The Studios are open in Gaucín! Part 2

Don’t miss it this weekend!
Walk with me on the second part!


Finally, after three years, doors of Gaucín’s studios are open again!

It’s a long tradition – on the last weekend in May and the first weekend in June 21 artists of Gaucín open the studio doors. This event attracts always a loyal and also a new audience coming as far as Málaga and Tarifa. I was very much missing it in the two years of the pandemic.

I visited the first weekend for a day – a beautiful and fulfilling day full of interesting art, lovely chats and laughter and a restful break at a small bar. There are 18 stations to visit and 21 artists exhibiting – I saw a lot, but not all though. So this is a description of my personal walk, not a full feature of all you can see. The first part of the walk I published at the 32st of May. So here you read about part two of the walk from studio to studio in Gaucín.
And not to forget:

Gaucín is not only a great place for art, a beautiful white village with views as far as Morocco on clears days but also a place of fantastic restaurants! Reserve your table!

Only this coming weekend left for visiting!

See here, what you can see the coming weekend!

The „Open Studio map“ numbers the exhibition places from 1 to 18. My description goes the other way round – at the end of my information (9 to1) you‘ll find many artists in the same building or rather near together. So if your feet are getting a bit tired, it helps to take advantage of this by changing direction. I missed some studios – as I spend a lot of time talking with the artist. So here a description of those, that I managed to visit.

Catherine Hunter

You find Catherine in the beautiful hotel “La Fructuosa by Jose”. On this walk you have the chance to get to know this hotel gem and the endearing characters which are decorating every room. This walk will lead you up to a roof terrace witch opens up to a tremendous view.

#Click onto the images to enlarge!


Jim Rattenbury

Like in the last walks, Jim installed his exhibition in the garage of a friend. That doesn’t sound exciting – but just in the contrary, it’s a fascinating and very atmospheric installation for his fantastic art works. Sculptures created from found and collected materials that develop into partly mystical or somehow ethnic figures, some like finds from a bygone world. I very much liked his painting too, that in another way leads us into a world of imaginative beings.

#Click onto the images to enlarge!

Jenny Collins

Jenny is a newbie to the Open Studios Gaucín but not a newbie to the village of Gaucín, where she lives since more than 6 years. This is her first appearance in the Open Studios. I really enjoy to see some new artist and their works. Jenny has a history of being a Goldsmith and a photographer. After following a small, a bit hidden and somewhat enchanted path we find her small studio, where she presents her paintings which are characterised by kind of geometric structures.

#Click onto the images to enlarge!

La Huerta

La Huerta is a building that now gives your feet a little rest. Five artist are showing their works in this somehow industrial building which gives an interesting back ground to the art works.

Lesley Riddihough

From early visits to Open Studious, I remember Lesley’s bright vibrant fruit paintings. This year, as a self-confessed cat lover, I especially enjoyed the feline portraits of two particularly beautiful feline personalities, painted in Lesley’s realistic, expressive style.

#Click onto the images to enlarge! (Photos by Art Gaucín)

Marta Bernad

Invited guest artist this year is Spanish painter Marta Bernard, Master’s in Advertising Creativity, Design and Communication and more, is actually living in Estepona. She shares her pleasure of this area through her paintings with us. Marta’s paintings show bright colours and the momentum in the works. She also demonstrated her swing to us with a little dance in front of her paintings.

#Click onto the images to enlarge!

Chris Klees

Dutch artist Chris Klees was known to me as a photographer. This year he presents a rich work of ceramics, a new love (?), in any case an important one, as his precious works and the huge oven in his studio demonstrate.

#Click onto the images to enlarge!

Christine Spencer-Green

British artist Christine fills her large studio with lovely portraits of women and cats. These painting very much speak to me as her style is something between realistic and blurred. I like these inaccuracies which do not tell the story to the last point. They give the viewer a lot of room for their own additions.

#Click onto the images to enlarge!

Sian Faber

New Zealand artist Sian fills her studio, which has a smashing view as far as Africa, with many colourful wall sculptors. When I first got to know her in Gaucín she and her husband had shortly settled in Spain, coming from Australia. Then her exhibition room was filled with paintings on paper inspired by the floating movement of the sea. Since in Spain she is incorporating the mountainous landscape into wall sculptures of stone and glass, that reflect the hardness and eternity of the mountains. Her love for the floating forms you find in this sculptures, that appear different with changing light and as well in her Flamenco paintings, which she exhibits as well.

#Click onto the images to enlarge!

Casa de la Juventud

Just opposite the Huerta, crossing the street, you find the Casa de la Juventud, a large, newly renewed hall of the administration of Gaucín. Three artists are exhibiting here in three different disciplines: Photography by Vivienne Whiffen, Landscape paintings by Ira Goldberg and Sculptures by Silvia Franco.

Links

Find information about all artists here:

Art Gaucín – organizer of the Open Studios

More about Gaucín

Read about former visits of the Open Studios Gaucín here.

Preparing for Gaucín


If you are interested to get information about art events in the Málaga/Marbella region, subscribe to this blog! You are very welcome!

See my art here:
Art G.Oppelland-Hampel

The Studios are open in Gaucín!

Don’t miss it this weekend!
Walk with me on the first part…..more to follow!


Finally, after three years, doors of Gaucín’s studios are open again!

It’s a long tradition – on the last weekend in May and the first weekend in June 21 artists of Gaucín open the studio doors. This event attracts always a loyal and also a new audience coming as far as Málaga and Tarifa. I was very much missing it in the two years of the pandemic.

