Painting Palacio de Cristal in Retiro Park of Madrid, Spain

Posted on September 25, 2021 by victoria A. Olson

I have a lot of fun painting the Crystal Palace. I paint it often. In July it was granted World Heritage status. I am really happy about that.

This is a small format. Small format is great because I can finish in one session.

Pintando Palacio de Cristal en Situ 25 de Septiembre 2021

Here is my set up. I got this picture thanks to someone who sent me the picture. Thank you Javier!

Pintando in Situ 25 de Septiembre 2021 Pan

I try to paint in the shade, since I am standing in the same spot for three or four hours. It’s either shade or wear a hat. I brushed off a few spiders from my shoulder that were dropping down from the shady tree.

Thank you for reading my little story,

Victoria

A Painting of Fountain of the Fallen Angel – Landscape of Light – World Heritage in Madrid

Posted on September 14, 2021 by victoria A. Olson

Fuente del Angel Caido, Paisaje de la Luz Agosto 2021

This painting is called Fuente del Ángel Caído. I painted it on site in August, a verrrrry hot month here in Madrid, haha.

Photo courtesy of Juan Manuel. Thank you Juanma.

Here you can see the statue in the background. I also have a short clip here if you click on ‘clip‘.

This unique statue, created by Ricardo Bellver is incredibly beautiful. It represents the moment that Lucifer falls from heaven as described by John Milton in the first pages of his epic, Paradise Lost. The statue has been granted World Heritage status by UNESCO in July 2021.

Here is a shot of the painting on site, when I finished. If you come to Madrid, don’t forget to visit the Glorieta del Ángel Caído. Thank you for reading my short story. Enjoy your day, Victoria

El Palacio de Cristal del Buen Retiro en Madrid, España

Posted on September 9, 2021 by victoria A. Olson

Pinto en el Parque del Buen Retiro a menudo. Uno de mis edificios favoritos es el Palacio de Cristal. Lo he pintado muchas veces porque se ve diferente durante todo el año. El Palacio de Cristal fue declarado Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO el 25 de Julio 2021. Volví a pintar este hermoso Palacio de Cristal en Agosto de 2021.

Mientras estaba pintando, alguien me dijo que se vería hermoso si lo dejaba los cantos sin terminar. De hecho, dos personas me dijeron eso el mismo día.

La selección del Parque del Buen Retiro y el Paseo del Prado, patrimonio de la humanidad, se llama Paisaje de la Luz, por lo que el borde blanco que se deja sin pintar sirve como un halo de luz. Es muy apropiado y una buena idea para la serie que estoy pintando con el mismo nombre. Estoy feliz de haberlas escuchado.

Palacio de Cristal, el primer cuadro de la serie, Paisaje de la Luz, está en muy buenas manos.

Ya está en la pared junto a una gran obra de arte. Hoy mi cuadro tiene casa. Gracias por apoyar las artes.

Y ya tiene marco blanco con paspartú. Me encanta! Victoria

Retiro Park World Heritage

Posted on August 9, 2021 by victoria A. Olson

The Crystal Palace here in Retiro Park has been granted status of world heritage in July 2021.

This is the first of a series of paintings that I plan on making of Paisaje de la Luz. In English, Landscape of Light. Here is a little clip of the painting and the Landscape.

As I was painting, someone I had just met that day gave me the perfect name for my series and named it ‘Landscape of Light’. Nice idea Carmen, Thanks.

I got up really early this morning to continue with my series of paintings. Monument to Alfonso XII has also been granted the status of world heritage. It is not surprising at all; the monument is so magnificent. Here is a little clip of the painting with the monument.

I’m not finished yet, so I’ll be going back tomorrow.

Ozzy, thank you for this cute clip!

Enjoy the summer everyone,

Victoria

Vintage Gooseneck Coffee Pot with Branch Blossoms

Posted on July 31, 2021 by victoria A. Olson

I picked up this gooseneck coffee pot at a design fair here in Madrid and this is the first time it appears in one of my paintings.

Here is a picture of the watercolor when I finished. I like to take a picture of it outdoors to see the colors in the light. I always put my hand in the picture as a size reference.

Now my friend has it hanging on her wall. She sent this picture to me. It looks great in that white frame. This is the perfect comfy corner.

Thank you for reading my little story and supporting the Arts.

Have a lovely day,

Victoria

Early Branch Blossoms Watercolor Painting

Posted on April 29, 2021 by victoria A. Olson

I like painting flowering branches in watercolor because watercolor is a medium that allows me to paint quickly enough to try to capture the feeling.

Almond Blossoms, Japaneses Scarlet Quince and Yellow Retama

These are the branch blossoms that bloom in February here in Madrid. The first three flowers I see after the cold winter are almond blossoms, Japanese quince and yellow retama.

