Painting the Court of the Myrtles
As soon as I finished painting the Comares Palace at the Alhambra, I knew I had to paint the view from the other side of the Court of the Pool. When you enter the courtyard, you're drawn to the reflections in the enormous central pool, which is framed by thirty-metre-long myrtle bushes. That's why the courtyard is alternatively known as the Court of the Myrtles.
This watercolour painting is special to me because I painted it while my parents were visiting me in Granada for the first time. I loved being able to share my painting process with them and chat while I worked. That sense of connection encouraged me to play even more with colour, which is why pinks and purples feature so strongly on the palace walls. And then I got to take them to visit the Alhambra itself!
It was the perfect June morning for a visit. We went early so it was sunny but still cool in the shade. The air was still, which meant that the bright blue sky created stunning reflections in all of the water features of the palace. The pomegranate trees and water lilies were blooming, and the visit was perfumed with deep pockets of jasmine.
For me, painting a piece like this creates an emotional connection to the subject. The more I paint the Alhambra, the more beauty and details I notice the next time I visit. It simultaneously motivates me to go deeper and play more the next time I sit down to paint the palace.
I’m feeling so inspired from this latest visit to the Alhambra. I plan to capture as much beauty as I can on paper during these longest days of the year, and I can’t wait to share the results with you!
What building or feature in your town makes you pause to admire its beauty, no matter how many times you visit?
If you're an artist, what subject inspires you to paint it again and again?
Sketches from Granada celebrates every-day moments of connection with strangers, friends and ourselves. I know how easy it is not to be present in your own life, and I hope these sketches inspire you to seek out moments that are worth savouring.
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