The drive up to Gaucín, which leads through an extremely beautiful landscape is one of my yearly highlights concerning art events. Many years ago, being the first time in Andalucía , this event was a great discovery for me. Over the following years it became kind of my artistic homeland. As I love this place so much, I love to share this pleasure with you.

Gaucín

A great pleasure for me was the possibility to exhibit in Gaucín in 2018, being the invited guest artist. Driving up the hill feels somehow like getting in a kind of homeland.

Gaucín is not only a great place for art, a beautiful white village with views as far as Morocco on clears days but also a place of fantastic restaurants! Reserve your table!

Only one more weekend left for visiting!

See here, what you can see the coming weekend!

The „Open Studio map“ numbers the exhibition places from 1 to 18. My description goes the other way round – at the end of my information (1 to 11) you‘ll find many artists in the same building or rather near together. So if your feet are getting a bit tired, it helps to take advantage of this by changing direction. I missed some studios – as I spend a lot of time talking with the artist. So here a description of those, that I managed to visit.

Anna McGrane

A bit hidden in the landscape, before you cross the river, you find the beautiful ground of Anna. Walk down with her to her studio and enjoy the view to Gaucín and explore her studio and work that consists of very different disciplines like wood prints, ceramics and paintings.


Raffaela Zenoni

A newbie in Gaucín but not in the artworld. Entering the house is like entering a world of wonder. Behind the small entrance door of a house in Calle Larga is hidden a gem of a house and far views. All of this a great setting for the very strong and gigantic works by Swiss artist Raffaela. I was impressed by intensive colours, a very free style and also by the huge format of the paintings – can’t even imagine how to paint those!

#Click onto the images to enlarge!

Ana Pellón and Juan Antonio Sangil

The years before Juan Sangil and Ana Pellón exhibited in a smaller house in Calle Larga. I have never seen the workshop of Juan, but if you see his art which consists of burning together different materials and you see the very solid artworks that come out of it, you reckon that the workshop has to be something. This year the couple exhibits in it’s own home, nestled away a bit under the castle, containing the huge studio of Juan and the studio of Ana. I was impressed.

#Click onto the images to enlarge!

I always assumed that Ana Pellón was a studied architect, as she has a love in her works for houses that in their straight and reduced lines and austerity, seem to be reminiscent of architectural drawings. But I learned it was my fantasy. I very much like this reduced style and was most attracted this time by a white monolith towering over flat land – probably because I was just back from my visit to Ayers Rock and it reminded me of it.

#Click onto the images to enlarge!

J.Sánchez Zabaleta

This studio is also a little way to go, but really worth while. Sánchez is a painter who can look back at an impressive list of exhibitions in renown galleries. His very muted colour palette underlines the atmosphere for one of his preferred subjects, used utilitarian objects that show the traces of time. Some of my favourite images are the dogs that belong or belonged to the family. After a warm welcome from Maria, you can watch Sánchez at his meticulous work and ask him questions, how he is performing these wonders.

#Click onto the images to enlarge!

Paddy Robinson

Always an adventure in different respect is the visit to Paddy`s studio, which occupies the 3rd floor of the narrow house and leads the visitor past many wonderful decorations and colours. Equally diverse are the artworks of Paddy, who, in addition to her very precise, fantastic works, also exhibits abstract paintings, to which I am more attracted. What to say, I am an abstract painter.

#Click onto the images to enlarge!

Jenny Waterhouse

When you enter this small, somewhat hidden house, you step into meadows full of flowers and almost feel their scent. Jennifer is a classic landscape painter whose paintings are mostly created open air directly in nature in the surroundings of Gaucín. The paintings breathe a lightness and freshness that captivates me every time.

#Click onto the images to enlarge!

Now you need a break, time to have a lunch in one of the beautiful and very tasty restaurants of Gaucín!
Watch this place and read more tomorrow about part two of the walk!

Links

Find information about all artists here:

Art Gaucín – organizer of the Open Studios

More about Gaucín

Read about former visits of the Open Studios Gaucín here.

Preparing for Gaucín

See my art here:
Art G.Oppelland-Hampel

What to do in Marbella this weekend?

Landscape with mountain in a yellowish light from the Sahara sands colouring the air.
Not only grey skies, but yellow sky that was sent to us by Sahara sands. Nearly hiding the Concha and covering many parts of the Costa del Sol.

I need some entertainment and something to lift my spirit.

It feels like we are having at least the 6th week of grey skies and rain warnings – some of them are happening, not as frequent (and necessary) as announced. And now a yellow dusty Sahara heaven like I imagine Shanghai. What to do?

I need some entertainment and something to lift my spirit. What can it be? At least nothing to do outside.
I am an artist. If you feel like me – or much better – here I share 3 art events that you can visit this weekend or the coming week.

1) Friday 25th of March: ELARTSenal Inoxis (Alhaurin el Grande)

This will be the opening of a group exhibition in this most interesting culture centre in which you find art, vintage articles and Inoxis – Stainless steel sculptures, classic cars and much more. ElARTSENAL INOXIS also offers a broad music program. The “maker” of this art event, are a gallerist and a stainless steal professional. Be sure, it all will be a great surprise! You find some interesting information and photos here: Artsenal Inoxis – a very lively culture centre in Alhaurin el Grande.

2) Saturday, 26th of March: Nueva Andalucía

As I have never seen the artist workshop and gallery of the artist couple Enar Cruz and Lothar Cames. It is in Nueva Andalucía. This Saturday there is an opportunity to visit it! I am very curious to find out, what can be expected. I love studio visits, open doors. A great opportunity to get to know the artists and their work in a their own creative atmosphere. Always a very special atmosphere.

