capturing shadow play on courtyard steps in Olhao Portugal – watercolour. Disappearing steps symbolise for me – the unknown….
If ever there is a place that is conducive to exploring the creative process….it has been the school in Olhao, Portugal where I have been fortunate enough to teach for quite a few years. A place I had come to think of as a second home….
Situated in the middle of the old fishing town of Olhao, and just a few minutes walk from the waterfront, market, shops, cafes, restaurant, etc. this school has allowed those who have visited to completely immerse themselves into the creative process.
After being met by Nuno at Faro airport, 20 minutes later we enter the School house. It is in this inviting space that so many freshly cooked meals have been served and enjoyed ….all overseen by the beautiful Margarida and Joanna. It has also been a place of many interesting conversations and much laughter:)
Margarida looking up from one of the lower courtyards.
What is it that makes a place conducive to the creative process?
I believe there needs to be a sense of harmony and cohesiveness. I find that when people are running all over the place, never settling…there is fragmentation….which in itself can destroy the flow of creative thought and production.
The School has given us this, a sense of harmony and cohesiveness.
When a new doorway between the School and Pool houses was introduced several years ago there was an immediate sense of further flow and harmony. Almost like taking a huge gasp of fresh air….
The doorway became a metaphor for opening up creative expression.
When teaching I often talk about how changing one tiny part of a painting, changes everything, and so it is true for the doorways of life – we simply have to find and open them.
It is now time to open the doorways of our minds. Time to allow new thinking and creative expression to flow through previously blocked areas.
Flowers for sale at the Saturday Market. 
And of course wonderful fresh fish………..
Visits to Armona Island, a fifteen minute boat ride from Olhao, were always very special. I would like to spend more time on Armona Island. 
150 year old olive tree in main courtyard……a tree synonymous with he School. 
Through the school I have met some wonderful people..and made lasting friendships. I will always be grateful for the day that David Clark contacted me to see if I would be interested in being one of his tutors.
Mostly I thank him for his vision which I believe will live on in ways that none of us is creative enough to know about at this time.
I know that David’s legacy will continue through conversations, paintings, friendships and so much more.
Thank you David, Margarida, Joanna, Nuno (1) and Nuno (2) and I must not forget Carlos who opened up the doorway between the two buildings:)
Sadly the School was yet another victim of Covid!. It is dearly missed, but having said that many of us are still very much in touch and getting together in different places. It’s legacy lives on.
The Aboriginals, Native Americans and many other indigenous peoples around the globe have a deep understanding of our spiritual, physical, social and cultural connection to the land. They believe all of life as it is today, human, animal, bird and fish is part of one vast unchanging network of relationships. They understand fully the importance of land management towards our health and overall wellbeing. 
It seems that many people today, young and old from all sectors of society, are experiencing physical and emotional illnesses and distress. Given our fast pace of life and that so much of the world’s population is now plugged into technology of one kind or another, is it any wonder that our collective senses are being deadened?
Feeding our senses by spending time in the natural world, is healing. However, like all good medicine, it needs to be enjoyed on a consistent basis.
I have been listening to a radio programme about the power of the placebo…and how it has been shown time and time again to cause a sense of wellbeing even though the recipient is fully aware that they are taking a sugar pill. This has everything to do with mind, body connection. 
Trying to exist in this brave new world and finding a space for creativity, in all its many forms….might for many sound impossible.
Simply going about our daily lives can often take great courage….however, every now and then someone we meet reminds us what the word really means This was the case during my recent workshop in Portugal.
I learned that along with mobility issues, Angela had recently recovered from cancer. I also learned that she had not travelled for over fifteen years. As she didn’t know me or anyone else in the group….Angela’s signing up for the course was an act of courage and trust.
Although 
When everything is in place in our lives….health, money, etc. exhibiting courage can be easier. We have more confidence when these vital elements are in place. What ‘separates the men from the boys’, is when those vital ingredients aren’t in place, particularly with regards to health. Then exhibiting courage can be more difficult.
This quote is from Angela when talking about loosening up.
Wishing one and all a peaceful and creative day.
We were a group of seventeen. Thirteen stayed in the School and four of us were billeted in ‘David’s house’ just two minutes away. (David, a man of vision, was the founder of the school.
After breakfast the day always begins with a demonstration….and then we paint until 1 p.m.ish when we have lunch, either at the School or at a local restaurant.
The emphasis of the course is all about observation, imagination and of course loosening up. Use of sketch books is vital. 
Part of the goal was to take our sketch books back to the studio and make paintings from the sketches (these watercolours will be shown in next blog)…..Here we enjoyed a beautiful day at the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa. It was my first visit there, and I would definitely go back again. 
Having walked through beautiful pine trees, we were confronted with this lovely view of the old Mill. Needless to say we concentrated on reflections….
