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.
Autumn Leaves in the Retiro Park
I think the element of surprise is what I like about art making.
Capricho park in Madrid is a gorgeous historic park. I signed up for this fast-painting competition because I like to paint in the parks here in Madrid and this one is fabulous.
I set up in front of a fountain. Painting fountains are my favorite subject matter in the park. I like to hear the water trickling and try to capture the look of it as it falls. The water sparkles and glitters as it falls and this is what I like. Here is a picture of the fountain. It’s a simple, yet beautiful fountain.
The photograph doesn’t even come close to the stunning variety of green colors.
The painting competition was from 9 to 2. Usually, I can never finish a painting in such a short time. I tried really hard to finish this time or a least to make it look finished. Below is a photo of my painting.
I turned in the painting on time and although I didn’t win any prizes, I am happy to say that my painting was selected for the exhibition.
I was number 40.
Here it is hanging on the wall at Cultural Center Gloria Fuertes in Madrid. It will be hanging there until the 25th of November 2022.
Here is a little clip so you can see the ambiance of the Capricho Park Fast Painting Competition.
Pen and Ink with watercolor wash from the Rooftop of Callao winter of 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.
I have a little stand at the Plaza de Los Pintores in the heart of Madrid.
Here are some of the Paintings I will be showing of Madrid.
Monumento to Alfonso XIIArco de los CuchillerosMonumento al Angel CaidoLa Gran ViaEl Templo de DobodFuente de NeptunoAtocha Stationla AlmudenaTravesia de los NunciosPlaza de CascorroAt my stand at Plaza de los Pintores
I will have these watercolors at my stand in June. I invite you to come by and see me.
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
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 eator 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 colorso typical in many parts of Madrid.
Thank you for reading this little story about Madrid de los Austrias.
The Plaza Parterre is one of the most visited gardens in the Retiro Park. The entrance is Felipe IV Gate. The skyline in the background includes the Casón del Buen Retiro. The main enjoyment I get from painting in the park is looking at the beautiful scenery in Madrid.
This autumn watercolor painting is of the Fallen Angel Fountain in the Retiro Park located in Madrid, Spain. In this September painting the flowers that surround the fountain are bright red geraniums.
Fuente del Angel Caìdo September 2019
I no longer have this September watercolor with the red geraniums so I went back to the Retiro last weekend to paint it again. To my surprise the flowers had been pulled up and replaced with red, yellow, white and purple pansies…quite a change from the bold red color.
Fuente del Angel Caido November 2019
This watercolor is from a collection of watercolors of the fountains in the Retiro Park. The Fallen Angel Fountain is pretty interesting when you look into its history. It’s one of a kind.
Victoria Olson Art - Watercolor, Egg Tempera & Oil 