Enar Cruz Open Studio Poster

Sunday, 27.03.2022 “Mar poética” at
12 noon, Cortijo Miraflores de Marbella

This is a very local event. Normally I wouldn’t know about it. But an Spanish artist friend invited me. So I tried to find out what it is all about. As far as I deciphered we can expect:
27 artist de “Artistas mujeres de Marbella” will exhibit their paintings inspired by 27 poems that were made by the Generatción de 27. All this will be accompanied with music and singing of a local singer, Sito Morales. For me a great opportunity to get to know 27 local artists!
By the way, what I looked up in Wikipedia: The Generation 27 is a group of Spanish poets and writers, very famous in the 20th of last century till the beginning of the civil war 1936. The name is honouring the baroque poet Luis de Góngora, who’s whose 300th death anniversary was celebrated in 1927. Find the website here.

More to lift your spirit!

I am about to publish my series of giclée prints called (and showing) “My Rose Garden” and going to publish it in my Art News. If you leave your email, you’ll get a dose of inspiring art and art talk once a month into your mailbox. Have a cup of tea or coffee. Relax. Nourish your creative soul!
Watch the artist – me 🙂 – working in my studio, get a glimpse into the painting process. Have first excess to available new work and the occasional readers treat! Let me take you to interesting exhibitions – like now – and be up to date about what’s up.

The next edition of ART NEWS will have details about the “My Rose Garden” series, another free wallpaper download for desktop and a special readers treat.

A daily portion of beauty!

As I am about to publish my “Rose garden”, a giclée print edition, I want to share with you my admiration for these wonderful flowers.
I love this sentence by Rumi:
WE ARE SURROUNDED BY BEAUTY.
So true. And so important for us to be aware of it in order to keep up our good spirits.

Enjoy the “Dark roses in white vase” each time you look on your phone! To add to your nice moments in the day I want to share these roses as a FREE DOWNLOAD for your telephone screen!

Yes, send me the Art News!

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Find more of my art here:
Art G.Oppelland-Hampel

A very special and unique museum in Málaga

The planned visit gave us a bit of a logistic headache as we are late people and the museum would be closed between 14:00 and 16:00 hours. I didn’t trust unknown parking spaces so we decided to park in the wonderful garage of Calle Alemania, and headed along the river to a very special and unique museum , the Museum Jorge Rando. (Find the link at the end of this article )

We originally planned to visit the exhibition of a Chinese artist, but we were two days late. Not a disappointment though, as we had the chance to get a rather complex view on the life‘s work of Jorge Rando, the neo-expressive painter of Málaga, who has gained such a fame that he was awarded with his own museum by the city of Málaga.

Jorge Rando: A very special and unique museum in Málaga

I love this museum. It‘s in itself a beautiful place and a centre of cultural life. It surrounds you with this wonderful stillness that you find in churches and museums – when you are lucky. At our arrival a chorus was just practicing in the beautiful yard. What an inspiring add on while we were exploring an impressive new extension of the museum building.

Mariposas everywhere…..

The main exhibition was around the butterflies. “Mariposas” are a theme that Rando tackled over many years again and again. The whole basement was dedicated to them.

A stair upwards: The human life

Jorge Rando (Spain – 1941) is one of the greatest international exponents of Neo-expressionism.

„For more than fifty years, his works have been exploring dignity as a testimony of being; the necessary construction of individual identity; the denouncement of injustice and the call to individual action and responsibility as the only path to hope; the exploration of the essence of human condition through feelings such as love and suffering; the defence and visibility of the role of women as protagonists in
the fate of humanity or the call to restore a harmonious relationship between humanity and animals and nature.“ (Quote Jorge Rando Museum)

Motherhood, Africa, Spirituality and more…

The themes that Rando covered and are exhibited here are centre exactly around his love of the human being, like Motherhood, Spirituality, Human life and more. As an abstract expressionist painter myself, I am always especially attracted by his abstracts. (Click onto the paintings to enlarge.)

In another part of the museum I got some goose bumps. There is a gallery of faces, some from people living in the street, some from soldiers. With the Ukrainian drama in the back of the head, I was not comfortable being faced with the theme of soldiers. I have seen these exponents already before, but never it worried me so much.

Not only the entrance is free for you, also the pleasure of art books

An incredible great and rich room is the library. The entrance to the museum and the use of the library are free. You find a collection of art books that you can only dream of. Sit down and have a look. Come earlier than we did. Reserve an hour of leisure to sit down and enjoy. And then…..maybe a lunch at Plaza de la Mercedes ? Its only 10 walking minutes away.

Jorge Rando

If you like what you see here

like to learn more about art places I visit ( many in the area Marbella/Málaga )and the art I make and show, follow my excursions via my Art News! Get your regular dose of art and feel inspired!

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Museo Jorge Rando

Here you also find the audio guide to the museum!

Another visit to Jorge Rando Museum

Running exhibition in Marbella Gallery – part of it is still up!

Want to now more about my art? Tap here.

Very lively contemporary culture centre in Alhaurin El Grande

Andalusia is known for its endless and impressive cultural treasures that can be found in every corner of the country. My friend Gabriela took me on a trip from the Málaga/Marbella coast to the “hinterland”. She introduced me to a very lively contemporary cultural centre in Alhaurin El Grande, El Artsenal Inoxis.

An impressively large centre set up in the high and huge rooms of a former fruit store house and run by two dedicated people: gallery owner Carmen Peña and metal artist Robert Heidegger.
The number and type of artworks, paintings and sculptures of various kinds as well as vintage collectibles is almost endless and very impressive. There is something new to discover every time you look, be it a beautiful old Mercedes in the hallway or the part of a helicopter on the ceiling or old motor cycles – of which you will find much more in the neighboured workshop of Robert Heidegger.

