Paseo de las Estatuas in the Retiro Park became World Heritage on July 25th 2021.

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Paseo de las estatuas acuarela
Paseo de las Estatuas en el Buen Retiro 2020 Watercolor

I just added this watercolor to my Art Shop. You can see it there if you click here.

Retiro Park here in Madrid, Spain really is beautiful and special. Little did I know, a year after painting this watercolor, Paseo de las Estatuas would be granted world heritage status by UNESCO.

Outside on a cloudy day.

I took this picture on a cloudy day. I find that cloudy days are good to take photos of my artwork. I can capture the true colors with my camera. My hand also serves as a size reference.

Thank you for looking at my artwork. Have a lovely day, Victoria

Plaza del Parterre August 2020 Madrid, Spain World Heritage Art

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I made this watercolor of Plaza del Parterre in the early morning of August 2020. I got to my painting spot at 7:30 in the morning. The morning light was glorious. We had been confined in our houses the whole spring. In the month of August we were ‘allowed’ to go out if we were working. I considered myself to be working because I was painting with my student.

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It was still somewhat dark outside because it was early morning.

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A starling came by to visit a few times during the morning.

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Here it is in natural daylight.

Outside View

The Plein Air watercolor served me to make this studio painting later.

Plaza del Parterre 2020

I am so happy to say Plaza del Parterre was granted World Heritage status July 25th, 2021 by UNESCO. The Spanish collection is called Paisaje de la Luz, in English it’s Landscape of Light.

Thank you for reading my little story. Enjoy your day, Victoria

Palacio de Cibeles Madrid, Spain

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We had a really cold winter in Madrid in 2020, so this is one of the interiors that I painted to get out of the cold.

Palacio de Cibeles Interior 2020

There wasn’t anybody in the building except for the workers and us two that were painting. All the comfy sofas had been taken out.

The usual people who hang out in this building were not here because there was nothing to see, nothing to do and nowhere to sit.

Palacio de Cibeles

This is what this beautiful building looks like on the outside. Thank you for reading my little story.

Victoria

Painting Palacio de Cristal in Retiro Park of Madrid, Spain

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Palacio de Cristal Septiember 25 2021

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.

Palacio de Cristal Septiember 25 2021

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

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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.

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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

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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.

Cristal Palace Agosto 2021

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.

Marco Blanco

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

Retiro Park World Heritage

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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

Line and Wash at the Retiro Park

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There was a big blue sky over the Retiro Park and long shadows on the ground. It is really hard to see the beautiful Nymph fountain because the usual glittering water spilling off the dishes is just not happening.

A pair of line and wash of the Nymph Fountain

I made two line and wash paintings. They are a lot of fun to do and the time goes by so quickly.

It’s nice to have two.

I like to take a photo of the watercolor with the model.

I can’t wait until the fountains are turned on again. At least there is water in the pond, so that is nice.

Click here to see a short clip.

Thank you for reading my little story, enjoy the pleasant weather,

Victoria

La Plaza de la Paja Madrid de los Austrias 2021

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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.