If you would like to see the video of my experiences, please click the Youtube tumbnail below.
Click the tumbnail to see a full sized image.
Blog
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My experiences on the Camino de Santiago – Porto to Tui.
Here is a little video of my time in Portugal when my friend and I attempted to cycle to Santiago from Porto. It didn’t work out, we had to cycle so much there was no time for painting. Painting waterolours was the highest priority, so we slowed down and found a balance that made the rest of the trip a joy.
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I painted while on the Camino de Santiago pilgrim trail
Here are some watercolours from Portugal. I painted them while on the Camino de Santiago pilgrim trail last week. I was with my friend David Powell . We cycled with our Brompton bikes that we brought from Stockholm in our suitcases. We stayed in hostels along the way.
We traveled from Porto to Tui in Spain, ten days in all. Our bikes weren’t suited for the old Roman cobble roads. Still, it was an adventure and lots of fun.
There were some tough moments like when we got stuck on the side of a mountain because we ran out of road. Luckly for us, three young men helped us carry our bikes and gear until we found some road again. I think they were saints. We bought them lunch.
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A calm day in the outer archipelago
Recently, I have been painting from photographs that I have taken. As I write this, there is sleet falling to the ground. It’s not quite spring yet. Or, this is spring, it’s just a Nordic one.
The story behind the watercolour is that we took ourselves to Svartlöga on a ferry from Rödlöga, two islands in the outer archipelago. We wanted to visit Svartlöga for a long time but it’s difficult to visit with a sailing boat. We decided to take a ferry from Rödlöga and leave our boat behind.
This probably doesn’t make much sense to you, but it’s when I took the reference photo for the watercolour. I’m happy with the painting, but maybe not the explanation.
Svartlöga is surrounded by rocks, making it difficult to land there with a boat. Click to see full size. -
Painting the familiar
I’ve painted this old ferry before. It’s called Storskär, it was built in 1908. I wanted to paint a subject that I was familiar with. Painting something new can be scary as well as exciting. I’m trying to start painting in the studio again. I’ve installed my field easel to help me over the line. It’s working, I’ve started painting. White paper and scary monsters, it’s not easy being a watercolour artist. 😁
Storskär 36 x 26 cm
Storskär -
Peace and harmony at Ploubazlanec
This plein air watercolour was originally a landscape painting but it just didn’t work. It was only when I cut it into a portrait format that it communicated the feeling of the day when I stood on the beach in Ploubazlanec, Brittany.
Ploubazlanec on a different day. Click to enlarge. -
A wet, quiet day in Ploubazlanec
Painting when it rains I’m back home after 10 days in Brittany. I managed to do a few paintings, but the focus really was on the family. A lot of feelings, and emotions that I’m still processing in my head . Saying goodbye to a family member is one of those things we all dread but can’t avoid.
Brittany is beautiful, even when it rains.
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The beauty of Brittany
Saint-Brieuc I am in Brittany for a sad reason. A loved member of the family has passed away.
I have time to myself. The landscape is just magnificent. This painting I did in Saint-Brieuc. I get lost in my watercolours. I find peace, and my body recovers from the burden of winter.
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A farm south of Stockholm
This is actually a studio painting. I say that because for some reason I find it really hard to paint in the studio. I just want to paint plein air all the time. It’s cold here though, so it’s wise to stay indoors.
You know what I did! I removed my studio easel and replaced it with my field easel and voilà, I suddenly found it easy to paint indoors. Mind games, that’s all it is. 😁Click the image below for full sized image.
