‘Let us reflect on what is truly of value in life, what gives meaning to our lives, and set our priorities on the basis of that’. From ‘Buddhist Offerings’
watercolour/gouache – Rays of sunlight as I walked through the woods
Moving from August into September has always meant new beginnings for me. Along with the onset of cooler weather and visible changes in nature….there is also a perceptible change in mood. Children go back to school and many return to work. The world around us becomes busier. I am speaking from an English point of view. For my friends living in the southern hemisphere….there are also new beginnings – for them Spring is arriving.
Those who follow this blog will be aware that I usually go to Portugal in April. This year, I am also returning on 18th September for a workshop at the school in Olhao http://www.artinthealgarve.com The School is one of my all time favourite venues – a wonderful places to explore the creative process.
Olhão Portugal – http://www.artinthealgarve.com – watercolour
After working with a group for the first week, fellow artist and good friend Bonnie Halsey Dutton http://www.bonniehalseydutton.com arrives from South Dakota to give a course. As always we take these opportunities to spend some time together. I will also see another artist friend, Vickie Snaddon, who has a house not far from Olhao. It is Vickie who runs the beautiful lodge in Belize http://www.pookehilllodge.com Needless to say, I am really looking forward to it.
Given that Olhao is part of the Ria Formosa National Park...beautiful wildlife abounds – watercolour
watercolour
Nesting storks on one of the local churches. 
I With its courtyards, communal areas and excellent studio space, plus shops, cafes, markets, Lagoon all within a few minutes walk from the school – plus of course the wonderful Margarida and Joanna who take care of all our needs….what more could an anyone wish for.
The Pool House courtyard….I love all the levels, shapes and shadow play. 
The studio. 
The 150 year old Olive Tree that meanders from one of the courtyards up through the three levels of the school. You can see the blue of the roof top pool through the tree. 
watercolour
Another exciting development this year is that I have been invited to exhibit five watercolours at the Chongqing Museum of Art, China. This is part of a French/Chinese annual cultural exchange. I was invited by French artist Claude Lesur who organised an exhibition I had in France eleven years ago. The opening in Chongqing will be on 17th November and next spring the exhibition will come to Paris. I will write more about this after I return from Portugal.
The Art Gallery in Chongqing where the exhibition will be held.
watercolour
This has been one of the best years I can remember. I have visited places, friends and family I love and along the way enjoyed wonderful conversations and much laughter. I am so grateful for this moment in time and that I have been able to focus on what is truly of value in my life.
The magical hummingbirds have been with me all the way……
A bientot
I am always asked what is the difference between watercolour and gouache.
About eighteen years ago – I was in my studio in Wales going through a period of feeling blocked. Always a difficult time for a creative!
The second example shows pure watercolour on an orange ground.
The third example shows a mix of watercolour and gouache. When painting this way, permanent white gouache needs to be applied for highlights because all the white paper has been covered. 
It’s important to note, that no one way is the right way. The whole point of being a creative is to experiment….as my opening quote points out.
So what is a colour ground? 
I hope this helps those who are interested. The key is to allow yourself to EXPERIMENT and PLAY, Remember it is only paper……
During the thirty years I have known Bonnie we have shared many experiences and on occasion have worked together. Extremely talented and organised she always does what she says she will do – something I really appreciate. Next year she will be running a workshop in the Black Hills of S. Dakota. I will write more about this at a later date.
Together with Bonnie in Deadwood, S. Dakota – 1998. Just about to hold up the local bank! 
A lovely place to stay…..right in the midst of Mother Nature’s bounty. 
The light was so lovely. 
After a morning of sketching, the following afternoon we drove to the Marina de Lagos Art Academy for an exhibition.
The work on display was by photographer, Jacek Ulinski (to the right of the picture). The Marina is in the background….All in all a very smart space, a very different vibe from the the School in Olhao. 
Sunday we drove back to Olhao just in time to join Bonnie and her group for the jazz session at Cafe Cantaloupe where we enjoyed Miguelo Delgado Motu Cordis. What a great jazz venue this is. 
In my first ‘overview’ blog about the trip, I showed my group in front of a black and white mural which is on the side of the local super market. It depicts the hard working fishermen and women who inhabit Olhao – a working fishing town.
This picture of my group in front of one of the panels, gives a better idea of the scale.
After another day of relaxation and sketching, it was time to return to London.
A Bientôt
My workshops are all about loosening up, letting go and getting into a flow and rhythm of work and most importantly enjoying the process.
Jazz evening – and loosening up
Peppers from the Saturday market integrated with hummingbirds. 
Boats – Fuseta
Peppers from Saturday market. 
Armona beach umbrellas
Fishy business….
Woman with dog in Olhao 
red onions from market
jazz – sketching
From Armona looking towards Olhao
The Saturday market. 
Pink umbrellas next to Art School
more jazz
landscape
warming up on newspaper
My workshops are all about loosening up, letting go and getting into a flow and rhythm of work and most importantly enjoying the process.
On Friday we spent the day on Armona Island. Nuno, a scientist and environmentalist takes us on his boat (approx 15 minutes). He is extremely knowledgeable about the Lagoon and the Ria Formosa National Park. From Nuno we also learn about the history of the fishing industry and folklore in and around the Algarve. 
There was much sketching on the Island and at one point in the beach Cafe at the end of the Island, we sketched and sang along to sixties music. Unfortunately I don’t seem to have pics or a sound track of that moment…….
After sketching, Joan and Dorothy take reference photographs.
Maria from Iceland, sitting in the shade at the A-3 restaurant. Maria filled her sketchbook and made many other watercolour studies…. She and her husband John were lovely additions to the group. 
Lunch at the A-3 wine bar and beach restaurant. A place I definitely look forward to returning to. 
One of the delicious dishes at the A-3 wine Bar and Restaurant. 
Saturday is market Day in Olhao. Positioned in front of the two permanent market places, it runs along the water’s edge. Filled with colour and energy, it is a place to ignite all the senses. 
I took some of these peppers back to the school. You will see in my next post that they were used creatively by members of the group.
Sunday is a studio day….where we begin to see the coming together of our observations, sketches and studies.
The pianist/singer from Bali was sublime, as was the rest of the group. There are different groups every Sunday. 
Monday we spent the day at Fuseta. Some of the group thoroughly enjoyed this and others would have preferred to stay in Olhao to work. I will be talking with Camilla and Margarida about the possibility of a Free day for Mondays. Those who wish to visit elsewhere could, others can stay in Olhao. I think many feel that the getting to a from a place disrupts the flow of work.
Along with daily demonstrations to get everyone’s juices flowing (this one focusing on shadow play) – I emphasis the need to warm up before each and every session.
Given that the School is set in the middle of the old town of Olhao…everything, including the fish/vegetable markets, water, marinas, shops, cafes, etc are within minutes walking distance. This allows for people to have a sense of independence. Should they need a break they can sketch in the surrounding alleyways or by the water….or sit in one of the numerous local cafes sketching the interesting faces of the local people.
Some of us even got to do a little dancing……my oh my what fun…….:)
And last but definitely not least…none of this could happen without the hard work and humour of dear Margarida, Joanna and Camilla…..thank you all very much. 
My next post will feature more photographs and some of the work accomplished by the group. I will post this tomorrow.
