ALGARVE IN
WATERCOLOR

Step into the joy of painting in Olhão!

Join us for inspiring courses in the beautiful, light-filled space of Pinta Roxa, right in downtown Olhão.

BARCOS DE OLHÃO

Friday, 19 October | 14.00-19.00 | afternoon course

This course is designed for curious beginners and those who want to deepen their skills in a calm, professional setting. You’ll learn how to see like a painter — observing light, shapes, and atmosphere — and how to translate that vision to paper with clarity and confidence.

🕒 Full 5 hours (including a flexible 30-minute break)
👩‍🎨 4 places only — small group, focused learning
💶 125€ including all materials:
• Winsor & Newton Professional watercolors
• Da Vinci & Winsor & Newton brushes
• Saunders Waterford artist-grade paper (yours to keep!)

Algarve em aguarela sessions aren’t casual splash-and-go workshops — they’re like a compact crash course, giving you a solid foundation in how to handle this unpredictable, yet deeply rewarding medium.
If you’re looking for a relaxed, inspiring, but truly focused space to learn and grow — this is for you.

Book here!

Sketch of a street with the ChaChaCha restaurant, on the way of Olhão Sketchwalk with Lighthouse Artcourses.

Above: watercolour study of the boats resting at the coast in Burgau, Algarve

While this particular scene is from the west coast of the Algarve, in the village of Burgau, these kinds of small fishing boats can be found all along the region — including right here in Olhão. They’re a typical sight on the Algarvian shoreline and make a fantastic subject for watercolor: their sun-faded colors, weathered textures, and quiet presence on the water are ideal for exploring light, shape, and atmosphere with the brush. During the course, we’ll be working with similar local scenes — the kind we can study just by stepping right outside the studio space 😉

I’ll guide you step by step through the core watercolor techniques and compositional thinking. With practice and patience, you’ll discover how satisfying and expressive watercolor can be.
I’ll also teach you to love working with a big brush and using bold, confident strokes — so your paintings stay fresh, expressive, and not overworked!

Watercolor sketch of a small private boat (barca) in Olhão, painted outdoors in a plein air setting.

Longing to go deeper into watercolor while exploring the Algarve?
Slow travel, golden light, creative flow — join our EAST ALGARVE ART ESCAPE Light & Layers,
in April 14th – 18th, 2026.

Portas e Janelas de Olhão

Friday, 3 October | 14.00-19.00 | afternoon course

🕒 Full 5 hours (including a flexible 30-minute break)
👩‍🎨 4 places only — small group, focused learning
💶 125€ including all materials:
• Winsor & Newton Professional watercolors
• Da Vinci & Winsor & Newton brushes
• Saunders Waterford artist-grade paper (yours to keep!)

We’re based in a beautiful space right in downtown Olhão, kindly hosted by the charming shop Pinta Roxa:
Av. 5 de Outubro 28, 8700-302 Olhão, Portugal

Book here!

13 R. Dr. Francisco Fernandes Lopes a striking Art Nouveau–style façade- the street-level base is finished in smooth stucco, while the upper floors display delicate organic tile motifs, slender balconies with wrought iron railings, and subtly curved window surrounds typical of early 20th-century design. The overall effect is elegant and ornamental—a rare and romantic expression of Jugendstil character in the civic heart of Olhão.

Above: watercolour study of an old green door in Olhão.

Above: our studio space at Pinta Roxa in Olhão.

Delicate watercolor sketch depicting Largo do Grémio square in Olhão with architectural details and light washes

Past watercolor painting courses

Over the past years, I’ve led several watercolor painting courses where I shared the foundations of working with this expressive medium — from creating strong contrasts and building dynamic compositions, to mixing colors with confidence and keeping details to a minimum. The goal has always been to achieve a clear yet loose result that captures the essence of a motif in a fresh and captivating way.

Curious about how these sessions have looked in the past? Here you’ll find an overview of previous courses and impressions: past courses.

Hand-drawn sketch capturing the layered rooftops of traditional houses in Olhão, Algarve

An open wooden box filled with SupraColor pencils by Caran d'Ache, neatly sorted by hues.

Your fellow painter and course host in this watercolor adventure.

I’m Grażyna Ostrowska, the creator behind Lighthouse Courses, Algarve in Watercolor, and Faro & Olhão Sketchwalks. I’ve immersed myself time and again in the beauty of this region — sketching and painting it en plein air, letting the changing light, colors, and atmosphere shape each brushstroke.

To find out more about my artistic practice, please visit the about page or my artistic website Grażyna Ostrowska | Artist.