I first had to take a deep breath and needed time to look into this immense variety and discover my treasures. In addition to the many vintage technical treasures, there are a large number of sculptures, many made of metal by Robert, who assembles them from various found objects and which have partly whimsical, partly practical properties. I had to take a second deep breath and needed a drink and

Read on……

Continue reading “Very lively contemporary culture centre in Alhaurin El Grande”

Late but not too late – the show runs till 9th of January 2022

Wadström & Tönnheim present an exhibition about two contrasting aspects of life

There are times to rest and times to write. A while I was not up to writing, but it would be a pity if you miss this.
It’s been quite a while since I visited the opening of “Hugging The Void” (Alexa Grande) and “Solid Ground” (Stefan Otto) at Gallery Wadström and Tönnheim. But the impression still stays very vivid.
Now it’s late – but not too late. The show runs till 9th of January 2022. You have time until the Three Kings!!!
I only discovered Gallery Wadström and Tönnheim this year. It’s a bit hidden in one of Marbella’s many commercial areas, not a great setting. The impression when you enter this spacious and aesthetic gallery is all the greater. Like art, it expands you and gives you the feeling of entering another sphere. So an unconditional recommendation. It may be late, but it’s not too late…..

For me the title of the exhibition: HUGGING THE VOID and SOLID GROUND is tempting as it features two aspects of life that can’t be more different and nevertheless are included in every ones life, more or less in proportion.

Continue reading “Late but not too late – the show runs till 9th of January 2022”

Art, Food, Events – a discovery in Marbella!

A place that will be on my “to go to” list!

Its not brand new, but a new discovery for me. I am always happy to discover a new places that has the potential to become “my happy place”. The Mercado del Arte presents itself under the title: Art, Food, Events – a wonderful project by Maria Mena, Rosa Higuera and Emilio Mena, not far from the Congress Palace in Marbella.

The owner of the Art, Food, Events Mercado keep a wide range of offers in their portfolio:
Galería del Arte, Eventos Privados, Colección Permanente, Artistas Invitados, Exposiciones Colectivas.

While Rosa is head of the events, Maria is responsible for the art and Emilio is the chef in the kitchen, creating menus which excite him and which flatter the palate of the guests.

Its a pleasure to walk through the restaurant and the gallery. Everything is set up with love and great taste which makes it a very special and unique place. We had a coffee and some tapas outside on the large terrace – also a artful and tasty experience!

a little sitting room with comfy sofas

If you love to create a special event….

Continue reading “Art, Food, Events – a discovery in Marbella!”

Monumental Art in the harbour

One of the monumental sculptures in the harbour of Puerto Banús by Arne Quinze  at the exhibition "My secret garden" with boats in the back ground.

Art in the harbour

Arne Quinze’s monumental statues in Puerto Banús

Its always my pleasure to stroll through harbours. I love the atmosphere of the sea and to watch all the boats in their berth telling stories about adventures on the sea and dreams of far away harbours.

Looking at the boats swaying quietly in the wind and drinking a coffee is a wonderful afternoon pleasure for me, complemented by the very colourful crowd of visitors strolling through the harbour, always worth some attention.

The harbour of Puerto Banús and Concha on the background

The harbour: an Open Air Museum!

Monumental sculptures in the harbour of Puerto Banús
by Arne Quinze


The pleasure has now been taken to the next level:
the harbour has been transformed from a place of beautiful yachts and speedboats and exclusive shops into a huge open-air museum! This is a quite new incentive and worth a stroll through the harbour, which is very idyllic and quite Andalusian, framed by nested white houses while the boats stand out against the imposing backdrop of Marbella’s local mountain, the Concha.

Continue reading “Monumental Art in the harbour”

Beautiful black painting that shine

slighly colorful leaves shine from a black background

A collection of beautiful black paintings that shine

A visit not to be missed when in Málaga. Galeria Javier Marin presents black mysteries by José Luis Valverde.

Just a short stroll of 5 minutes from my very appreciated CAC Málaga (Centro de Arte Contemporáneo ) where we admired the exhibition “Gold rush” by Jules de Balincourt we had the chance to see a collection of beautiful black paintings that shine by José Luise Valverde, of whom we had just discovered two paintings which are exhibited in the CAC.
About two years ago I got to know the artist quartier Las Lagunillas in Málaga. For my husband’s birthday I had booked a guided tour through this fascinating area which included the visit of several artist’s studios. It’s always so nice to meet artists in their studio and see them at work. The Málaga artist José Luis Valverde shared his studio with Victoria Maldonado, a very gifted artist who’s mainly white and fragile objects contrast beautifully the black and heavy works by José Luis. If you are interested to read more about this quartier and its artists just push here.

After having seen some works in progress in José Luis studio, the happier I am now to see this beautiful collection on show at the Galeria Javier Marin in Málaga’s Soho district.

Have a look into the artist’s studio….

A special experience was it to see an artist working with lots of black oil paintings, imagen!

The exhibition at Galeria Javier Marin

Normally paintings in dark colors are not my favorite. But with this collection I saw at the gallery I can easy be friend with. Of course as a painter who is attracted to vibrant colors I was most driven to a painting that

Continue reading “Beautiful black painting that shine”

Incredible! The exhibition is open!

“Sol y Sombra – Sun and Shade”

The adventure of building up a non- virtual exhibition!

photos by Anki Fremark

Incredible! The exhibition is open!

Heading for a real live exhibition – adventures from an artists life!

We believed in it, we wanted it, we worked for it and we did it!
And nevertheless: Incredible! The exhibition is open!

In April we, the Costa del Arte Collective, had to cancel our well planned exhibition – as so many had to cancel events they were working hard for. So after the end of our (first?) lockdown we scheduled our next try for October.

