Quito, from steps leading down to La Almeda

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Quito, from steps leading down to La Almeda

 watercolour on paper, A3

Quito, from steps leading down to La Almeda-  detail

This was painted on Hahnemühle Harmony paper - 300 gsm. 

The colours seem to show more brightly (though I can`t explain why) and the paper better at allowing different paint layers without them appearing dense and lifeless on the paper.

 It`s a bit more expensive but I think, now my sense of how watercolour works has improved, probably worth the extra cost.

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Quito, from the church near Parque El Ejido

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Quito, from the church near Parque El Ejido

 watercolour on paper, A4

Quito, from the church near Parque El Ejido - detail

Quito, from the church near Parque El Ejido - detail

It`s been cold, grey and wet for days- rotten painting weather. 

Today for a few hours the sun shone. 

Bliss.

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Quito, Alameda

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Quito,  Alameda, watercolour on paper, A3

Quito,  Alameda, watercolour on paper - detail

I am not sure if the pencil marks are distracting or should be kept. 

This is on a new paper, and actually slightly larger than A3.

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Central Quito is very well preserved with stunning architecture and is lovely to walk around. It is pleasingly hilly and offers many fine views. I hope I can find a way to depict these, often intricate, Baroque buildings.

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Ecuador alone

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Andean Ecuador: map from Sandfords 1912

This is alternative January itinerary, this time leaving out Peru.

Why? Because the border crossing, from what I read, at the point at which I would like to cross just south of Loja, is pretty awful: by bus you cross at night , at 2 am, and the buses are pretty ghastly. Better, therefore, to focus on Ecuador, that means less lugging stuff around,  a simpler timetable and more energy spent concentrating on painting.

From north to south, circled on the map:

 Quito

 Latacunga 

Riobamba

 Guamote

 Cuenca

 Loja.

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