Aberdeen: the sea

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Aberdeen: seafront, oil on card, 22.6 x 22.1 cm - available

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Aberdeen: along the old railway

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Along the old railway, near Milltimber, oil on card, 27.7 x 23 cm - available

There are dozens of possibilities along this path.

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Aberdeen: Duthie Park

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Duthie Park, oil on card, 12.2 x 14.4 cm- available

Duthie Park, beside a pond, oil on card, 12.2 x 14.2 cm- available

Duthie Park, trees,  oil on card, 12.5 x 14 cm- available

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Aberdeen: in Mannofield; places to paint in Aberdeen

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A view from a first floor window, Mannofield

oil on card, 10.7 x 22 cm - available

A view from another first floor window, Mannofield

oil on card, 19.2 x 21.5 cm - available

I have dedicated the last month and more, to surveying Aberdeen and locating subjects, where I have painted black and white pictures. Thus, with minimal kit on my bicycle, I can get an idea of what to work on over the summer.

 I will do this preparatory work until the end of May. 

Some of these black and white pictures are satisfactory as ends in themselves, I believe.

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The places I have identified are: 

1. The sea

2. The old railway line

3. King Street and tenements nearby

4. Bridges on the Dee and Don

5. Duthie Park

6. Cruickshank Botanical Garden

7. The Green and the surrounding streets

8. Warehouses near the port

9. Garages and back lanes in Broomhill and Ruthrieston  

10. St Machar`s 

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Aberdeen: Cruickshank Botanic Garden

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Cruickshank Botanic Garden, oil on card, 27.5 x 22.7 cm   available

I will revisit this charming place next month with colour.

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Parque Estadual do Rio Vermelho: avenue, 27 March 2023 - framed

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Parque Estadual do Rio Vermelho: avenue, 27 March 2023

 watercolour, A3

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Rajasthan, India

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Rajasthan, India

Rajasthan

Now I`m more or less established in Aberdeen again, I thought, it`s freezing here in spring: this place is going to be an absolute misery in the winter. It`s glaringly obvious that I should go somewhere with some sunshine. 

First  idea  Spain. Then, I thought: India, specifically Rajasathan. 

It`s a bit far, but it`s cheap when you get there, its colourful, reasonably safe (I think) and I`m sure more than interesting enough. Yes it`s famously filthy but perhaps I can avoid the worst of that somehow?

I note four cities: Jaipur- The Pink City, Udaipor- the City of Lakes, Jaisalmer- the Yellow City, Jodhpur- the Blue City. 

Bundi also seems worthwhile, with a palace, as does Chittorgarh for it`s fortress. I am alo curious about Bikaner in the north

 And, I will arrive in Delhi, so I spend some days there, and it seems obvious to visit the Taj Mahal (though I doubt with so many tourists, it will be at all enjoyable).

Nine destinations, and about 5 days in each? Plus an additional week for traveling between them. So that`s 45 plus 7 = 52  days, just under two months. That sounds about right, but perhaps it`s exhausting, like a meal with too many courses?

But other trips have erred on the short side, and if the Scottish weather is going to be so miserable it make sense to stay away.

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