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We invite you to join us in Spain next year, where you will be surrounded by white houses, balconies filled with flowers, narrow and winding streets, vineyards, the stunning blue of the Mediterranean Sea and the Almijara mountains in the background. Competa is one of the most beautiful villages in the Malaga province. With a population of 4000, Competa is a small town really, and home to the editor of ‘Lonely Planet’ Spain for the past 20 years, a man who knows Spain inside out. It’s an artist’s paradise, with its quirky Spanish/Moorish architecture, and stunning views all the way down to the Mediterranean. A real working Spanish village, not a tourist construct, it retains an authentic Spanish vibe in the heart of Andalucia, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

Come and capture the figure in strong southern light, influenced by the unique colors, forms and essence of Competa and its surroundings. In this five-day transformational workshop Pauline Agnew and Melinda Cootsona, two highly regarded painting teachers internationally, are combining their impressive range of skills to create a dynamic range of approaches to painting the figure. Topics will include color, light, composition, abstracting the image and more. Attention will be given to each individual’s goals to create a truly unique learning experience.
In this incredibly inspiring location, our aim is to help you to tap into what excites YOU, about painting the figure.

HOTEL BALCON DE COMPETA

How to get here:

Malaga Airport is the nearest airport at just over one hour by car or taxi from Competa. A public bus is also available a couple of times a day. A private FB group will be opened 6 weeks before the workshop to assist students in your local travel arrangements, and to hook up for sharing taxi’s where possible.

During this Art Retreat you will:

Learn to see the shapes, lines and gesture of the figure and use these elements to influence and develop stronger compositions and content in your paintings.
Using southern inspired palettes, learn to abstract the figure and create work with more freedom and depth. Experience “Stay in the Play” and how to look at ‘mistakes’ in the painting process as portals of discovery and joy!
Learn to create, select, and work from photo references of the figure to jumpstart a painting. All in the beautiful Spanish countryside!
Look at how art journeys have helped transform and refresh artists work throughout history right up to today, and what insights we can gain from their discoveries.
Have one-on one time with Pauline and Melinda to address artistic goals and professional development issues specific to each student.

Pauline your course’s are wonderful! A superb teacher with the patience of a saint….Great classes with loads of inspiration for everyone from the beginner to advanced student. You have great ways of teaching us all to follow our instinct and use the technology and tools around us. I loved everything you do!” – Gina Bronzini Ahrens. USA

Melinda, I want you to know how much I have enjoyed and benefited from the course material and your input. There are too many specifics to list, so I will just say I have taken a quantum leap in my work and enthusiasm. I am so excited about the possibilities going forward. I certainly am nowhere near absorbing all you have offered and demonstrated here and will be returning many times to the lessons to fully take it all in. R. Six USA

I’ve so enjoyed this course, Melinda, and have started many paintings that I’ll continue to play with. You’re eye and your coaching, and the beautiful, brave way you demonstrate messing up a painting in order to make it more interesting, has been invaluable…. Much appreciation and gratitude to have such support on this journey. K. Perkins

Pauline’s non-prescriptive approach to painting leads us by the hand….. shows us what she tries, what she does, what she achieves, what has worked and what has not worked so well for her, linking everything to artists past and present and reflecting her wonderful knowledge of art history. She gets us all jumping in with both feet….. engaging our hearts, minds and hands…. encouraging us to give things a go, to see how they work for us from where we stand. – Jaci Dunsford UK

This Art Retreat includes:

• Opening Taste of Competa Dinner
• 6 nights accommodation including breakfast, in Hotel Balcon de Competa, where rooms with a balcony, overlooking a fabulous view all the way down to the sea, have been reserved for this art retreat.
• 5 lunches
• A huge studio with lots of working space.
• 4.5 days of intensive painting tuition with Pauline and Melinda.
• A half-day coach trip to Nerja, a beautiful coastal location that will inspire you for a lifetime
• Last night Dinner party with Flamenco performance
• All your art materials: paints, medium, supports etc. apart from a small supply list and your brushes.
• A new art tribe that you can remain connected to through a private Facebook group.

Please note: This retreat does not include transportation to the venue.

The facebook group page will be created six weeks before this event, so that you can all connect with each other and me prior to this event.