Troy Lovegates - Valencia, Spain

Silkscreen print, edition of 50, signed and numbered by the artist, unframed

Destination: Valencia, Spain

Date: 18 - 24 January, 2018 

Jaunt #041

approx. 27.5"h x 19.75"w, 70cm x 50cm

"The quality of life in Spain was a breath of fresh air, especially compared to the Bay Area where everyone seems in a panic to only work work work. The atmosphere was so relaxed, with bustling food markets brimming with fresh everything, squares with cafes and little parks for the kids to play in while their parents chatted and drank wine. Europeans value their free time. My expectations for the trip were elementary, in the sense that I expected it to be warm and sunny every day and that I would just wander around, eat and scribble in parks. My trip did not disappoint!

For some reason I expected Valencia to be nestled right up to the mountains, much like Barcelona, but it wasn’t. The landscape was very flat and much bigger than I expected. I was surprised by all the abandoned buildings and vacant lots, in the last two cities I have lived in land is so expensive every square foot is occupied and fenced off. There is no open space. Valencia on the opposite seemed very open.

I’ve drawn one person taking another person on a trip, carrying them around, supporting their weight for a time. Much like this Jaunt experience. The colors in the print refer to the colors that I found most prominent in Spain. The blue of the Mediterranean and sky and the terracotta red of the rich soil."

-Troy Lovegates