Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.

Albert Einstein

I have a long-standing fascination with the relationship between beauty and practicality, and more specifically where a practical thing has intentionally been made beautiful. Not sure where this fascination comes from, but many of my painting subjects speak of this relationship – functional boxy houses painted bright colours, functional doors ornately carved or flowered… and in my latest trio of miniatures, functional walls and buildings sculpted and tiled.

If a thing serves its function, why not, as Einstein could be suggesting, ignite our emotions and imagination too! Like Park Güell in Barcelona! In researching this place, I discovered that it was initially designed by Antoni Gaudi and Count Güell to be a housing development with 60 homes, a small park, chapel, etc.. – a new vision of a natural neighbourhood but with a whimsical design. However, only 2 homes and much of the park were built before the project was abandoned in 1914. It was a flop back then! Today, this Unesco Heritage Park receives millions of visitors per year. I am so looking forward to being one of those millions this July, and feeding my fascination!

I painted and posted the first Park miniature a few months back called “Park Güell Lookout, Barcelona”. Over the past few weeks, as my excitement grows to visit Barcelona, I chose 2 more Park photos to paint from my son’s travel photo collection… making a mini mini-series!

#113 – Take Me To Park Güell

#114 – Park Güell Spires, Barcelona

Park Güell Mini-Series

Each piece is 2.5″ x 3.5″, ink and watercolour

All pieces are available at my Etsy Shop… until they find practical and beautiful new homes!