Really great news

We have a very good press covering. We filled a wonderful spacious and luminous room with our art. We have an outside area and are near to the centre of the town of Fuengirola, just 3 minutes from the beach.

But nevertheless, the inauguration was coming nearer, the infection rate was increasing and so did our doubts. We became a rather excited about the opening. All security measures were installed, someone was guarding the door to keep the number of visitors right and no seats in the exhibition room, no food and all drinks outside.

Continue reading “Incredible! The exhibition is open!”

Gaucín – Looking back to the Open Studios 2019

The Open Studios Gaucín had to be canceled like many other art events. The 17th  edition of this beautiful and inspiring event was  scheduled traditionally for the last May and first June weekend. Here you can grasp a bit of the art and the atmosphere we all will miss. Enjoy a memory stroll of Open Studios Gaucín 2019!

For me the Open Studios Gaucín have a special meaning as it was the very first art highlight 7 years ago when I came to Spain. I am really sad ( and I guess a lot of others too!) not to stroll through the beautiful village,  to visit the studios and discover the works and enjoy the chats with the artists.  And I will miss the nice break in one of the many fantastic restaurants!

Walk through Gaucín 2019

This was

Continue reading “Gaucín – Looking back to the Open Studios 2019”

Perdidos en el tiempo y perdidos en las galerías

A veces me siento un poco malhumorado.

Olvido los días, las fechas y la hora, vivo sin reloj. Me siento como flotando en el tiempo, no hay direcciones, no hay “límites duros”, no hay citas, no hay obligaciones. Sólo me despierto y repaso los asuntos diarios que todo pasa en la casa ya que no debemos salir de ella. Comencé una serie llamada “Perdidos en el tiempo”. Son sólo dos pinturas todavía, pero parece que podría ser más.

Estoy en una burbuja de tiempo. Por un lado me siento como alimentado por tanto tiempo en mis manos, por otro lado me siento como en un barco sin timón. Estoy a la deriva, pero hay una corriente que me lleva en alguna dirección. Parte de la corriente es la pintura.

En este tiempo especial cambié mis hábitos de pintura. Estoy en una burbuja de tiempo. Por un lado me siento como alimentado por tanto tiempo en mis manos, por otro lado me siento como en un barco sin timón. Estoy a la deriva, pero hay una corriente que me lleva en alguna dirección. Parte de la corriente es la pintura.

Si quieres ver pinturas no ocultas, las encuentras arriba y más en mi sección de arte Artist Support Pledge.

Las pinturas “perdidas”…….

Continue reading “Perdidos en el tiempo y perdidos en las galerías”

Lost in Time and Lost in Galleries

Sometimes I feel a bit moody.

I forget days and dates and time, I live without a watch. I feel like floating in the time, there is no directions, no “hard limits” – no appointments, no musts. Just waking up and going over the daily business that all happens in the house as we are not to leave the house.I started a series called “Lost in time”. Its only two paintings yet, but it feels like it could be more.

I am in a time bubble. On one hand I feel like nourished by so much time at my hands on the other hand I feel like in a boat without rudder. I am drifting, but there is a current that carries me in some direction. Part of the current is painting.

In this special time I changed my painting habbits. I started to paint on paper – only on paper. Canvas, the underground I normally like to use, seems too durable, too long lasting. Paper is light, smaller, drifting, more open, not so serious, qualities that all seem to be more appropriate for this exceptional time. With paper I paint flat on my working table, which faces the window instead of working on an easel that makes me stand for light reasons with the back or the side to the window. So I contemplate for many hours the view, which is beautiful but now it shows a huge building place. They are building new houses in my earlier green zone!

If you want to look at not hidden paintings you find these above and more in my Artwork section under Artist Support Pledge.

Hidden paintings

The other day I was a bit moody and longing not only for a long walk outside but was missing my paintings. More than 50 percent are locked-in as well, they are in galleries and a showroom! Now they are “Hidden Paintings”! In a little restaurant in Mijas I installed a beautiful wall with some larger paintings. They are hidden since 20th of January!

Paintings in Alboca Gastro, Mijas

Hidden Paintings in Gallery van Gerstel, Marbella

Hidden Paintings in Gallery Saphira & Ventura in New York

In October 2019 I delivered in person 12 paintings on board in this beautiful gallery in the heart of New York City.

I was so fortunate that some of them were part of a group show in February. Since then they are locked down. Now time goes and all the galleries are closed since long. New York is one of the most hit city by the Corona Pandemie. Who knows, when galleries and museums are opened again?

Want to read more about these exhibitions? Tapp here! About the adventure to take my paintings to New York City? Tap here. See all paintings you can find in NYC here: Click Artsy Website.

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NEWS after a busy summer – un verano occupado – nach einem intensivem Sommer

A very productive summer! More than 20 paintings finished!

Looking back: This summer seems to have been very intensive. Family visits, expositions, art fairs, a lot of traveling and CVP 19.

Time by time an artist needs some new input besides visiting museums and exhibitions  or looking for inspiration in the surrounding. So I decided to embark on an internet course which is called: “Creative Visionary Path”. Nicholas Wilton and his team delivered a workshop that was impressive with all its wealth of information, practical examples and personal attention that was given,  despite having hundreds of attendees. I really was impressed by the quality of teaching and organization.

