In January of this new year, I was offered a short residency on some property in rural Portugal owned by the lovely folks at Welcome Road Winery. I packed my bags and stowed 3 tubes of paint – red, yellow, and blue (these can make all the colors of the rainbow).

Once I landed in Lisbon I found an art supply store and with in my tortured Portuguese I asked for paper and tape. Luckily, the very friendly clerk was better at English and I found what I was able to buy some very good cold press watercolor paper.

The Portuguese weather was rainy with sun breaks so I was able to capture rain on the page and get some work accomplished outdoors on the gorgeous property. I incorporated the dark, loamy soil from the acreage in some of the works to inform the heart and soul of the place.

I’m looking forward to finding a venue to show these little gems in the coming year. For now I’m busy naming, matting and framing each piece. What a dream of an experience for any artist to be able to work in such a special place. Thank you to the award-winning Welcome Road Winery for their generosity and kindness.