You know the saying "Winter is coming"? Well, on December 6th, on the road to Fuente Palmera, it felt like winter had already arrived!
This was another early morning adventure for a Pintura Rápida contest, but the vibe was totally different from my last story. It was cold. Really cold. The kind of cold that makes you want to stay under the blankets.
But of course, the call of art (and the promise of seeing painting friends) is stronger than the cold.
Into the fog
The alarm went off in the dark, and once again, my partner Marino was the MVP.
While I was bundling up in layers, he was in the kitchen packing our "survival kit." Hot coffee, a delicious homemade lunch, and plenty of snacks for the road. I say this all the time, but I really couldn't do these long days without his support (and his sandwiches!).
Driving from Málaga toward Córdoba, the world was wrapped in a thick, white fog. It was mysterious and beautiful. As we approached Fuente Palmera, the sun started to fight through the mist, revealing a truly cute, welcoming town.
The Stork on the tower
As soon as we arrived and I started looking for my spot, I noticed everyone was looking up.
Perched right on top of the main church tower was a massive stork ("cigüeña" in Spanish).
It was the star of the day! Everyone was commenting on it. It felt like the stork was the judge of the competition, watching over all of us painters from its high nest. There is something so Andalusian about a white village, a church tower, and a stork standing guard. It made the whole town feel magical.
Trying something new: Collage + Watercolor
Inspired by this new atmosphere, I decided to try something a little risky.
Usually, I stick to pure watercolor or acrylics in these contests. But this time, I wanted to experiment. I decided to mix collage with watercolor.
I used bits of paper to build texture and structure, then layered the watercolor over it to capture the light of the town. It was so fun to play with materials and let go of "perfection." It felt creative and fresh.
More than just a contest
The best part of the day wasn't the painting, though. It was the people.
Fuente Palmera received us with so much love. Despite the freezing cold air, the atmosphere was warm. At the end of the day, there was a big get-together with the town organizers and all the painters.
I saw so many familiar faces—fellow artists I meet at competitions all over Andalusia. It’s like a traveling family. We catch up, share tips, and laugh about how cold our hands are.
There were prizes for everyone, even for the children who participated! Seeing the kids so happy with their art supplies reminded me why art is so important. It brings people together.
Why I do it
Driving home, tired but happy, I thought about why we wake up so early to do this.
It isn't really about the prizes. It’s about these moments. It’s about the road trips with Marino. It’s about the friendly stork on the tower. It’s about learning a new technique and hugging a friend I haven't seen in weeks.
The effort is always, always worth it.
See you at the next one!
Maryna