It has been a very good, highly interesting and very supporting experience!!!! Three months (and more) full of information, explanation and videos, life calls, painting, artist community and a lot of experimenting and learning! I am still digesting the information I got and the techniques that I experimented with and the experience I made. In one sentence: it was all worth it. If you want to know, just let me know via Email

If you want to have a short insight into my working style, have a look here:

 

Creating while traveling – a special challenge

As I am not a special friend of water color (quite honestly: I don’t know how to handle them) neither of crayons, I have not done a lot for my art practice, when traveling. From CVP something special I took out for me (besides many good other things) was working with sketchbook and gouache. Normally I am not a fan of neither the one nor the other –

Artist studio on a hotel table

this has changed. I was very happy while traveling to have the gouache colors with me, who are a bit like acrylic but make working so much easier when traveling – and so much cleaner. So I could go on with my 30×30 cm boards even in a hotel or in a friends house.  And it probably will serve me again for our next journey which is already planed!

 

 

 

 

The harvest: More than 25 new paintings!

More than 20 panels, all 30×30 cm, (partly wood, carton or hard board) I have been working on. A small choice I will show you here:

If you want to see all the 25 panels that were done since May, tapp here.  You will find a (nearly) full overview over the works.

Picassos birthday 18.10.19 – next art event in Málaga!

In October, accompanying Picassos birthday, a lot of events will take place in Málaga. One of it will be an exhibition of Picasso inspired art works in the Galeria Javier Román, which is only some steps away from the birth place of Picasso at the Plaza de la Merced.

I painted a Picasso inspired painting for this show – as well did my artist friend from Costa del Arte Collective, Anouk Slegers. In preparation for this painting I visited the Picasso museum (which is worth while a visit!) and studied some books featuring his life and his work. As always, the more you learn about an artist, the more interesting he gets. I was especially fascinated by his blue and pink period – no wonder, I love pink and you will find it in many of my paintings! And his paintings of animals fascinated very much, especially the cats – partly in deconstruction ways and ever so expressive! So I was inspired by these most admired items! Come and see! The exhibition will be open till 18th of November – while I will be still on the other side of the big sea!

This is just a little part of the painting….

The cat who didn’t catch the bird.

Next Art Event in Germany! CONTEMPORARY ART RUHR !

Now, that the summer comes to an end, the next events are already set.

Some of my art will travel and be presented by “Javier Roman Galeria” Málaga, in October in Essen, Germany, at the ART RUHR – an art fair that focuses on innovative  art. Unfortunately  I can not attend the show, – I will be in the USA  meanwhile.

 

The fair will be situated in the beautiful Zeche Zollverein – such a pity I cannot see it and YOU all! Its quite exiting for me! While my paintings travel to the C.A.R., I will be visiting some New Yorker Galleries that I know through Instagram and I am curious to see them in reality.

Planning the next exhibition with the Costa del Arte Collective in Nerja!

The Costa del Arte Collective is applying to have a show in Nerja next year March! Keep you are fingers crossed, that we manage to get into this very beautiful communal space! I will keep you posted.

I hope you make it to the CAR in Essen, when you are in Germany! Or hopefully we can meet in Nerja! You will gain interesting impressions any way and who knows, maybe a original art work for your soul and home! If you are interested in one of the 30×30 cm art works that I am showing here, let me know!

Have a good start back into the second part of the year!

Past and coming exhibitions – Exposiciones pasadas y próximas

Next art exhibition in La Cala de Mijas!/
La próxima exposición de arte en La Cala de Mijas.

Use Google translate / Usa el traductor de Google / Benutze Google translate

What a busy art time I had! The Art Walk in Cómpeta in April, “Mini Cuadros” in Almuňécar in May, the International Festival of Art in Marbella in June and now showing till July ” We can do”, an exhibition of 13 lady artists, in Cala de Mijas in the Casa de Cultura.

Next exhibition: We can do it! in La Cala de Mijas!

The Inauguration will be Friday, 28th of June at 8 pm! I will participate with two or three paintings. Two of my fellow artists from Costa del Arte Collective will show there works too: Anouk Slegers and Lieuwke Loth! This exhibition was curated by Rafael Fernandez Pacheco, who is a great art lover and probably features every exhibition to be seen in Málaga. This is the third exhibition I am invited to participate!!! Would love to see you there!

The International Festival de Arte in Marbella, a review /
El Festival Internacional de Arte de Marbella, una reseña.

A real fascinating event took place last week in Marbella. The Festiarte, a great art show that featured more than 100 artists in 60 stalls by the organised by the town of Marbella and Javier Roman (Delegación Cultural del Ayuntamiento de Marbella (@delegacionculturamarbella) y por Marco Eventos Culturales).  We stayed 4 days and evenings – opening times were till 11 pm! – on the beautiful place with the Dali statues and the view to the sea. It was  a great community of artists and many many visitors, who had a lot of choice to see and buy interesting artworks of different kinds: pottery, statues, photography, painting and more.

Tap to enlarge photos

 

The four days were a great adventure and success. And a real challenge! We got the tents with a nice lightening system but no hanging system at all. But with some tools, a lot of phantasy how to manage and a lot of patience everybody worked it out. A huger challenger was the wind, some days it had to be called storm. Coming back from a break we found a lot of the paintings on the floor, luckily there was no damage at our art! I took the opportunity to show some larger works, which got some attention.

Tap to enlarge photos

A little memory to some other stalls….

Press

Very happy was the Costa del Arte Collective about a nice article in EuroWeekly, written by Nicole King! Thank you Nicole!

I see black – Ich seh schwarz – Veo negro

Lately I started with a lot of experiments – time by time an artist needs some freshness in her/his head and new inspiration. Finding new ways, collect new experience, has to question and expand her/his style. See some of the experiments here.

