional.

The Old Train Station - A Velha Estação de Viseu

Micron 03 sepia pen on Crazy Ideas Sketchbook, page 84

When I was a teenager in high school in Viseu (Portugal), I once took an old steam train to an annual “festa” (festival) in the nearby town of Torredeita. I remember the train coming to a screeching halt right in the middle of a very tall steel bridge in the dark night and staying there for a while. But we made it out and the memories remain. For inexplicable reasons, this beloved train station was torn down in 1994, along with the narrow-gauge rail line that connected Viseu to the main Portuguese rail network in Santa Comba Dão.

Quando eu estava em Viseu na escola secundária, aqui apanhei um velho comboio a vapor para ir a uma festa em Torredeita. Lembro-me de o comboio ter parado exatamente no meio de uma alta ponte de ferro na noite escura e lá ficar por volta de meia hora. Mas o problema foi resolvido e as memórias ficaram. Por razões inexplicáveis, esta venerada estação foi demolida em 1994, assim como a linha férrea estreita que ligava Viseu à rede ferroviária nacional em Santa Comba Dão.

Heights of Monsaraz

Watercolor 10x14" (25x35cm)

Blick paper cp

Coimbra - R. Tenente Valadim

Watercolor, 23x31cm, Arches paper, rough

Memories from my college days, a long time ago.

Sé de Viseu – Viseu Cathedral

Micron 02 Sepia Pen, Crazy Ideas Sketchbook page 83

Ferreirós do Dão

Watercolor 23x31cm, Arches paper, rough

Castle of the Moors - Sintra, Portugal

Micron 03 pen, Crazy Ideas sketchbook, page 82

Milagres

Watercolor 9x12" (23x31cm) on Saunders Waterford paper, rough

Crazy Ideas

After five years, I am on final approach to filling up all 86 pages in this Crazy Ideas sketchbook. Only five pages to go.

Main Street, Phillipsburg New Jersey

Watercolor, 23x31cm, Saunders paper, rough

Pepper and Ivy

Pepper and Ivy (watercolor, 25x35cm, on W&N paper, cp)

This commission was completely out of my comfort zone of landscapes and townscapes. Commissioned paintings always involve more planning, effort, and stress due to fear of failure. In this case this was compounded by the fact that I have very little experience with portraits, and much less with pet portraits. Nevertheless, I dived into the challenge head first and hoped for the best. Can’t say it was easy, but is was a relief to know that the buyer was very happy with the result.

Peniche, Portugal

    Watercolor, 10x14" (25x35cm) Blick paper cp

Louise Moore Park

Watercolor 10x14", Blick paper cp

Montauk Point Light - Eastern Long Island, New York

Watercolor 10x14" (25x35cm), Blick paper, cp

Mark and Cody

Commissions normally involve more planning, effort, and stress than leasure painting. Especially when they are for portraits. Even more when it’s a portrait of a person and a pet. I will not say this was easy.

Watercolor 10x14", Blick paper cp

First Presbyterian Church

               

                                            Watercolor, 10x14" Blick paper cp

Forte de São Sebastião, Island of São Tomé

Watercolor, 23x31cm, Saunders paper, rough

Aveiro Lighthouse - Farol da Barra

Stabilo pen on Crazy Ideas Sketchbook page 80

The Eagle's Nest - Marvão from a distance.

Watercolor, 23x31cm, Saunders Waterford paper, rough

Santa Marta Lighthouse

 

Micron 03 pen, on Crazy Ideas Sketchbook page 79