Chani's Creative Space

From December 23 to 31 2015, I will be participating in a photography exhibition in Cuenca (Castile-La Mancha, Spain).  This solidary exhibition called "Refugiados sin refugios" ('Refugees without refuge') will be in favour of NGO  Proactiva Open arms , Spanish volunteers who are at the moment active on Lesbos and Chios (Greece) to save many lives (have a look at their Facebook page in Spanish, English and Greek). Where? Sala La Carbonera, Calle Las Torres, Cuenca (Spain) When? Opening: Wednesday December 23, 8.15 p.m. Mon - Fri: 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., Sat, Sun and holidays: 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Thank you for spreading the word!

Looking back over this year, I feel that I advanced a lot by experimenting new things. Through the Belgian organization Kunstwerkt, I took part to the project "One Paper A Day", and because I chose to draw on location where I live, I created figurative works. As the project came to an end after one month and a half and 45 drawings, I could not give up drawing spots and buildings, even if I still prefer to create abstract works, because I feel totally free and "more myself".  I worked less with acrylic on canvas this year: this summer has been particularly hot, my studio was an oven.  On the other hand, I learnt to work with SketchBook Express in order to perfect and colour scanned drawings I first had performed on paper with black Indian ink. The idea came from a translator friend who said to me one day: "Why don't you put at least a little bit of colour in your Andalusian scenes?" I discovered more of Twitter (I joined in 2014 but I had not been ver...

Just some pictures of the festive season in the centre of Torremolinos. So different this year, so colourful, with some interesting food trucks. Enjoy!

December is there, I suppose most towns in Europe are being decorated, but for the first time, in Torremolinos, we will have a so called Christmas market in the new pedestrian zone (created last Saturday - before, it was just a big street full of cars)!  As I had to go to the centre this morning, I could observe how stands were set up, plant pots filled with earth, etc. I cannot wait to see the lights turned on next Friday evening, 8 p.m. Setting up the Christmas market in Torremolinos

The last days of November... If I had stayed in my country, I probably would have warmed myself with a glass of hot spiced wine at the Christmas market, but here, the sunny weather invited us to walk up the Sierra Blanca near Marbella and to enjoy the panoramic views on the town and the sea (we could even distinguish Gibraltar!) I picked some fresh rosemary, observed some mountain goats, asking myself why those animals have got so little place left to live because of us humans. Southern Coast

Another great day here, but the sea is a bit rough. It is November, after all...  I should begin to make plans for the end of the year and all that, but this year, things are different. I am not sure it would make sense. Essence I Essence II Lesbos (so many life jackets...)

Arriving in El Puerto de Santa María  at twilight gives me the time to look at the historic centre from the new bridge. Everything becomes dark very quickly, but I like to listen at the splashing waters of Guadalete River. All is right with the world from here, no unemployment, no poverty, no refugees perishing by drowning in Lesbos and Chios, no corruption in Spain, Germany and elsewhere, no war, no arm deals. I wish I could stay here longer, just listening at the waves, greeting the last fisherman returning home.  El Puerto de Santa María by night (sketch from the new pedestrian bridge)

I had a lot of other work those last days, with little time to draw and paint. So just a small coloured sketch showing you the view from my terrace. View from the terrace 

Even at the Sun Coast, autumn is there, which means more foggy days, less light.  Time to use bright colours to warm our minds!  Going for a walk I Going for a walk II

Last impressions of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany...  A very cloudy day, we visited Ferropolis (the city of iron) near the small town of Gräfenhainichen, an open-air museum showing five giant excavators that were used to extract brown coal during almost 100 years.  Now, festivals and other events are regularly organized there. But on that day, we were almost alone: the right atmosphere to enjoy such a weird place.  Feel free to click   here to see the whole gallery.

A big thank you to all friends who were there yesterday evening at the opening of my exhibition "Trazos andaluces" at Ítaca in Torremolinos. I enjoyed the multicultural company and wished such a magic moment could have last much longer. For those who could not come, you have still until the end of the month to pop in. Here some impressions:

I will exhibit some of my new work (acrylic paintings and drawings) at the teahouse/bookstore Ítaca in Torremolinos during the month of October (a big thank you to Inma to give me the opportunity again).  The inauguration will take place on Wednesday October 7th 2015 from 8 p.m. If you have time, why not popping in? Where? Tetería librería Ítaca Plaza de la Unión Europea 11 29620 Torremolinos (Spain) Tel. 951 10 96 35 The exhibition will run from October 7th until November 2d 2015 Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. - 12 a.m., Sunday: 5 p.m. - 12 p.m. (closed on Mondays)

Urban decay is always a bit sad, but I like to take pictures of such buildings because they have a story to tell. A story of better times, booming business or happy residents. Stones are patient, waiting for the curious photographer to decipher their pain. Urban decay is not exempt of beauty - when humble but strong nature finds its way to recapture urban space, it is just wonderful. Here some urban decay in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany (click here to see them all):  Coswig   Coswig  Coswig  Coswig  Coswig  Coswig Coswig  Coswig  Koethen  Coswig  Coswig  Coswig Wörlitz