I give me a rather hard time, as I try to prepare for quite some traveling lying ahead of us. To stay tuned in my painting praxis I decided to take a sketchbook. I am not a great friend of sketchbooks and do not really a praxis. I like big formats and acrylic paint – that is quite a dirty job and asks for a lot of material. My trial with water color nhttps://artgoppellandhampel.com/?p=3384&preview=trueever gave me any satisfaction. So now I try how works Gouache. Quite fine, I can say after my first trials.

I love the old farmhouses in Andalusia, with all there add-ons and partly deconstructions they seem to tell a story of live. So I was fascinated by this one near Tarifa. The dog I fall in love with on my walk at the Open Studios Gaucín. You will find a photo of her there. If you are interested in this art walk, read more here.

My passion in painting is color. I could say: my painting is all about color. So now I went on a diet. A strong challenge to brake familiar habits. The sweet Lana, the dog above,  belongs to this series.

Some of the paintings are on wooden board. It gives a lot of possibilities to be mal treated. You can cut it, scratch it, work with hard tools on it. It invites all kind of spatulas. Some of this treatments a canvas would not be so happy with. Other experiments are on paper DIN A 4. Somehow a much smoother process.

Normally I love to work with rather bold and vibrant colours. So the challenge lies in tamed colours. This ones are not quite tamed, the motto was more: Go wild….

This are my experiments with a very reduce color palette. A lot of interesting new experiences through diet! Sometimes I feel very hungry for my familiar food 🙂 Wonder what comes next.

Next comes an exhibition in Marbella in which I and the members of Costa del Arte Collective will be taking part.  More than 90 artists will show there work in the Avendida del Mar – that’s in the center down to the sea. Opening the 20th of June at 19:30 to 23:00  till 23rd of June, open from 16:30 to 23:00 hours.

Very much hoping to see you there!

If you are at the Costa del Sol, don’t miss it! Get more information here: www.festiarte.art

Carry your favorit art work on a tote bag! Come and see some of them at the ART WALK CÓMPETA!

A custom made art tote bag from your chosen artwork!

Did you ever have the idea, that you could have a custom made tote bag….you know, plastic is out and tote bags are in! And you can use a much nicer one than those which you find in the grocer shop! You can be stylish and arty with an art tote bag!

Get a art tote bag with your new painting!

When you purchase an art work from my page there will be a Tote bag coming with it!!!! So you don’t need to invite people home (though an “art warming party” would be a nice idea too, wouldn’t it?) but you can take your newly acquired artwork out!!! Extra offer: when you purchase one of my paintings* at the Art Walk Cómpeta, you get a Tote bag with your painting on it!

* Painting over 200 €uro

Win an custom made art tote bag!

If you are at the moment not up for a tote bag but love some of my art work – you may have a chance to win a tote bag! I will make a lottery with the first 20 people who subscribe to my newsletter and then announce the winner on Facebook! Subscribe to the subscription form on my Homepage!

11th Art Walk Cómpeta – nearly there! /11th Art Walk Cómpeta – ¡próximamente!

Art Walk Cómpeta starts at Easter – El “Paseo del Arte Cómpeta” empeza en Semana Santa.

Easter time is coming and with it the 11th edition of the Art Walk Cómpeta! A great event to which I am very much looking forward, as I am a member of the preparation team and an exhibiting artist. You will find me at the location 5. The Art Walk Cómpeta is the first to open a row of art events in Andalusia that I am taking part in or which I like very much. The Art Walk is more than an Art Walk, its truly a Festival of Art, organized since 6 years by the artist Lieuwke Loth who also runs the Galeria Luz de la Vida in Cómpeta. This wonderful event is organized completely by volunteers without any funding! Get more information about the Art Walk here:

The Art Walk is coming soon! Get some information here. Don’t miss this great event at 20/21 and 23/24 of April.
¡Art Walk Cómpeta llegará pronto! Obtener información aquí. ¡No te pierdas Art Walk 2019! Es 20/21 y 23/24 de abril.

Don’t miss the great Art Walk event with more than 35 artists from 9 nations, with art workshops and live music everyday! Enjoy the excursion to the charming village of Cómpeta with its vibrant artistic atmosphere! Stroll through the numerous art exhibitions, participate in an art workshop and enjoy our exquisite live music program as well! Its worth staying some days in this beautiful mountain village and explore the art and the village and the nature with its great offers!

I was so lucky to take part last year in the Art Walk Cómpeta….nice memories:

You will find information about last years Art Walk in Cómpeta here. You will find detailed information at www.artcompeta.com

Sneak pre-view to my exhibition this year! ¡Un adelanto de mi exposición este año!

I am bringing a bigger collection of paintings – I think 80% of them are new. You will see bigger formats as well as very small ones. But be sure, all will be full of vibrant colours.

Again I will share the location with a photographer, this time with Mariska Luth from the Netherlands. See more of her work here: Made by Luth. Opposite of studio 5 you will find at venue 6 the German abstract painter Michael Schumann, who offers a great collection of square paintings.

On our way to our place, you can make a little excursion to a wonderful sculptor garden, in the middle of the white village (Location 8) ! Definitely worth a visit! Dragons and more are waiting for you!!!  And 38 artists, art workshops, music, a Theater group roaming through the streets, a beautiful village with lots of wonderful bars and restaurants, great views and a real artistic and vibrant atmosphere. I am sure, you will enjoy!

You will also meet members of the Costa del Arte Collective, four of them are exhibiting! Great art to be seen!

 

Find it all here: more about Costa del Arte Collectives new exhibition and about the walk:  www.artcompeta.com or Facebook artcompeta and CdAC at the art walk.

I am writing, not too frequently, a newsletter about my art and art events I am taking part in as well about art events that I like in different parts of the world. If you are interested to receive it, sign in here. Of course you can cancle it, when ever you want!

