A Day Trip to Tossa de Mar
Category Archives: watercolor
La Fuente de Neptuno Paisaje de la Luz (Neptune Fountain Landscape of Light) Madrid, Spain.
I painted this watercolor of Neptune Fountain on-site, in Madrid, in the hot summer heat of August. Here is a picture of the outcome.
The day before starting this watercolor, I looked for a shady place with a view of Neptune Fountain. For me, making a painting requires standing or sitting in the same place for many hours. I need to be careful with the heat. If you have been to Madrid in the summer, you know exactly what I mean.
Looking around for the perfect spot, I found it next to the bus shelter. There was just enough shade for one person and that person was me. I had a view of Neptune Fountain with lots of trees in the background. The yellow flowers circling the pond add to the summery scene, all sunny and upbeat.
I wanted to finish the watercolor in the same day, but the light started to change so I left and came back the following day. Neptune Fountain was granted World Heritage status by UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) on July 25th, 2021. This world heritage collection is called Paisaje de la Luz (Landscape of Light). Painting Neptune Fountain was an awesome experience.
Thank you for reading my little story,
Victoria
Autumn Plein Air Painting in Madrid
The leaves on the trees are a light luminous green color in autumn. This light reaches out to infinity on the horizon. It’s pretty cold, but a coat, gloves, and hat will do the trick to be almost warm.
I like the benches on this path. You can’t see them because my body is blocking them, but that’s alright because you can see them in the watercolor below.
I have to laugh because I remember telling myself to paint the benches off to the side, not in the middle. I guess the benches wanted to be in the middle of the paper regardless.
I think the element of surprise is what I like about art making.
Thank you for reading my little story,
Victoria
Thank you for supporting the Arts Penelope.
It is so fun to see a painting I made in 1986 on your wall. Thank you for framing it and sending me a picture. I like the way you put it in a similar environment and with the Nivea cream to boot.
Thank you for Supporting the Arts Danielle
-El Estanque del Parque del Retiro – Paisaje de Luz
La Gran Via from the Rooftop of Callao 2021
This is one of my favorite small watercolors. It is my favorite because I had a fun time while I was drawing and painting it. It was right after the crazy snowfall we had here in Madrid. It was freezing cold outside and hardly anyone was outside because of the Pandemic. I was sitting in a cafe on the rooftop of Callao with my one and only art student who was brave enough to go out once a week and paint Madrid with me. I think this kept us sane in an insane time of confinement and uncertainty. I remember our conversation that day as if it were yesterday. That is what is so special about painting the moment. Watercolor is like a long photograph and you remember everything.
I have a little clip of the moment when I finished the painting. You can see it if you click here.
Thank you for reading my little story.
Victoria
In April and May, there are a lot of flowers that I love to Paint. I am going to share a few of the Spring watercolors that I painted. They are on exhibition at the Plaza de los Pintores in the heart of Madrid.
I named this painting Red Roses in a Glass Herb Liquor Bottle. I like this glass bottle because it has smooth edges and it is transparent. The roses are from my terrace. I have had this rose bush for many years. I take such good care of it so I can paint the beautiful red roses.
These flowers just showed up on my terrace one day. I didn’t plant them, but one day to my surprise a bunch of irises bloomed. I painted them as soon as I found the time.
Sometimes I use flowers as an excuse to paint my favorite bottles. I still remember the day I laid eyes on this beautiful blue bottle. It was in my grandma and grandpa’s liquor cabinet. I asked if I could have it and I’ve been painting it ever since.
This one is called Iris in Red Vintage Whisky Bottle. I have had this bottle for years. It has a deep red color that looks so pretty in the light. I don’t have this one anymore. A nice couple came to the plaza and got it for themselves.
I got this vintage coffee pot at a street fair. When I got it, I could imagine red roses, almond blossoms, red poppies, and all kinds of colorful flowers inside. When those irises popped up on my terrace, they went right into this old gooseneck coffee pot.
I went on to make a few more watercolors. Here my sapphire bottle is with a depression pink flower-shaped ashtray with a few scattered seashells. I like to put them in front of the window to let the light go through them.
In this watercolor I had a coral tea rose in the blue gin bottle and red roses in the clear liquor de hierba bottle. I love to paint these beautiful bottles with different backgrounds and the flowers I have on my terrace.
This ceramic vase is a Talavera vase. My grandmother rescued it and glued it back together. I am so glad because this is my favorite vase. I put a branch of roses inside and painted them.
Here is another one of my favorite vases. I like to paint the facets on the crystal. I painted a lot of roses because there are a lot of roses on the terrace.
Here is another one of my favorite vases in the watercolor behind me. My watercolor found a new home with this nice couple. You can find me at my stand at the Plaza de los Pintores located in Madrid at Plaza Conde de Barajas. I am there every Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm. Come by and see me when you are in Madrid.
What? The Plaza de los Pintores (An Outdoor Art Market) When? Every Sunday from 10am to 3pm Where? Plaza Conde de Barajas – In Madrid.
Hope to see you there:), Victoria Olson
PS I will be there tomorrow.
Travesía del Nuncio March 2021
Painting outdoors is a lot of fun. I get up early and go to the spot I want to paint.
This is medieval Madrid and it is a very popular spot.
This is an iconic place in Madrid that you don’t want to miss when you are here.
Thank you for reading my little story.
My Painting Adventure 2020-2021 in Madrid, Spain
As I said before, I was stopped in my tracks in March 2020, unable to finish this painting of Plaza Conde de Barajas. I decided to leave it unfinished.
I started painting again in August of 2020 and continued all through 2021.
I’d like to thank everybody for taking these pictures and sending them to me.
As you can see in the photos, there were not a lot of people out and about. It was weird to see Madrid so empty.
I returned to Plaza Conde de Barajas to make a watercolor in the spring of 2021.
This story wouldn’t be complete without mentioning my student who was with me in almost every outdoor painting adventure rain or shine. It was a lot of fun!
I am sharing a 3 minute video of some of my watercolors during this strange period and I invite you to see it here.
Thank you for reading my little painting story.
Plein Air Watercolor Painting of Monumento a Los Héroes de Cascorro in El Rastro November 4th Madrid, Spain
Today was a sunny day with some big clouds and a bit chilly. I really enjoy painting the monuments in Madrid.
The history behind them is really interesting.
The bronze statue represents Eloy Gonzolo and it was created by Aniceto Marinas. It was placed here in the Rastro in 1902.
While I was painting there was a couple having breakfast at an outdoor terrace. This is a typical scene here in Madrid, so I just had to include it in the painting.
I love painting couples.
The gaslamps are all over Madrid and remind me of a long ago time when they lit the streets with a warm light at night.
Victoria Olson Art - Watercolor, Egg Tempera & Oil 