Arroyo Hondo Casares Landscape painting

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The light was just starting to fade as the departing rays of the November sun struggled to keep within the confines of this steep valley. El Arroyo Hondo. The very steep valley and bright light sets up an ever changing array of beautiful blues and purples that drift upwards for about an hour and a half, the blues chasing their counterpart the warm reds and oranges of the autumnal Andaluz woodland.

This valley has been created by an arroyo digging deep into the hard rocks. The woodland that has largely been planted over the centuries is made up of ancient oaks planted for their cork, Juniper Trees planted for their berries which once fed the Moorish silk worms, and the grain crops planted on the steep slopes which once fed the now derelict water mills.

After painting here in temperatures of the mid 30’s c in August it feels strange to be feeling cold at 12c. Up and down the valley smoke from new an old Fincas hangs in stratas of creamy white over the pale cream buildings under blue green trees. High above a vulture drifts spiralling effortlessly in an infinity of pale blue. Whilst around me the air is full of the chatter of birds getting ready for their dreams. I painted, facing directly into the sun, hiding beneath the shade of the surrounding trees until a last blinding ray shone into my eyes saying “adios pintura”. As I gathered up my brushes and packed my canvas away.

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