Here is a closer view of the Japanese quince and yellow retama in pickle jar half filled with water.

These three early bloomers grow on twisting branches reaching out in every direction, so that’s why I like to put them in a pickle jar. I want to be able to paint the submerged flowers on the branches.

The blue curtains are in the background. I opened them up and the light came in illuminating the yellow retama.

Here is a picture of the watercolor in full shade. My hands serve as a size reference. Thank you for reading my little watercolor adventure report. Victoria

La Plaza de la Paja Madrid de los Austrias 2021

Posted on March 11, 2021 by victoria A. Olson

This is a watercolor of la Plaza de la Paja. (The Plaza of Straw). The name, Plaza of Straw, comes from the 15th Century, a time when straw was sold at the Plaza.

La Plaza de la Paja is located in an area known as Madrid de los Austrias, in the historic center, within the neighborhood of La Latina. It was an important market in the 13th and 14th Century. Nowadays, it is a great place to have a bite to eat or to just hang out.

Overlooking the Plaza, is Sacramento Church. Since 1980, it is the Military Cathedral of Spain known as Catedral de las Fuerzas Armadas.

These 19th Century constructions are either painted or covered with exposed brick. The narrow wrought iron balconies accentuate the buildings in this neighborhood so beautifully.

The antique gas street lamps that once lit the neighborhood with soft glowing lights are so picturesque.

Can you see a door on the back wall? This jewel is one of Madrid’s secrets.

Through this door, are the Gardens of the Prince of Anglona, one of the few examples of the noble gardens from the 18th Century of Madrid. If you are ever in Madrid, do not miss this hidden garden.

It was an overcast grey day, and the tree branches were still nude. Even so, anyday in Madrid is a good day to paint.

Here is the finished watercolor in the light of day, shown against the brick color so typical in many parts of Madrid.

Thank you for reading this little story about Madrid de los Austrias.

A Few Wildflowers From the Field

Posted on March 5, 2021 by victoria A. Olson

I like to paint the things that are around me and these are typical Mediterranean wildflowers that grow in a field near my home in Madrid, Spain.

A watercolor of Wildflowers in a Pickle Jar — A Few Wildflowers from the Field 2020

Spring Blossom Explosion Painting 2021

Posted on March 1, 2021 by victoria A. Olson

The Flowers in this painting are almond tree blossoms, Japanese scarlet quince and yellow broom retama in a pickle jar.

Oil Painting of Spring Blossoms in Pickle Jar

Every spring, I go out and get a few of these flowers to paint them in glass jars.

I really like the light refraction of the stems in the water.

This detail is the pickle jar reflected in the mirror with the beveled mirror edge with a few almond blossoms in the foreground.

I have blue curtains that I got in the Rastro. I like it that they show up in the mirror and complement the Japanese scarlet quince in the foreground.

Each little petal that fell off of the almond branch had a little reflection on the table.

The white almond blossom floating on the waterline in the pickle jar was my favorite detail in the still life.

Thank you for taking the time,

Victoria

Glasswork with Early February Almond Blossoms Watercolor

Posted on February 27, 2021 by victoria A. Olson

Glasswork with Early February Almond Blossoms 2021

Spring flowers are blooming all around!

I took a few notes about the process. It’s really fun to paint with watercolors. I’m using 640 gsm.

I start out with a real model. Glass objects with flowers is my all time favorite thing to paint. I like color, a lot.

I work around the paper trying to give the same importance to everything in the foreground and the background.

When I finish, I carefully take the tape off and let it dry. Then I put the paper under a stack of books to flatten it. It looks so much nicer when it’s flattened.

I have a lot of fun painting the Crystal Palace. I paint it often. In July it was granted World Heritage status. I am really happy about that.

This is a small format. Small format is great because I can finish in one session.

Here is my set up. I got this picture thanks to someone who sent me the picture. Thank you Javier!

I try to paint in the shade, since I am standing in the same spot for three or four hours. It’s either shade or wear a hat. I brushed off a few spiders from my shoulder that were dropping down from the shady tree.

Thank you for reading my little story,

Victoria

This painting is called Fuente del Ángel Caído. I painted it on site in August, a verrrrry hot month here in Madrid, haha.

Here you can see the statue in the background. I also have a short clip here if you click on ‘clip‘.

This unique statue, created by Ricardo Bellver is incredibly beautiful. It represents the moment that Lucifer falls from heaven as described by John Milton in the first pages of his epic, Paradise Lost. The statue has been granted World Heritage status by UNESCO in July 2021.

