Painting the Plata

Zafra Spain Gordon’s Total Distance Walking: 150 kms Ruth’s Total Distance Cycling: 167

Number of paintings or sketches: 7

Art teachers sometimes encourage their students to just fill their sketchbooks, insisting that every page is mileage in learning to make art. Each day, on the Via de la Plata, some of my mileage is, therefore off my bike.

I brought my little art kit, and a few homemade watercolor sketchbooks, with the goal of getting some much needed mileage painting landscapes There is a good artist painting a few days ahead of me and I have tried to copy his delightful paintings when I arrived at the same place. I am also getting some tips from Henri, a French Pilgrim, who likes to be called Enrique in Spain

I also tried to reproduce a acrylic painting I saw in a cafe.

I’m going to keep up with the mileage until I find my own style.

What I love painting the most are the buildings in the towns we pass through. Today it was a cold 3 degrees when we set out, but warm enough in the sunny square by mid-day. Perfect for a painting stop. I arrived ahead of most of the walkers, so I also had a chance to visit with each of them as they stopped for a coffee in the square.