Hi Alicia, Tell us about your passion. Why did you decide to leave everything and start traveling with watercolors and notebook always with you?

My passion for art comes from when I was very young. I've always been surrounded by my mom paintings and that's why I ended up studying Fine Arts at university. However, the art world is complicated and, although I tried to dedicate myself to it from the beginning, I ended up specialising in graphic design and working for several advertising agencies.

I had not much free time, so when I had holidays what I liked to do was to go travelling and, at that moment, I realised that watercolours would be the perfect companion. It is a technique that allows you to make quick drawings, as you don't have to wait long for it to dry, and the materials are small and fit in any backpack. This way I could combine my two passions in my free time: art and travel.
At that point I opened an Instagram account. It was then that I decided with my husband to take a sabbatical year and dedicate it to travelling and painting around the world. The project turned out to be a success and I was able to quit my job to finally follow my true passion.

Spain is your home and you certainly know the country very well. Is there any place you have not been in and hope to visit soon?

Spain is an amazing place and has so much to offer. After travelling the world between 2017 and 2018 I returned to Madrid and started to travel a lot more around my country. This pandemic time has been so complicated for everyone but it has also been an opportunity to get to know those wonderful places that are close and that sometimes pass unnoticed. I have rediscovered my country in the last two years, travelling to practically all the regions, but I still have a lot to see.

I want to do a longer trip around the Basque Country. I have visited several cities, such as Bilbao and San Sebastian, but I really want to get lost in the less touristy places. Besides, I think it's going to be a perfect area to travel around on four wheels, getting off the usual route and taking advantage of the opportunity to paint its incredible landscapes.

Which are the journeys you would recommend to our more artistic camper owners, those who want to experience an adventure in your country combining art and outdoor life?

One of the routes that I think fits best for travelling around Spain by van is the Costa Brava. A part of Catalonia that mixes very authentic and colourful fishing villages with other medieval towns, where castles, noble houses and small cobbled streets with lots of charm stand out. I was able to do this tour last summer for about ten days and it was spectacular.

I would recommend starting in Cadaques, in the north, near the French border, and going down along the coast. Must-see stops include the city of Girona, Calella de Palafrugell, Begur, Peratallada, Pals, Besalú, Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar. You can't miss the walks along the paths that connect the different beaches, known as Caminos de Ronda, where nature and views of the Mediterranean Sea are combined.

In any case, any route through Spain is a good choice: the area of Galicia, with the Camino de Santiago and its delicious seafood; the famous region of Andalucía; the landscape that mixes mountains and beaches of Asturias and Cantabria; or the unknown Extremadura, my homeland, which has a lot to offer and is also perfect for touring in a campervan.

Your country is full of breathtaking and beautiful landscapes. Which is your favourite? The one that you love the most and that you are more fond of?

One of the most spectacular views is the Alhambra in Granada, surrounded by greenery and with the Sierra Nevada mountains in the background. It is a unique place in the world and I try to return there whenever I can. I would also highlight the lakes of Covadonga, in Asturias. Just climbing to the top of the mountains is an adventure and if you are lucky enough to have a nice day up there it is a unique experience.

Your watercolors are a mix of landscape works and photographs. You can capture moments and emotions on paper. How long does it take to create your masterpieces?

I think the magic of a travel sketchbook is that it shows that it was made in that place and at that moment. That's why making the work perfect is not the most important thing. I sit on location and for about an hour I try to let the illustration absorb everything that surrounds me. Sometimes it's raining, or it's windy, or I'm surrounded by people and I can hardly see what I'm painting... but I always try to finish the drawing in that place and that is reflected in the final result. Watercolour is a technique that allows me to express a lot in just a few brushstrokes and I love that.

Which suggestion would you give to the travelers who want to experience art during their journeys?

The main thing is that they enjoy drawing. The great thing is to be able to create their own illustrated travel diary, without worrying about the result being perfect.

I always say that travelling is more intense when you paint. The fact of not running from one place to another, but sitting on the ground and taking some time to observe what surrounds us helps us to better understand the countries, their culture and connect with their people.

Your way of traveling the world and drawing on notebooks reminds us of the long educational journeys, the so called “Grand Tours”, common among artists of the 18-19th centuries. Do you see your adventures a bit like Grand Tours?

With my travel journals I have always wanted to recover the essence of the diaries of ancient travellers and explorers. Before photography existed, these pages full of strokes and colours showed the only images the world had of some of the most remote and exotic places.

Today, smartphones and technology in general have changed the way we travel. They make everything more frenetic and sometimes we only want to visit the most touristy places. That's why I believe that recovering this way of sharing travel experiences can help us to discover new places and to see the world through different eyes.

When would you recommend visiting Spain?

Any time of the year is a good time to visit Spain, but I enjoy it much more when the weather is good (spring or summer), especially if you travel and paint in the open air. Perhaps I would avoid the crowds in August, but I think that being able to enjoy the beach and the mountains in the same trip is something worthwhile.