Here is a shot of the painting on site, when I finished. If you come to Madrid, don’t forget to visit the Glorieta del Ángel Caído. Thank you for reading my short story. Enjoy your day, Victoria

The Crystal Palace here in Retiro Park has been granted status of world heritage in July 2021.

This is the first of a series of paintings that I plan on making of Paisaje de la Luz. In English, Landscape of Light. Here is a little clip of the painting and the Landscape.

As I was painting, someone I had just met that day gave me the perfect name for my series and named it ‘Landscape of Light’. Nice idea Carmen, Thanks.

I got up really early this morning to continue with my series of paintings. Monument to Alfonso XII has also been granted the status of world heritage. It is not surprising at all; the monument is so magnificent. Here is a little clip of the painting with the monument.

I’m not finished yet, so I’ll be going back tomorrow.

Ozzy, thank you for this cute clip!

Enjoy the summer everyone,

Victoria

I picked up this gooseneck coffee pot at a design fair here in Madrid and this is the first time it appears in one of my paintings.

Here is a picture of the watercolor when I finished. I like to take a picture of it outdoors to see the colors in the light. I always put my hand in the picture as a size reference.

Now my friend has it hanging on her wall. She sent this picture to me. It looks great in that white frame. This is the perfect comfy corner.

Thank you for reading my little story and supporting the Arts.

Have a lovely day,

Victoria

I like painting flowering branches in watercolor because watercolor is a medium that allows me to paint quickly enough to try to capture the feeling.

These are the branch blossoms that bloom in February here in Madrid. The first three flowers I see after the cold winter are almond blossoms, Japanese quince and yellow retama.

Here is a closer view of the Japanese quince and yellow retama in pickle jar half filled with water.

These three early bloomers grow on twisting branches reaching out in every direction, so that’s why I like to put them in a pickle jar. I want to be able to paint the submerged flowers on the branches.

The blue curtains are in the background. I opened them up and the light came in illuminating the yellow retama.

Here is a picture of the watercolor in full shade. My hands serve as a size reference. Thank you for reading my little watercolor adventure report. Victoria

This is a watercolor of la Plaza de la Paja. (The Plaza of Straw). The name, Plaza of Straw, comes from the 15th Century, a time when straw was sold at the Plaza.

La Plaza de la Paja is located in an area known as Madrid de los Austrias, in the historic center, within the neighborhood of La Latina. It was an important market in the 13th and 14th Century. Nowadays, it is a great place to have a bite to eat or to just hang out.

Overlooking the Plaza, is Sacramento Church. Since 1980, it is the Military Cathedral of Spain known as Catedral de las Fuerzas Armadas.

These 19th Century constructions are either painted or covered with exposed brick. The narrow wrought iron balconies accentuate the buildings in this neighborhood so beautifully.

The antique gas street lamps that once lit the neighborhood with soft glowing lights are so picturesque.

Can you see a door on the back wall? This jewel is one of Madrid’s secrets.

Through this door, are the Gardens of the Prince of Anglona, one of the few examples of the noble gardens from the 18th Century of Madrid. If you are ever in Madrid, do not miss this hidden garden.

It was an overcast grey day, and the tree branches were still nude. Even so, anyday in Madrid is a good day to paint.

Here is the finished watercolor in the light of day, shown against the brick color so typical in many parts of Madrid.

Thank you for reading this little story about Madrid de los Austrias.

I like to paint the things that are around me and these are typical Mediterranean wildflowers that grow in a field near my home in Madrid, Spain.

The Flowers in this painting are almond tree blossoms, Japanese scarlet quince and yellow broom retama in a pickle jar.

Every spring, I go out and get a few of these flowers to paint them in glass jars.

I really like the light refraction of the stems in the water.

This detail is the pickle jar reflected in the mirror with the beveled mirror edge with a few almond blossoms in the foreground.

I have blue curtains that I got in the Rastro. I like it that they show up in the mirror and complement the Japanese scarlet quince in the foreground.

Each little petal that fell off of the almond branch had a little reflection on the table.

The white almond blossom floating on the waterline in the pickle jar was my favorite detail in the still life.

Thank you for taking the time,

Victoria

Spring flowers are blooming all around!

I took a few notes about the process. It’s really fun to paint with watercolors. I’m using 640 gsm.

I start out with a real model. Glass objects with flowers is my all time favorite thing to paint. I like color, a lot.

I work around the paper trying to give the same importance to everything in the foreground and the background.

When I finish, I carefully take the tape off and let it dry. Then I put the paper under a stack of books to flatten it. It looks so much nicer when it’s flattened.

I like to take a picture of the watercolor and the model together.

I also take a picture of the watercolor in natural light or in full shade to show the true colors.

These two watercolors go very well together.

Thank you for taking the time. Enjoy the spring,

Victoria