Friday was spent on beautiful Armona Island – a fifteen minute boat ride away…when lots of sketching was done and another delicious lunch enjoyed at a Beach cafe. 
Giving a little demo on Armona Beach…..a lovely moment. 
Moira and Dora enjoying the jazz……
Enjoying a delicious tapas meal at ‘David’s Bar’. a fun evening. 
And in another local restaurant
After another day of sketching and painting I did a couple of portrait demonstrations.
My view as I reclined on the chaise in the Pool House courtyard….for my daily siesta:). The healing nature of naps…..I love them. 
Quick watercolour/pen sketch taken from the Saturday market. 
Angela hanging around the ice cream shop……I was there to, but you can’t see me:)
Because everyone produced so much good work, plus filled sketch books, I am putting the work of participants on a second blog……
Early morning walk through Olhao when the town is still relatively quiet and cool. 
The lovely 150 year old olive tree that meanders from one of the internal courtyards up to the top level of the School. 
I am now very excited about the upcoming course at the school in Portugal (
Like most people throughout my life I have experienced some important turning points. Usually events that I could never have imagined….and often events that turn out to be blessings in disguise. When these events occur, I have found that it’s important to embrace them no matter how uncomfortable they might be. My recent blip has turned out to be such an event.
“When you are convinced that all the exits are blocked, either you take to believing in miracles or you stand still like the hummingbird. The miracle is that the honey is always there, right under your nose, only you were too busy searching elsewhere to realise it. The worst is not death but being blind, blind to the fact that everything about life is in the nature of the miraculous.” Henry Miller. 
We tend to ignore the fact that there is a vast tapestry of energy that exists beyond our five senses…..that there is an unseen order of things. For me the hummingbird symbolises this.
And finally the beautiful olive tree in the courtyard at the School in Olhao. 
Have a lovely day and week ahead.
In total we numbered thirteen…however, in this group picture taken in the studio on the last evening, we are missing three of our company – Elizabeth who unfortunately became ill early on, and then Inara from Norway and her daughter Eva from Latvia who had to leave a little earlier because of flights. 
Inara from Norway produced some beautiful work. This quick study of me teaching is superb,
And this lovely piece from Eva – who lives in Latvia…..This was a totally new experience for her. 
Another different element to this year was the addition of tutor Dora Keogh. Dora and her husband John are Canadians who also have a home in Olhao…Dora joined us for all the painting and some of the messing around stuff as well:) I really enjoyed this, and hope that we are able to work together again.
As is often the case, by the fourth day, people are getting into a flow. This gem was painted by Jayanthi…..and is a clear example of what happens when a flow is achieved. 
These two beauties came from Mitsuyo’s brush. Mitsuyo and Larry live in Kaikoura New Zealand. During one evening Larry showed some slides of this beautiful part of the world, plus some of Mitzuyo’s magnificent jewellery. 
It is important to remember that my courses are all about loosening up and letting go of preconceived notions. I can say that everyone stepped up to the challenge. 
Celia explaining to us how the colour of the glazes aren’t necessarily what they appear to be!
The tiles produced by some of my group……what fun. 
Demonstrating a loosening up exercise working from a colour ground. 
Boat driver Nuno taking us to Armona Island. Note to the left is his beautiful dog who is always there to greet us. 
One of many fine meals….this one at the Beach Cafe on Armona….fresh grilled fish and vegetables….and lots of lovely fresh air. 
On this day we ate at a really good Indian restaurant in one of the Alleys in the middle of old Olhao. I am no connoisseur of Indian food but this was delicious and Jaynthi, who knows all about India said it was very good. I look forward to returning there. 
Love Moira’s quick sketch on Armona Island. My photograph does not do it justice
It’s important to recognise that many of these artists are used to working in a much tighter way…..It’s always gratifying to me to see when the looseness starts to show. 
There are so many more paintings to show…..Please check Art in the Algarve FB page…plus my FB page, twitter and instagram.
Carlotta is Margarida’s youngest……Unfortunately I didn’t get any of Beatrice this time.
And wonderful Dora inviting everyone for a beer…..This was the biggest beer container i have ever seen:)
Sketching at the Saturday market. 
Famous for the storks that nest there every year, this little tree is right across from the Ceramics studio. A great place to sit and sketch. 
Clare sketching on the Island of Armona – a fifteen minute boat ride from the School. 
quick watercolour sketch – Culatro island 
A simple and lovely lunch of grilled fish on the Island of Armona. 
watercolour – steps in Olhao Portugal 
The 150 year old olive tree in the School courtyard Olhao Portugal 
Dancing and music during the Saturday market – Olhao Portugal 
Rapid watercolour of sun setting in Portugal 
Jazz at Cantaloupe Jazz Cafe, Olhao Portugal. Excellent for sketching .
A sun drenched wall with trees – Olhao Portugal 
My Life as an Artist (2) 