September 2011: Our latest exhibition was a great success. 18 artists exhibited paintings in a wide variety of styles, and we also showed beautiful wood sculptures and crafts  in the form of ceramics and mohair teddies. Several pieces of work were sold and we received many complimentary comments about our work.

Our recent visit to L'Albarda gardens. Several of us drew and painted after our picnic lunch.

The Painting for Pleasure Art club has been running since October 2008 and is growing all the time, mostly through recommendations, although in 2010 and 2011 we have had nine articles in the local press which have brought us new members. Our recent exhibition ( October 2010) also encouraged 12 new members to join us.

We get together every Monday at 2pm in the Social Centre, Rafol d'Almunia. Please contact me if you require more information or directions - email jantheartist1@yahoo.co.uk    Annual membership is only 12 euros and weekly subs are 1 euro; all monies are used for the benefit of members.

Our annual exhibition in October 2010, held in Rafol d'Almunia Town Hall, was well received. We had more artists exhibiting this year - 15 of us - showing more work - 77 paintings in all. The standard was higher than ever, with a huge variety of styles of painting. Something for everyone. See the above paintings - a tiny sample.

In our weekly club meetings on Mondays, everyone brings along whatever drawing or painting they want to work on, and expert advice and help is always at hand. We share ideas about painting and drawing in a friendly atmosphere, with a coffee break in the local bar to socialize.  We enjoy a party at Christmas and in the summer.

This year, 2010, we continued with our weekly painting sessions throughout the summer as our members are so keen to paint! We are also extending our outdoor painting excursions into the autumn and winter, weather permitting - we go out together to paint in different locations, e.g. by a river, in the hills or on a quiet beach.

A recent painting trip to the iris gardens in the mountains above Calpe:

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Suzanne painting in Alan's garden in May.

Painting out at Font dels Mortits, Sagra, a lovely picnic spot in the country here on the Costa Blanca:

Painting excursion to Les Rotes beach, Denia, April 2010:

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Painting out at the Marjal, Pego, April 2009:

Painting  excursion to Els Poblets Beach, May 2009:

We  held our first, very successful joint exhibition in August 2009, with 9 of us exhibiting 55 works in total including oils, watercolours and pastels. We had 180 visitors and sold 5 works, receiving lots of encouraging comments on our work.

 Jan with her paintings in the 2009 exhibition.

In November 2009 we visited 3 Valencia Art galleries, including the Sorolla exhibition, which we found inspirational.

The club is continuing with its weekly Monday painting sessions from 2pm to 4.30 pm.

If you are interested in joining us please contact Jan on email: jantheartist1@yahoo.co.uk

We welcome all artists of all skill levels and working in any medium.