Becoming a Pilgrim Artist
PAINTING THE CAMINO INGLÉS
From August to November, 2022, I walked the paths of the Camino de Santiago from France across Spain and Portugal. I walked just over1300 kms, carrying my painting equipment amongst other possessions in my backpack. I made three pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela on the Camino Frances (starting from St Jean Pied de Port, France), the Camino Portuguës (from Porto, Portugal) and the Camino Inglés (from Ferrol, Spain), as well as the Prolongación to Muxia on Spain’s Atlantic coast. I painted on these pilgrimages, stopping along the way to capture interesting and inspiring aspects of the journey. In painting en plein air, the emotions that surfaced on the journey inevitably coloured my perceptions and responses to the landscape. On return to Australia I continued to paint the camino from my sketches and reference photographs to form the body of work that is present here now. To walk the Camino de Santiago is a great privilege. The experience is a gift. I hope to walk it many more times, starting once again in May 2024.
Leaving Ferrol
As I left my hostel in Ferrol to commence my walk back to Santiago de Compostela on the Camino Inglés in the pre-dawn dark I could see that the weather did not look at all promising. Hurricane Beatriz had settled into a stationary position offshore and was having a severe effect upon the local weather. As I reached this stretch of coast just out of Ferrol the dawn was beginning to break, and the colour of the sky above spoke volumes for what I might expect by way of weather. And the promise was delivered. I kept company with Hurricane Beatriz every day for the next week on the road. 370 x 270.
CAMINO INGLÉS
Crossing to Fene
The tide was on the ebb as I approached the bridge across to Fene. The rain was holding off temporarily and I was keen to put as much distance between myself and Ferrol before the heavens opened. 410 x 310.
CAMINO INGLÉS
Galician Sky
I’m nearing Santiago de Compostela on my final day on the Camino Inglés, and the weather continues to test me. But despite the dampening effects of horizontal rain and strong winds I still feel strong, and proud to have managed to complete three contiguous Caminos, as well as the prolongación to Muxia. I had not intended to walk so far, but circumstances conspired to give me the opportunity, and I’m glad that they did. I feel I have learned much on these pilgrimages, and will most certainly return for more learning. 360 x 260.
CAMINO INGLÉS
