A drive further south 2: Gravatai; scale; priming

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Gravatai

 

Gravatai is a satellite town serving Porto Alegre, and not especially charming. It's untidy  and seems almost  completely over-run by the needs of cars. I sensed that it was quite polluted. There are few buildings of architectural interest, and it would be hard to find anything distinctive about it.

There was a cyclone here which shut down electricty and water in the neighborhood where I was staying for several days.

 

 

 

 

Gravatai, from a roof terrace, oil on card, 28 x 25.7 cm unavailable

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Gravatai, view up a little street, oil on card, 23.5 x 29 cm unavailable

 

 

Gravatai, view up a little street -  detail

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Where I stayed are runs of smallish suburban houses- in Brazil these are rather individualistic. Their excentric shapes make them difficult to paint.

 

Gravatai, a house, oil on card,34.5 x  27.5 cm-  -unavailable

 

 

 

 

Gravatai, a house- detail

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A bit bigger

 

  I think I'm now at the largest size (34 x 27 cm) that is comfortable for a number of reasons- the length of time I like to work in a session (up to two hours) - the issue of carrying wet paintings. 

With the former, I am limited by both my energy and the likelihood that the scene changes. 

With the latter, the issue is that the boards are not stiff enough not to bend a little and touch the sides of whatever they are being carried inside.

 

 

Acrylic priming

 

The texture of the acrylic primed surface was very dry, which makes it hard to manipulate the paint.

So, I will add another oil based priming to move the brush with speed leaving paint on the surface.

These experiments take a few months to be realised because of the time it takes for primers to dray and the time needed for the oil painted surfaces to dry.

 

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A drive further south 1: Torres

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My trip 

I drove south but I didn't stop in Imbituba on the way back up as originally planned. I drove to Gravatai via Torres and stopped on the way back in Ferrugen.

 The trip was a delight. I had the chance to work on a larger format and discover some new places.

Torres

 

 

 

Torres, sea through rocks, oil on card 29.5 x 27.5 cm -  discaded

 

 

 

 

 

Torres, sea through rocks - detail

 

Torres is a small, orderly and beautifully situated town with some wonderful rocks and splendid, if windy, beaches

On the first day the weather was rather wonderful. The second was overcast.

 

 

 Torres, sea and clouds, oil on card, 28 x 26 cm - available

 

 

 

 

 

 

Torres, sea and clouds- detail

 

 

 

 

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A drive further south: Torres, Imbituba and Gravatai

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Florianopolis to Gravatai via Torres

 

A little drive further south- to Gravatai, near Porto Alegre. There are fine rocks in Torres. I will try to stay there and paint.

 Perhaps I will stop in Imbituba too.

Recently, I`ve been bored. I`m always doing the same things, but I can`t think of more enjoyable or better things to do, or new ways to do what I like but am bored of.

 

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