Rhythm, Light & Colour in Cádiz

Rhythm, Light & Colour was the name of the workshop from "Pushing your Sketching Boundaries" held by Isabel Carmona, Celia Burgos and Swasky. Although I just came from three weeks of holidays I decided to join it. The workshop was about exploring the city and its people during the week of carnival. The carnival in Cadiz famously transforms the city to an open-air theatre with its singing men group (chirigotas) which are performing on big stages and in narrow streets.

We were 18 men and women, young and old, from different countries. We were divided in three groups and each group had two workshops with each tutor. It was a great combination. Working was different with each one of them but "rhythm, light & colour" held the sessions together.

As Celia lives in Cai Cai (Cadiz, Oldtown) we had the great opportunity to spend some hours on her rooftop terrace and sketch the amazing view. 

A day later Isabel took us even higher on the Torre Tavira, where we worked on capturing the impressive panorama in different exercises. 

With Swasky we explored the central market of Cadiz, which is a meeting point for locals and tourists alike - especially during lunchtime. 

Usually all of us spent the lunch breaks and the evenings together in some bars or restaurants, sharing our sketchbooks and sketching of course.

 

My personal highlight was the big carnival procession on saturday. We stood with our sketchbooks among all people experiencing this special atmosphere. On each wagon was a group of (mostly) men, dressed in special costumes singing these beautiful songs (chirigotas). I was really touched.

I had a great time and enjoyed every minute. These five intensive days were just about sketching in very good company
lead by 3 wonderful tutors.

Natalie captured me...

Isabel is keeping an eye on us :)

Sherry, fried fish and a sketch book

holding and showing our sketch!

La Gomera and Tenerife

Since a couple of years my husband tries to convince me to travel with him to the Canary Islands. „I don’t like islands, there are too many tourists and no natural citys“ these were my words against such a trip. His arguments that the natur ist faszinating, that the tourists gather in special spots and we can avoid them didn’t work on me.

But this year I needed the sun and the light. The weather in Hamburg was so bad - cold, rainy and grey that I just wanted to escape and to spend some bright, sunny and warm weeks anywhere. 

We planned three weeks holidays. One week in La Gomera in Valle Gran Rey and two weeks in Tenerife.

On the ferry from Tenerife to La Gomera we met a woman who knew everything about Valle Gran Rey. „It’s not your first time“ I asked her „Since 30 years I come here every year. Everybody is smiling, the sun is shining and there are no big parties“ she said. And thats how it was. 

We hiked a lot in the rainforest, through terrace landscape and to beautiful small bays.

We visited small and not so small villages, we were just sitting in the harbour watching what is happening arround us.

I was very sad to leave Valle Gran Rey. The house that we rented in Garachico, Tenerife, „Casa de Nedi“ was so special, decorated with so much love and passion , that the week in Garachico turned out to become a very unique experience.

We were fascinated and enjoyed this elegant and quiet old city and it’s interesting history.

We hiked in the region of Spain’s highest mountain El Teide and experienced the impressive lava landscape around us.

We spent some time on different beaches, 

visited beautiful towns, and we always had time for café con leche or sumo de naranja fresco.