Let me tell you a story that happened to me in Montoro (a stunning town in Córdoba) that drastically changed my way of painting in watercolors!
To be honest, this story almost didn't happen.
On Friday night, the day before the competition, I found myself feeling extremely lazy. I just wanted to stay home, curl up, and enjoy a "do-nothing" weekend. But then I opened Google Maps. I saw how incredibly beautiful Montoro is with its red stone, the river, and the architecture.
Even though it was two hours away from Málaga, I pulled myself together. I knew I had to go.
Fog, coffee, and the perfect food pack
The alarm went off at 6:00 AM. It was still dark and cold.
As always, my amazing partner Marino was the hero of the morning. While I was waking up, he was already in the kitchen performing his magic. He knows these competition days are long and exhausting, so he prepared a full survival kit.
He packed breakfast for the road, a delicious lunch for later, and plenty of homemade snacks to keep my energy up. Having him take care of me like that allows me to focus completely on the painting. He really is the best!
The drive was atmospheric to say the least. We drove through patches of thick morning fog and watched the sun slowly rise over the Andalusian olive groves. It was chilly, but with good food and good company, the excitement started to kick in.
The Priest and the Sign
We arrived at 10:00 AM to seal my large canvas (116x81cm). I immediately went hunting for inspiration.
I was wandering the streets when I saw a man coming out of his house to walk his dog. I started taking pictures of the beautiful light hitting the building, and he tried to duck out of the frame! I laughed and asked him to stay and pose. We chatted briefly and said goodbye.
I kept walking and looking for "the spot." And then, on the other side of the village, I bumped into him again!
We introduced ourselves properly this time. It turned out he was Padre Tomás, the priest of the very cathedral I was thinking of painting. It felt like a sign from the universe that I had to paint this place!
The Disaster (12:00 PM)
I ran back to the car, ready to grab my easel and start. But then disaster struck.
The roof mechanism of our convertible got stuck mid-way. It blocked the trunk completely. We couldn't get it open. My canvas, my paints, my brushes were all trapped inside!
We struggled with it for two hours. Two hours! By the time we finally got my materials out, it was 12:00 PM.
I had lost the best morning light. I had only 4.5 hours left to sketch, start, and finish a huge, complex watercolor.
The Race Against Time
Panic set in. "IT IS NOT ENOUGH, MARYNA!!!" screamed a voice in my head.
I didn't have time to think. I didn't have time to doubt. I barely had time to eat that delicious lunch Marino had packed, though I managed to grab bites of the snacks with one hand while painting with the other!
Marino kept me alive with those snacks, a couple of ColaCaos, and a machine coffee from Padre Tomás (bless him!).
I painted like I was on fire. I didn't paint the entire picture. I just attacked the essential parts. I was slashing color, leaving white space, and moving faster than I ever have before.
Then my phone rang. It was the contest organizers asking, "Maryna, dónde estás? Te esperamos." (Maryna, where are you? We are waiting.)
I wanted to cry. I looked at my canvas and thought it was unfinished. I told myself I wasn't going to win so why even present it?
The Revelation
We ran to the office to exhibit the piece just in time. I stepped back to look at it properly for the first time.
And I fell in love.
Because I didn't have time to overthink, I had captured something raw and real. I saw a new simplicity. I saw light. I realized I had deconstructed the objects and painted with pure feeling instead of just "copying" reality.
I didn't win a prize that day, but I won something much bigger.
I unlocked a new way of painting that is fast, free, and intuitive. I thanked myself for not staying on the sofa that Friday night.
Now I know I can do a little bit more than I thought.
Sometimes the accidents are the best part of the journey.
See you at the next one!
Maryna
