If you read my last post, you know I spent Saturday painting in Pedro Abad. Well, the adventure didn't stop there!
On Sunday, November 9th, the alarm went off at 6:00 AM (a luxury compared to 4:45 AM the day before!) and we hit the road again. This time, we were heading to Guadalcázar, another beautiful town near Córdoba, for their "Pintura Rápida" competition.
And spoiler alert... this story has a trophy at the end!
A cozy corner (and a change of perspective)
The theme for this contest was to paint a "rinconcito" (a cozy little corner) of the town.
I decided to stick with my new big watercolor format (114cm x 81cm) that we built ourselves, but this time, I flipped it to landscape mode. I found the perfect spot facing the main street and the Bar Requena.
It is such a traditional, authentic bar where the locals spend their days laughing, talking, and just being Andalusians. I knew I had to capture that energy.
The "Colacao" incident
Now, here is the funny part. In these small Andalusian towns, people usually drink a "cafelito" (strong coffee), a "caña" (beer), or maybe a brandy in the morning.
My partner? He went to the bar and ordered a Colacao (hot chocolate). Then he went back and ordered another one. And another one!
By the third time, the locals were teasing us and having a good laugh. "More Colacao?!" It was such a funny, human moment. It broke the ice, and even though everyone was making fun of us, it made us feel welcome.
Painting in the wind
The weather was sunny but with a chilly wind that kept us on our toes.
Just like in Pedro Abad, the neighbors were so sweet. They stopped by to watch, tell stories, and encourage me. Sometimes it's hard to focus when you are trying to race against the clock, but their words mean the world to me. When they tell you, "This is the best art I've seen," it gives you the energy to keep building this dream.
But this time, I felt different.
I was applying the feedback I got from the masters the day before. I felt more prepared, more focused, and much more relaxed. I was just flowing with the watercolor.
The verdict: 4th Prize!
We handed in the painting at 17:00. There were about 20 painters this time, and the level was high.
We gathered at the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) for the decision. They started announcing the winners... and they call a name, I started to get nervous, and then they called me, "Maryna Riepnova!"
I won the 4th prize!
I was so excited jumping up to the stage. It felt amazing to be recognized, and I was especially proud to be the only woman among the winners.
Where is the painting now?
Unlike yesterday, I couldn't sell this painting to the locals (even though a few people asked!).
Since it won a prize, the painting now belongs to the Ayuntamiento of Guadalcázar. It will be displayed in the town's cultural collection for everyone to see forever. It makes me so happy to know a piece of my art is now part of this town's history.
What a weekend! From selling a painting to a sweet couple in Pedro Abad to winning a prize in Guadalcázar... I am tired, but I am so, so happy.
Thank you for following my journey! Ciao.
Maryna
