Grande Praia beach town

 

You never knew Montreal had a beach town nearby...just a short cab ride to the airport then watch some in flight movies and you are there! Actually its harder than that but worth the effort...Cilei and her niece arranged the trip and their friend drove her Dad's car. This scene was from the balconey on the first night. There was a disco down on the beach creating a colourful glow in the distance. 

Grande beach night street, 6 x 7.5" watercolour January 2026

Looking up the street during the day gave this view of the colourful houses and rolling hills in the background. I used a mix of indo blue (PB60) and yellow (PY154)  to make the hill colours, and allowed some water blurring to create the cloud effects  

Rolling hills clouds, 6 x 7.5" watercolour January 2026

Next was an urban scene with some familiar graffiti on a wall. Lush foliage and colourful buildings completed the scene. Like Montreal, this city is slowly gentrifying...the old beach houses and shops circa 1960 are being replaced with soaring sky scrapers surrounded by gates and security. 

Graff wall Brazil, 6×7.5" watercolour January 2026

Finally  back at the São Paulo homestead we spent the afternoon preparing beans from vines. After pulling the beans off we opened them all, tossed them in a big seive, then cooked and ate them! Not a painting this time, was too busy working on the beans.