Spain 2024

Dear Painters and Friends,

What a pleasure it was to be back at Casa Ana, in the Andalusian mountain village of Ferreirola, Spain. A very happy bunch of painters, wonderful sunny weather and the most delicious food made for a great creative atmosphere and the paints were flowing freely - well not just the paints!

We painted our lovely village with whitewashed old farmhouses and a most impressive fountain on our first day. This got us nicely warmed up for the magical woodland stroll to a nearby plateau with fantastic mountain views to paint. As before, Dean came with his two horses to carry all our luggage. That evening we had an additional treat: the charming Flamenco dancer and teacher Paula came to show us a few simple claps and moves. It was such fun to try them out together

We also had a non-painting day with excursion to the even higher situated town of Capiliera which clings to the side of the magnificent mountains of the Sierra Nevada like a limpid. Great for sketching, sightseeing, lunch and a bit of shopping. The following day we picked up our brushes again and painted in the lower part of Ferreirola, where old window sills with flower boxes and exotic cacti, doors ways and arches were waiting to be captured on paper. On our last day we visited the nearby village of Busquitar which has another stunning view downhill to the main village and across the impressive mountains of the Alpujarra range.

Despite the picturesque journey back to Malaga airport on Saturday, we were all very sad to leave and to say good-by to everybody at Casa Ana who looked so lovingly after us. It was a week to remember!

Special thanks go to Anne, whose home we shared and to Tinca who organised everything so wonderfully.

I wish you all a creative summer and fun with your painting,
Bettina