Artistic Inspiration in Portugal and Spain: Beaches, Tiles, and Gaudí’s Iconic Architecture
Whenever we visit a new place, we are inspired. Both Portugal and Spain inspired me artistically!
Walking the Beaches of Portugal: Inspiration from Dramatic Cliffs and Ocean Views
We are lucky enough to have good friends who live in Portugal. We have visited them twice in the last few years. This fall, we took a slower pace than we did the first time we were in Portugal. Most days started with a cup of coffee at a local beach café, followed by a stroll down the beach.
Our friends live in Atalaia, about 45 minutes north of Lisbon on the coast. While the water was a little too chilly for us to swim in, we did visit several beaches, including Praia da Peralta, Praia do Areal Sul, and Praia da Areia Branca (Praia = beach). Each beach was unique and equally beautiful. The Portuguese beaches have high cliffs and lots of ocean waves. Different flora and rock formations called out for me to sketch.
One evening, we were able to place this baby octopus (above) in a tide pool after it had washed ashore and the tide went out.
The Art of Portuguess Tiles: Patterns, Colors, and History that Inspire
I have collected blue-and-white pottery for years. Being able to go to Portugal and see all the traditional blue-and-white tiles was magical. Early on, Portuguese azulejo tiles (small, polished, usually square, glazed tiles) adorned the interiors of homes. In the 19th century, tiles began appearing on the exteriors of buildings. Not only are there many beautiful colors and patterns, but they are practical. The tiles help to regulate the temperature inside the buildings and make them more fire-resistant.
You can see tiles everywhere you go, in train stations, on garbage receptacles, on benches, in parks, and more!
The patterned cobblestones throughout Portugal are too magical to describe! You really should see them in person.
Antoni Gaudí’s Barcelona
Antoni Gaudí’s unique architectural style helped create Barcelona's identity. Like many artists, his creations were inspired by nature. He incorporated organic, curved, and flowing lines into his works. Moe and I were lucky enough to take in three of his famous masterpieces.
Exploring Park Güell’s Mosaic Wonder
When you wander through Park Güell, it feels like stepping into a dreamscape shaped by imagination and nature’s rhythm. I was captivated by how Antoni Gaudí’s mosaics ripple across benches, walls, and stairways—each tile fragment alive with color and movement. As you follow the winding paths, the park’s organic curves seem to echo the forms of waves, leaves, and lizards, inviting you to slow down and look closely. It’s a place where art and nature meet in perfect harmony, reminding us that creativity truly flourishes when we let the natural world guide us.
The Magic of La Sagrada Família
Standing before La Sagrada Familia, we felt both awe and stillness wash over us. The sheer scale and intricate detail of Gaudí’s masterpiece make you realize how imagination can stretch across generations. As sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows, colors danced across the stone columns like living art. Walking through its vast interior, you can’t help but feel connected to something larger than yourself—a blend of faith, nature, and creativity that continues to grow, just as Gaudí envisioned.
Casa Batiló: Gaudí’s Masterpiece of Curves, Color, and Imagination
When we stepped inside Casa Batlló, it felt like entering a living, breathing work of art. Every curve, window, and tile seems to flow like water, with no sharp edges to interrupt the rhythm of Gaudí’s imagination. You can see how light dances through stained glass and across iridescent tiles, shifting as the day moves on. I was especially struck by how even the smallest details—door handles, railings, wallpaper, and ceiling swirls—carry his unmistakable touch. It’s a space that makes you feel as though you’re walking through a dream inspired by the sea, color, and boundless creativity.
How Travel in Portugal and Spain Sparked New Artistic Ideas
I brought a new square sketchbook with me, along with a small palette with twelve watercolors recommended to me for painting in Portugal and Spain.
The different types and textures of seaweed inspired this quick sketch.
This Sea Kale lined the boardwalk along Praia da Areia Branca was fun to draw and paint.
Besides a green sea urchin, we found a walnut, shell fragments, and many interesting pebbles along the beaches of Portugal.
We spent the afternoon taking a painting tile class with our friends. It was fun, and I look forward to doing it again some day!
The photo was one that I took in the garden at Casa Batlló. I drew a representation of it while on the plane back to the states. Then, I painted it in my studio.
If you ever have a chance to travel to Portugal and Spain, we highly recommend it!
Beautiful Art for Life Well Lived,
Sarah
