Plein-Air in Asturias

Under the tutorage of artist Mary Padgett or Margaret Salt, in the scenically inspiring landscape of the Quirós Valley, we invite you and your paintbrushes to join us on our Plein-Air retreat. Here at Fuentes de Lucia, our cozy restored farmhouse, we are located in one of the most pristine and least touristed areas of Spain so it is easy to find the peace and inspiration to allow your imagination to run.

Spend a week of walking and artwork with us. Unpack, unwind and savor the comforts of home each morning and night, while sketching and painting the beautiful Asturian countryside on this eight-day holiday. We have the flexibility to go where the mood takes us according to light and weather.

With mountains, rivers, and fertile farms as our backdrop, we travel daily by foot, stopping to paint or sketch under the guidance of artist and art teacher Mary Padgett on Sept 10-17, 2022, a signature member of the Pastel Society of America. We are proud to partner with her on this venture. Our subjects will be as diverse as the landscape that surrounds us: sleepy village plazas, a farmer moving his cattle from pasture, impressive pre-Romanesque churches, alpine lakes, ancient country mills… maybe even an open-air ‘mercado’ on a busy morning. Margaret Salt will be leading her workshop from August 19-26, 2022.

Mary Padgett paints pastels that are distinctive for her use of color. She is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America and has been featured in American Artist magazine. Her paintings are displayed in numerous private and public collections, including Towers Perrin, Takasago International, and the Long Island Jewish Medical Center. She has participated in numerous group and one-person exhibits locally and nationally in the US. Mary was educated at Boston University and Syracuse University and teaches pastel and color courses for Cazenovia College and Syracuse University. She maintains a studio in New Woodstock, New York.

Introducing Margaret Salt a traveling landscape painter and returning artist at Fuentes de Lucia Retreat Center. If you’re an artist and looking for some new inspiration, join Margaret at Fuentes de Lucía on August 19-26 for this 8-day Plein air painting workshop. You will learn everything from how to simplify the infinitely complex landscape to capturing marvelous color and creating a strong sense of light in your oil paintings. Each day will be spent exploring the beautiful countryside while observing the way light dances across the landscape. Among the many topics discussed will be: drawing, value, hue, chroma, composition and edge control. Whether you are new to painting or a more advanced student, Margaret will help push your skills to the next level through demonstrations, lectures, and one-on-one critiques! I hope you will join us on this incredibly fun and informative 8-day outdoor painting adventure! Margaret Salt will be leading her workshop from August 19-26, 2022.

Create your own masterpieces and memories as we explore the villages and trails of Asturias.