Travel dreaming

Restrictions are starting to ease a bit around the world; it will still be awhile, but travel doesn't seem as much of a fantasy as it did. My thoughts turned this week to Spain, a country that has been very hard hit by the virus. My new scene is of the great Alhambra in the Andalusian city of Granada, a fascinating place I've been to twice and hope to see again. The majestic presence of the Alhambra on the mountain above the city conjures up imaginings of romance, history, mystery, and intrigue, most of which are more or less true. It was the last stronghold of Islam in Spain (thus Europe) falling in 1492 to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Gardens, fountains, towers, exquisite tiled rooms, intricate domed ceilings: The Alhambra is a wonder to behold (and enormous - it takes a full day to just begin to understand it)

For my sketch I stood in the narrow valley below the Alhambra, in the ancient neighborhood known as the Albaicin, (both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites) The steep streets of the Albaicin are worth the climb for the views across the valley to the Alhambra, especially at night when it is lit and glowing. View restaurants abound in the Albaicin, but the small cafes in the sketch offer simple menus of drinks and tapas.

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I started the color with the red of the buildings (Alhambra means 'Red Castle) and the green of the great sheet of foliage that drops from the crest to the valley below. I then started defining the scene with smaller features - rock wall, buildings, cafe features.

The final 'in progress' scene has the basics of sidewalk and cafe details which help to set the perspective and the depth of the space. The finished scene at the top of the post shows the finishing touches of shadowing and highlights, and people in the scene.
I took a group to Granada as part of a Spain/Andalusia tour in 2017. We had such a wonderful time I may try to organize another similar trip, but one way or another Granada and the Alhambra are high on my list of places to visit again.