Hello to my 100th follower.

Hope all is good sister :) x.

Work in progress.

I am very grateful for being given the opportunity to paint my favourite Granada view on a huge 2.5 Meter by 1.4 Meter canvas. Perhaps my favourite city view in Europe - not just Granada. A couple of days from finishing. I hope my client likes my style. People tell me it is an unique style. Sometimes I am not quite sure how to take that.

Should I Stay, or Should I Go?

It's the Granada trap! It is not a bad trap. A big part of life as an itinerant artist isn't so much about following calls to travel for work, it is also about knowing when to stay put. Job offers come and go. Knowing which are worth spending money and time chasing is knowledge that comes only with experience. For the time being I stay.

Wide open road.

Freedom?

Contemplar.

Well, why not?

Photography?

Where is the Money?

It is irrelevant. At about 10.30PM the wind changes direction. The air cools and people start coming to the streets. Work is finished. You just have to wait and drink and smoke. Eventually, someone will buy. The art is the waiting. You wait and wait. Another drink another smoke. You wait and watch the theatre in the street. Andalucia - even all of Spain - is a very expressive place. These people are real actors. Nobody buys. You ask yourself 'why am I doing this?'. You have another drink, another smoke. You are joined by good company. Share a drink, share a smoke. These are the moments I used to work for. This is probably why it pays much less. Life is always relative. *F*** me! Just €2 to start the day with tomorrow*. I used to spend it on the train fare to get started. These days I spend it on a can of beer and couple of cigarettes. That is all it takes to complete another day, and reach another beautiful night. No boss - no alarm clock.

Hot Andalucia.

According to the internet, the highest recorded temperature ever in Andalucia was 47.5º Centigrade. I am sure I have experienced higher even if I didn't bother to record it.

Where are the 'kids from Pozo Alcon?'.

This is almost 10 years ago now. It is why I love photography. Where are they today? What are they doing? I hope they're all well. I'm thinking about visiting Pozo Alcon and asking around.

Anyone reading recognise...

Where next?

I don't know. Promised work is not happening (thanks for that). As much as I love Granada I simply cannot afford to stay here much longer. You can live on very little if you have to. Not for me presently. Very difficult to make money here. You would never guess as a visitor - it is glam and beautiful on the surface. Itinerant life. Love it. Sometimes hate it. I'm moving on soon. Anyone got any suggestions as to where I might find work?

August 9 years ago.

9 years ago! Doubt it has changed much. Rural depths of NE Andalucia.

Cafe Bar Esmeralda, Granada.

Every adventure begins and ends here. Back in Granada after a very eventful few days in Madrid. Met some great people as ever. Thanks for the support in the comments. Thanks to everybody who bought sketches, or gave work. Just letting people know I'm back.

Madrid bound...

Itinerant artist is on the move again. Short trip intended. Madrid from tomorrow (the 12th). Work required. Find me in the usual places, or call me 689 744 929. johncolley@hotmail.com

Total Internal Reflection.

Impresiones Gigantes Nº2

I am ready to print. Pre-orders welcome :) Saturday, May 25th. Paseo del Salon, Granada.

Believe Granada - Be Live!

I'm playing with QR codes and lino printing :) More later. Anyone reading here who doesn't already know: Impresiones Gigantes auction (with live entertainment) is this Friday, May 17th. www.impresionesgigantes.com

Why is good art more difficult to sell than shit art?

Why is that?

Impresiones Gigantes 2

Exhibition from May 7th. Colegio de Arcitectos, Plaza San Augustin. Granada.

A print from each artist will be sold to raise money for charity. Other prints will be available from international artists.

Impresiones Gigantes

Springtime in Granada.

Or, is it already summer? With temperatures hitting the 30's regularly now the streets during the afternoon a far too hot for anything. Siesta needs to be accommodated. Working hours have to be adjusted. As an artist you can't waste time if you want to make it work. This means working/selling outdoors from 10am -2pm. Lunching and administration, organising and generalising from 2pm - 6pm. This is also studio time. From 6pm onwards it is back to the streets. Nor uncommon to find me still out selling in the early hours during summer. Relying mostly on passing tourists as I do, summer is time to save cash to get you through next winter. Hopefully.

Here's a washy coloured sketch that got wet (someone spilled a bottle of water on it). Stuff gets ruined on the streets. You have to accept that.

Easter Sunday in Sunny Spain.

Those who only know Granada in summer will struggle to believe these photographs. Although, it can rain BIG in August also.

I can't remember the last dry day we had here. The rain has been relentless and the forecast still looks horrid. After a 20 minute cloudburst this afternoon the drains finally popped. Full of everything the drains of an old, small city can expect when the population more, or less doubles for Semana Santa. Not pleasant!

Contact details.

(34) 689 744929

johncolley@hotmail.com