I am so, so happy and excited to share some wonderful news with you!
On October 25th, I traveled to the beautiful town of Loja, in Granada, to participate in their "Pintura Rápida" contest. And... I won 2nd prize! I'm still smiling just thinking about it.
A day of (many) firsts!
This contest was a huge adventure for me. You see, a 'Pintura Rápida' (or speed painting) is already an intense challenge where you have to finish a painting in one day.
But this time, I decided to try something new. It was my first time ever entering a speed painting contest with watercolors!
And, it was also my first time painting with watercolors on such a big canvas. My partner and I actually built the wooden frame ourselves and stretched the paper for it. So, just arriving with this huge watercolor setup felt like a little victory!
The theme: Loja's local traditions
The theme for the day was really special and all about the local culture. We were asked to paint a topic representing Loja's traditions, specifically the grooming of their sheep (which they are very proud of) and the history of hunting animals in the region.
The landscapes around Loja are just beautiful, and I was immediately drawn to the pastoral side of the theme.
Painting against the clock (with watercolors!)
I found my spot, set up my big canvas, and just started to paint.
It's such a different way to work. You don't have time to overthink! You just have to trust your feelings, let the watercolors flow, and paint with all your energy. It was a little bit crazy, but so much fun.
I really wanted to capture the feeling of the landscape and the sheep that are so important to the town's identity.
The big surprise!
I finished my painting just in time and handed it in. Honestly, with all the "firsts," just finishing the piece felt like a huge win.
There were so many amazing artists, so you can imagine my shock and surprise when they called my name for the 2nd prize! I was (and still am!) completely honored and so grateful.
Here is the painting I created.
It was such a memorable day. A huge thank you to the organizers of the contest and the town of Loja for being so welcoming. I'm so proud to have a piece of my art inspired by their beautiful home and traditions.
With love,
Maryna
