Chani's Creative Space

Today is the shorter day of the year, I like the idea that every day from tomorrow on will gain some unnoticeable seconds. Silence and darkness make the charm of winter, but I am longing for hearing more birds and getting more sunshine.  I am not sure if this post will be the last one this year or not, there is always a lot to do during those days. Just in case, I wish you already Season's greetings and a happy New Year! Thanks for reading my blog! Solstice

Going for a walk in town, trying to discover a place that has changed since last time, an interesting spot to immortalise because the light or situation is different. Looking at the shop windows, being so glad that I do not have to buy anything. Walk in town

December is there, such a strange month that lets us feel how time is flying (every year seems to be shorter than the last one). I enjoy the festive lights in town (at least, the rain has stopped), and I am looking forward to seeing the food trucks coming back next weekend. Festive season

The last days have been stormy, we got a dark sky with thunderstorm and plenty of rain, that  is urgently needed for agriculture and human use, of course. I was happy to see some rainfall, but at the same time, this situation reminded me how difficult it was in Germany during the winter: so many dark weeks with rain or snow and temperatures below zero. Today, the sun is back, and as the countdown for the festive season has begun, lights will be switched on soon in our town. Magic of light

I have been working on a photograph series about skies for a couple of years now, I think I have enough of them to show you the result, my Skies gallery on Fine Art America. Most of the pictures (but not all) were taken in the autumn or winter: here in Spain, it is the best season for colourful skies.  No, I cannot offer any super moon: it was too cloudy, and the next night, the moon did not look like bigger than a normal full moon (at least my impression as non-specialist), so I did not take any picture ;-)   Sky in Fuengirola (Andalusia) Sunset at Mar Menor (Murcia) Sky near Almoharin (Extremadura)   Sunset in Torremolinos (Andalusia) Sunset in Torremolinos (Andalusia) Dawn at Manga del Mar Menor (Murcia)    Sky and countryside near Olvera (Andalusia)  Sky and countryside near Olvera (Andalusia) 

Trying to concentrate on art while everybody is talking about politics... ;-) Blackberry bush  Communication

On Sunday, the clocks went back! I always love this special weekend with an extra hour to sleep. And it is still so warm at the moment that you can buy your chestnuts (typical winter street food here) and eat them on the beach! Chestnuts on the beach

Here two minimalistic works again with very few colours, just to persuade myself that art does not have to be sophisticated to appeal.  Playing in the field Dizzy

Those last weeks have been incredibly productive. Not artistically (grrr...), but organizing the removal of my aged mother, who left her home country to come and leave abroad, here near us! This meant a lot of teamwork within the family, a mountain of paperwork - we are now all exhausted but as we are sure it was the right decision, we are happy. Hard work

Two works: a minimalistic work inspired by the wonderful frozen fish that my Icelandic neighbour gave us a couple of weeks ago.  In addition, a work inspired by this new month, October. Days are still warm but nights are getting colder - impossible to keep sleeping outside. Very soon, we will see advertisements for Halloween parties, then for the Spanish Christmas lottery, and this year will be gone, so fast, again.  Cold beauty Wind and leaves

Today, this blog is four years old!  Many thanks to the friends and colleagues who popped in and found some time to encourage me and share some thoughts.  At the same time, the next Animal Alphabet (#AnimalAlphabets) is now finished on Twitter! Here my favourite, letter V for Vampire and the rest (from A to Z without V) as a collage. Enjoy!

I love nature and calm about everything (especially when the sun is shining).  We are just back from a trip to North Holland (not too far from Amsterdam), where we have been walking during ten days in two nature reserves, the Schoorlse duinen and the Noordhollandse duinreservaat. Both are adjacent, and have a mixture of dunes, wood, wet plains and moorland to offer. You will find all pictures here , but I wanted to offer you a selection on this blog. Enjoy! 

From September 9 until October 16, I am participating to a collective exhibition in Las Rozas (Madrid, Spain) in favour of the NGO  ProActiva Open Arms . It rescued and is still rescuing many lives in the Aegean sea near the Greek island of Lesbos and now, as the number of refugees crossing the Mediterranean Sea is increasing, in the Central part of the Mediterranean Sea . I am there with my small work  Cacti . If you live nearby and have to possibility to look around, you are most welcome. Please spread the word! Thanks. Where?   BurgoCentro II,  Exposición Artistas solidarios Calle Comunidad de Madrid 37 28231 Las Rozas (Madrid, Spain) When? From September 9 to October 16 2016 Opening hours: 8 a.m. to 23 p.m.

I am glad August is almost over. I am always glad when the summer is over (well, it will take one more month). Soon, autumn will be there, bringing new challenges and new experiences.  Aquatic life

Those last days, I have been looking at sail boats moving forward despite of a strong wind, just being headed into it... And I have been watching at many foreign cars, mostly French and Moroccan, but also British, Belgian, Norwegian and Dutch, that are arriving or leaving. All people who have been or still are here on holidays, human beings with the same needs. I hope our place will remain as it is, multicultural and tolerant. Sailing into the wind After the summer break

The month of August is always magic: the days become shorter already, you hardly notice it because it is so hot. Last week, I saw the first advertisement for the Christmas lottery jackpot (and I know that in Germany, the first Christmas cookies are also making their apparition in the shops these days)... Summer is here, but it will be gone soon. That is the reason (not the only one) because I love this place: it is nice when summer is here but even nicer when summer has gone. You then can enjoy the sound of the waves on the empty seafront, hike in the mountains again and look for hours at migratory birds. Summer rhythm Nature and silence

It is too hot (and humid) at the moment, but I enjoyed walking through the centre of Torremolinos (Spain) this evening because of this:

Big traffic jams are expected this weekend in many parts of Europe, as returning holidaymakers are going to cross those who depart at the beginning of August. Airports will be very busy too.  Every year but this year especially, I am glad to have the privilege to stay at home and to enjoy warm nights listening at crickets that never sleep. Traffic jam

After being observing Artmajeur for a while with a free account (10 uploaded paintings), I have just upgraded my account to a Premium one.  I hope that this small investment will bring a little bit more visibility, and new contacts and opportunities... I like the idea of having a "home" in France ;-) Hope for a better world

Tourists are visiting us and I wish most of them could do it again at another time of the year, to have a closer look at Spanish life and habits. Summer is great, but our whole regions seems to be reduced to a huge party zone, and the Costa del Sol is definitely much more than that. ;-) Vibrant souls Warm sand, cold water Warm sand, tepid water

June has gone and with it, half of the year already. I have the impression that time is flying quicker every day and that I still have so much to learn.  Vertigo  Fear

Week after week, I have been drawing mythical creatures to send them to @AnimalAlphabets on Twitter (hashtag #AnimalAlphabets), beginning with A again.  In the meanwhile, we have achieved half of the alphabet, A to M! My favourites are the Erymanthian Boar, Jackalope and Lernaean Hydra I made for them. Enjoy! Here a collage with an overview from A to M: