ABSTRACTING THE LANDSCAPE AND THE FIGURE – Competa – Spain
5 DAY RESIDENTIAL ART WORKSHOP - 16TH -22nd OCTOBER 2025
With Pauline Agnew
FOR YOUR COMFORT AND EASE OF TRAVEL - THIS ART RETREAT INCLUDES PRIVATE ROOMS FOR EVERYONE AND ALL ART MATERIALS.
Main square in Beautiful Competa.
Beautiful Nerja- which we will visit!
To all art lovers everywhere!
I invite you to join me 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 landscape and figure in strong southern light, influenced by the unique colors, forms and essence of Competa and its surroundings. In this five-day transformational workshop accomplished artist and teacher Pauline, will share her dynamic range of approaches to painting the landscape and figure. Topics will include color, light, composition, abstracting from photos and more. Attention will be given to each individual’s goals to create a truly unique learning experience.
In this incredibly inspiring location, my aim is to help you to tap into what excites YOU, about painting the figure and the landscape.
HOTEL BALCON DE COMPETA
Hotel pool.
Your teacher- Pauline
Pauline’s work
Pauline’s work.
Pauline’s work
During this Art Retreat you will:
Learn to see the shapes, lines and gesture of the figure and landscape and use these elements to influence and develop stronger compositions and content in your paintings.
Using southern inspired palettes, learn to abstract the landscape and figure to create work with more freedom and depth. Experience “Stay curious in the process” 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 lanfscape and 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 to address artistic goals and professional development issues specific to each student.
A FEW TESTIMONIALS !
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
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
• 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 4 weeks before this event, so that you can all connect with each other and us prior to this event.
ART RETRTEAT FEE - €2295
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE TIMES:
This Art Retreat begins on the evening of 16th October with our openin22nd Octoberg Dinner Party.
Departure is after breakfast on the 22nd October
How to get To COMPETA:
Malaga Airport is the nearest airport at just over one hour by car or taxi or public transport from Competa. Further travel info is available after you register.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Booking fees and all other fees paid will be refunded in the event of a workshop cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances. For your peace of mind, I highly recommend that you get travel insurance to cover any unforeseen circumstances that could affect your ability to attend the art retreat.
WITHDRAWAL & REFUND POLICY
Withdrawal must be made in writing via email.
The €400 booking deposit is non -refundable and will be deducted from refunds. Payments are non-refundable 40 days prior to the retreat