Quick Studies in Fornos de Algodres: Art Amidst Portuguese Adventures

Portugal's landscapes are a feast for the eyes, and during my recent trip to Fornos de Algodres, I set myself a creative challenge. Surrounded by a rocky, lush environment, under sunny skies with snow-capped peaks in the distance, I dedicated a mere 15-20 minutes per quick study. My mediums of choice? Pen and watercolour. I purposely packed light: a simple children's watercolour set, and a compact water-filled pen (the kind kids use without making a mess!).

This isn't just about speed; it's a deliberate tactic to banish perfectionism and overthinking, forces that often creep into an artist's process. Plus, with a 9-year-old, a 4-year-old, and a 3-month-old in tow, time was a luxury I simply didn't have before someone inevitably decided to explore somewhere they shouldn't!

My main focus for these studies was shape – breaking down the complex landscapes into their fundamental forms, deliberately ignoring initial details. This allowed me to build layers, following my trusty "pyramid plan" which I use for both landscapes and figure drawing. It's all about getting the core structure right first.

In one memorable session, I even managed to get two of my children to join in. It was a chaotic, beautiful mess. My daughter, after getting understandably frustrated with her own artistic endeavors, delivered the most brilliant critique of my work: "Daddy, stop printing the landscape!" A perfect, innocent summation of trying to capture the essence of a place quickly.

These fleeting moments of creation, amidst the beautiful chaos of a family holiday, proved to be incredibly rewarding. I essentially scribble around until I find the right shapes, then reaffirm those lines with bold strokes. It’s a process of discovery, not rigid precision. They reminded me that art isn't always about hours of painstaking detail; sometimes, it's about capturing a feeling, a moment, and finding beauty in the bold strokes and simple shapes.

View from our holiday home.

A different view from our holiday home.