Paintings of Portugal

Plein air painting of cliffs near Peniche, Portugal.

Cliffs near Peniche. 25 x 35 cm, oil on panel.

We spent our September this year plein air painting in Portugal. It was the first time I had visited the country and we started from the north near Apulia, and worked our way south to the Algarve. We had great weather, with the exception of some fog on the coast. The food was terrific (and inexpensive) and the people were all really friendly.

Outside of the cities, Portugal and California look very similar. From the ubiquitous eucalyptus trees, to the cliffs looking down on an ocean teaming with surfers, to the rolling hills with golden grass and cork trees (which look like California live oaks), to the traditional whitewashed architecture which is similar to the Spanish colonial buildings, there were many times when I did a double-take to remember where I was. The light, like in California, is especially beautiful.

Plein air landscape painting of villas in Sintra, Portugal.

Villas in Sintra. 25 x 35 cm, oil on panel.

Plein air painting of a street in Evora, Alentejo, Portugal.

Bougainvillea, Évora. 20 x 30 cm, oil on panel.

Plein air painting of buildings in Porto, Portugal.

Porto, the Waterfront. 30 x 20 cm, oil on panel.

Plein air painting of market stalls in Porto, Portugal.

Market Stalls, Porto. 25 x 35 cm, oil on panel.

Oil painting of a park in Coimbra, Portugal.

Pavilion in a Park, Coimbra. 25 x 35 cm, oil on panel.

Painting of a street in Aveiro, Portugal.

Street in Aveiro. 20 x 30 cm, oil on panel.

Plein air painting of a church in the Alentejo, Portugal.

Igreja de São Brissos, Alentejo, 20 x 30 cm, oil on panel.

Plein air painting of a street in Lisbon, Portugal.

Street in Lisbon. 20 x 30 cm, oil on panel.

 

The light in the Algarve is stunning. Since the coast faces south, the sun is above the water most of the day. The area is more built-up than other coastal areas that we visited, but there were a lot of wonderful views.

Plein air painting of the Praia de Dona Ana in Lagos, Portugal.

Praia de Dona Ana #1. 25 x 35 cm, oil on panel.

Plein air painting of the Praia de Dona Ana, Lagos, the Algarve.

Praia de Dona Ana #2. 20 x 30 cm, oil on panel.

Plein air painting of the praia do Tonel, Sagres, Portugal.

Praia do Tonel, Sagres. 25 x 35 cm, oil on panel.

Plein air painting of sunset in the Algarve.

Evening Light, Algarve. 20 x 30 cm, oil on panel.

Plein air painting of Praia do Camilo near Lagos, Portugal.

Praia do Camilo. 35 x 25 cm, oil on panel.

As pretty as Lisbon and Porto are, we didn’t spend a lot of time in the bigger cities as we were traveling with a dog and the smaller towns and countryside were more manageable.

Plein air painting of the Belem Tower in Lisbon, Portugal.

Sycamores at the Belém Tower, Lisbon. 25 x 35 cm, oil on panel.

Plein air painting of the Church of São Domingos in Lisbon, Portugal.

Igreja de São Domingos, Evening Light (Lisbon). 20 x 30 cm, oil on panel.

Plein air landscape painting of the windmills near Apulia, Portugal.

Windmills on the Beach, Apulia. 20 x 30 cm, oil on panel.

Plein air painting of Viana do Castelo, Portgual.

Street in Viana do Castelo. 25 x 35 cm, oil on panel.

Plein air landscape painting of Rossio Marques de Pombal in Estremoz, Alentejo, Porgugal.

Rossio Marques de Pombal, Estremoz. 20 x 30 cm, oil on panel.