CdAC goes for a walk! Meet us at the Art Walk Cómpeta! — Costa del Arte Collective

Two interesting upcoming art events in Andalucia, Costa del Sol. CdAC will take part in Art Walk Compéta which is a great art festival with 38 artist, live music and art workshops. In Almuñecar will be an exhibition of Mini Cuadros in the Espacio Creativo Almuñécar, all members of CdAC are participating.

via CdAC goes for a walk! Meet us at the Art Walk Cómpeta! — Costa del Arte Collective

Walk Cómpeta 2019 in preparation! Art Walk Cómpeta 2019 en preparación!

Art Walk Cómpeta for 2019 at Easter! Save the date! / Paseo del Arte Cómpeta 2019 en Pascua! Reserva la fecha!

The 11th Art Walk Cómpeta is scheduled, the preparation team already working hard for the great event! After the very successful celebration of the 10th Art Walk Cómpeta Lieuwke Loth and her team of volunteers are working hard to provide the visitors again with more than 30 artists exhibiting and a lot of life music and theatre in the streets! If you want to see more about the Art Walk Cómpeta, tap here. Be sure, it will be a fantastic event for visitors and the artists again! I am happy to be a member of the preparation team and to be able, to show my art again! To give you an idea about my exhibition last year, scroll down and have a look into my exhibition at the Art Walk 2018! I hope to meet you again on 20./21. or 23/24.04.2019! I will give you all the information you might be interested in here or subscribe to my newsletter!

El 11th Art Walk Cómpeta está programado, ¡el equipo de preparación ya está trabajando duro para el gran evento! Después de la exitosa celebración de la 10a. Art Walk, Cómpeta Lieuwke Loth y su equipo de voluntarios están trabajando arduamente para brindarles a los visitantes de nuevo más de 30 artistas en exhibición y mucha música y teatro en las calles. Si quieres ver más sobre el Art Walk Cómpeta, tapp aquí. ¡Asegúrate de que será un evento fantástico para los visitantes y el artista otra vez! Estoy feliz de ser un miembro del equipo de preparación y poder, ¡mostrar mi arte otra vez! Para darle una idea de mi exposición el año pasado, desplácese hacia abajo y eche un vistazo a mi exposición en el Art Walk 2018. ¡Espero volver a verte en 2019! Le daré toda la información que le pueda interesar, ¡aquí o suscríbase a mi boletín informativo! 

Memories of Exhibiting at the 10th Art Walk Cómpeta in 2018!/ ¡Recuerdos de exponiendo en el 10. Art Walk Cómpeta en 2018!

This was my first experience with exhibiting at an Art Walk in Spain! I had some experience with Open Studios as long as I had my studio in Bonn. I love this kind of exhibition because it gives so much value to the visitors and artists! Great way to connect with art, artists, art lovers and a village or area of a town! It was a great experience for visitors and artists!

Esta fue mi primera experiencia con la exposición en Art Walk en España! Tenía cierta experiencia con Open Studios, siempre que tuviera mi estudio en Bonn. Me encanta este tipo de exposición porque le da mucho valor a los visitantes y artistas. ¡Una excelente manera de conectar con el arte, los artistas, los amantes del arte y un pueblo o área de una ciudad! Fue una gran experiencia para visitantes y artistas.

Getting ready, transportation of a lot of paintings, preparing the room that I shared with the photographer Nikki de Gruchy, meeting many fellow artists, for  four days receiving a lot of visitors from different countries and many good friends, walking through the narrow streets and on the steep stairs of Cómpeta:   what a lot of impressions to take in!  Now looking back I can say, it was a great event and I am very happy I was a part of it! And very lucky that I had a lot of support! Many thanks to Lieuwke Loth and the team to making this Art Walk Cómpeta possible! 

Preparándose, transporte de una gran cantidad de pintura, preparando la habitación que compartí con la fotógrafa Nikki de Gruchy, conociendo a muchos artistas, para cuatro dias recibiendo muchos visitantes de diferentes países y buenos amigos, caminando por las calles estrechas y en las empinadas escaleras de Cómpeta: ¡cuántas impresiones! Ahora mirando hacia atrás puedo decir que es un gran evento y estoy mucha suerte que podría asistir, mucha suerte, ¡eso tuvo mucho apoyo!¡Muchas gracias a Lieuwke Loth y al equipo por hacer este Art Walk Cómpeta posible!

Intensive Vorbereitung, der Transport von vielen und auch großen Bildern, das Herrichten des Raumes, den ich mit der Fotografin Nikki de Gruchy teilte, in dem sich Stühle und Tische stapelten, Bilder aufhängen, eine große Anzahl Kunstkollegen kennen zu lernen, Besucher aus unterschiedlichen Ländern empfangen und gute Freunde, durch die engen Gassen und über die steilen Treppen von Cómpeta zu wandern – wirklich viele Eindrücke, die ich gesammelt habe. Im Rückblick kann ich sagen: Es war eine großartige Veranstaltung und ich bin glücklich, dass ich dabei sein konnte! Und sehr dankbar, dass ich so gute Unterstützung hatte! Ganz großen Dank an Lieuwke Loth und ihr Team, dass sie diesen fantastischen Art Walk Cómpeta möglich gemacht hat!

More Information about the Art Walk Cómpeta/ Más información sobre el Art Walk Cómpeta.

If you are interested to see more photos of the Art Walk check my impressions of the Art Walk 2017! It was my first encounter with the Art Walk Cómpeta then!

¡Si está interesado en ver más fotos de Art Walk, consulte mis impresiones de Art Walk 2017! ¡Fue mi primer encuentro con el Art Walk Cómpeta entonces!

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