Letters from an Artist Retreat - Pt.1

Exploring Andalusia Spain with Rebecca Green

I’m back from my trip abroad and have so much to share! I went on an art retreat hosted by Rebecca Green through UpTrek which focused on gouache illustration. Half a year ago I saw Rebecca’s post promoting this retreat to Andalusia Spain and I felt a full body YES and booked the trip immediately. Lately I’ve felt compelled to travel more – maybe it’s my somewhat young age coupled with my lack of a mortgage, parter and kids. I also think the pandemic made me appreciate leaving my house…

Whatever the reason I’m so glad I answered the call to this adventure! Rebecca is so lovely in person and our little group of sixteen artists generated so much creativity, passion and inspiration. I think we were all feeling it. I remember walking down a path and someone was excitedly pointing out the different colors in the dirt. I love artists. I feel lucky that I am surrounded by artists back home in Portland, too – I’m happy that I was able to cultivate creative community here as well as abroad.

A few captures from the trip: Working in the studio at our retreat, a gate in Ronda, me in an ancient bathhouse in Ronda and the gardens nearby, the pool near my casita, and the group of artists I was lucky enough to share this time with.

The first sketchbook I worked in was a smaller format with regular drawing paper. I got this sketchbook through an art trade with another artist in Portland! They make hand-marbled paper goods. Check them out on Instagram: @nautiluspaper

Airport doodles

Unfinished plein air sketch of El Gastor

Portraits of some of the women from my trip: Jamilla, Alice, and Catalina

Plein air views from Setenil de las Bodegas and El Gastor

Playing with texture

Plein air sketch of the new bridge in Ronda and a statue in Malaga

Thumbnail explorations for a larger piece

Plein air sketches from Ronda

Thank you for reading this little newsletter and for being part of my creative community! There will be a part 2 featuring scans from my second sketchbook as well as two finished paintings that can be purchased as prints. For now, I’ll leave you with some suitcase drama:

If you were watching my Instagram stories you’ll know I lost my checked suitcase for the entire trip. It failed to make it on the plane during my connection in Seattle to Paris. Eventually it turned up in Malaga but since my retreat location was two hours away from the airport, the third-party courier never made an attempt to get my luggage to me during the trip. My Dad suggested I put an Apple air tag in my luggage before I left and thank goodness I did – I was able to locate it and have the airport deliver it to me before I got on my plane home. Overall It was very disappointing and I definitely cried about it once. I had purchased a bunch of art supplies I never got to use and I had to go without a lot of my clothes and comforts. But I tried not to let it spoil by trip! I still had an amazing time and I will never check my luggage on an international flight ever again :) My Dad was on the phone on hold every day with the airline and tried really hard to get it to me. Thank Dad! And the girls on the trip chipped in and leant me things – I felt really cared for and supported. It goes to show you have to be open and flexible to whatever goes wrong during travel.