Setúbal, Portugal: Art in a Sun-Warmed Rhythm
Some places move quickly.
Setúbal does not.
It welcomes you slowly, like linen lifting in a warm coastal breeze.
Each morning began with a quiet walk to the waterfront. Fishing boats bobbed lazily in the harbor while market stalls burst with color — plump oranges, wildflowers, hand-painted tiles catching the sunlight. The air carried the scent of salt and sea, and the rhythm of the town gently reminded us to breathe a little deeper and move a little slower.
Our journals began filling almost immediately.
In the studio, light streamed through tall windows and spilled across tables scattered with papers and treasures — vintage book pages, scraps of lace, sun-bleached ephemera gathered along the way. We layered color and collage, letting texture and image speak where words sometimes fall short.
Between sessions, we wandered cobblestone streets with sketchbooks tucked under our arms. Espresso cups appeared beneath shade trees. Pencils traced the lines of old buildings. The town itself felt like a living journal page — worn, beautiful, and deeply alive.
By evening we gathered again, this time around glasses of wine and shared meals. Laughter came easily. Conversations stretched long into the night — the kind that only unfold when creative spirits find themselves in the same room.
We had come together to make art.
But as often happens on these journeys, something deeper unfolded as well.
Space.
Stillness.
Connection.
A quiet remembering of who we are when we give ourselves permission to wonder, to play, and to belong.
Setúbal gave us more than inspiration.
It gave us a gentle invitation to return to ourselves.
If you’re curious…
about what it feels like to travel and create together, you can learn more about my upcoming retreats here.
