Barcelona boats, bars, ballerinas...

Fleca els Angels, Carrer D'Elisabets.

... & some tennis.

Rosas Di San Jordi, Las Ramblas.

Before last Saturday's Barcelona sketchcrawl, see my previous post here, I had spent a couple of days in the city.

On Thursday, I went to the Barcelona Open, and got to realise a dream - to watch Rafael Nadal play in Spain whilst sat among a Spanish crowd. Mostly I was too busy watching the tennis to sketch, but I did manage the one below between matches.

Thursday was also Saint George's Day and everywhere people were handing out red roses. I was offered one first thing, but didn't accept as I was heading into the tennis stadium. I tried to sketch some in the Ramblas, but the crowds were massive and frequently obscured my view. The sketch to the right is the best I achieved.

The next day, I took an early morning walk and ended up at a café, where I'd had breakfast before the Urban Sketchers 2013 Symposium and had meant to sketch, so I did. (see above)

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Stadium at Real Club de Tenis Barcelona

Barca Catalana - Jean et Marie

Then it was on to the Maritime Museum where I sketched a traditional Catalan fishing boat.

Late afternoon, I headed off to join the group Inky Fingers, Barcelona who had arranged to draw the contemporary dance company Las Carmelas.

It was a real challenge trying to capture their movements as they danced. Thankfully they also did some short poses. I used a pad of tonal pastel paper and a multi-coloured single lead pencil. I can't wait to draw with this group again.

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Sketching Las Carmelas with Inky Fingers Barcelona.