ART WORKSHOP IN SPAIN

LAURA McKendry: “A SENSE OF THINGS”

“A Sense of Things”, a art workshop in Spain guided by artist Laura McKendry, whose work emerges from sensation rather than surface. Laura possesses a the ability to perceive the subtle divinities within her surroundings and translate them into vivid, instinctive marks, revealing the sacred within the ordinary. Her workshop invites participants into this way of sensing: slower, deeper, and attuned to what lies beneath appearances. Blending intuitive listening with explorations of pattern, colour, and collections, the program offers a shared creative framework while encouraging each artist to follow their own path, drawing inspiration from Cádiz’s light, textures, and ancient rhythms.

The Host

LAURA McKENDRY

Laura McKendry is an artist who paints from sensation rather than surface, transforming fleeting impressions, the grain of a moment, and the quiet pulse of nature into vivid, instinctive marks. Yet her gift reaches deeper: Laura has a rare ability to perceive the subtle divinities moving through her surroundings and to translate them into form. In her work, the sacred within the ordinary becomes visible, light, movement, and emotion crystallizing into strokes that feel both intimate and universal.

But Laura’s artistry is not only an act of creation; it is an act of service. She uses her gift to cultivate wellness in the world, investing her time and attention in causes that help others reconnect with their own vitality and sense of self. Through community engagement, creative education, and compassionate mentorship, she channels art as a tool for healing and expansion. Her presence encourages people to breathe more fully, to perceive more clearly, and to reclaim the quiet inner spaces where well-being begins.

Her creativity is guided less by technique and more by a profound intuitive listening—an attunement to what lies beneath appearances. In her Cádiz workshop, A Sense of Things, she invites others into this way of sensing: slower, deeper, and closer to the hidden truths the world reveals only to those willing to feel first and define later.

The Workshop

A SENSE OF THINGS

The theme of this workshop is pattern, colour, and collections creating a shared framework while allowing each participant to explore individual artistic pathways. Inspiration may arise from the characters of Cádiz’s historic puppet theatres, the vibrant glow of Andalusian oranges, or the rich textures, textiles, and curated objects found throughout Casa Palacio Las Marías. With additional sketching excursions across the city, the workshop will maintain a continual dialogue with Cádiz’s ancient rhythms and luminous atmosphere.

The week unfolds through a blend of demonstrations and intuitive guidance, integrating technique with a deeper form of sensing. Creativity is approached as an attunement, an opening to the subtle qualities within everyday scenes, materials, and moments. Watercolour, coloured pencils, lino cutting, printmaking, and playful illustrative methods form the core practices, encouraging experimentation and the expansion of personal expression.

By the end of the program, participants will have assembled a collection of characterful illustrations, prints, and paintings. Artifacts shaped by the venue´s and city’s light, textures, and quiet spiritual undercurrents. The workshop also provides insights and practices designed to nourish long-term creative wellbeing, supporting artists as they continue their explorative journey beyond Cádiz.

Suitable for adults of all artistic backgrounds—from curious beginners to experienced creators seeking renewed inspiration, as well as returning participants from previous workshops or retreats.

The Workshop Include

THE VENUE

Casa Palacio Las Marías is the creative heart of the workshop, a luminous 18th-century palace where history, architecture, and quiet intuition meet. Hidden in Cádiz’s old town, it feels like a sanctuary, with a peaceful Andalusian courtyard, sunlit rooms, and a rooftop touched by domes and ocean wind. Thoughtful design, natural materials, and mindful objects create a gentle dynamo of inspiration, inviting deeper observation and intuitive expression. Throughout the workshop, the house offers energetic alignment and calm support, helping ideas unfold naturally. Welcoming all artistic levels, it becomes both anchor and catalyst, shaping an immersive experience rooted in beauty and magic.

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THE FOOD

During Laura McKendry’s art workshop at Casa Palacio Las Marías, creativity is beautifully complemented by the presence of Vanilla Houwer, an artist of both food and life. Vanilla supports the physical and subtle wellbeing of guests through nourishment that mirrors the workshop’s intuitive, sensory spirit. Having studied the healing power of natural ingredients, she creates dishes inspired by diverse food cultures, weaving flavour, colour, and intention into grounding, uplifting meals. Her offering, “Healthy, Tasty and Beautiful Food,” and her tailored cooking courses invite participants to integrate conscious nourishment into daily life, extending the workshop’s clarity and quiet magic beyond Cádiz.

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THE PLACE

“A Sense of Things” will be held in Cádiz, a city that is less a place than a threshold where continents, oceans, and eras meet. Founded by the Phoenicians, it carries its ancient age with luminous ease. Here, the past rises with the tide and vibrates in a light that has long guided sailors, poets, and mystics. Empires shaped it yet never subdued it.
From La Caleta’s ceremonial sunsets to landmarks like Puerta de Tierra, Torre Tavira, the Roman theatre, and the historic puppet theatre, Cádiz feels both earthly and eternal, a living threshold where memory, presence, and the divine quietly intertwine.

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