When I think about Spain, I first think about the language, a language I am learning and I love. And then I think about art, ceramics and architecture, Antoni Gaudí, Pablo Picasso, and Salvador Dalí the foundational pillars of 20th-century Spanish and Catalan art, each transforming their respective disciplines. Rooted in the culture of Catalonia, Gaudí revolutionized architecture with organic forms, Dalí became the face of Surrealism and Andalusian Picasso born in Malaga pioneered Cubism. I love Pablo Picasso. I still remember the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) hosting a major exhibition "Picasso: Masterworks from the Museum of Modern Art." back in 1998, which as a then member I went to twice to see 90 amazing works on loan from MoMA in New York City. Nothing beats seeing paintings up close and personal. I even remember famous quotes, and the sentiment behind them, the difficulty to paint like a child when you are old and finding the humour Picasso, as a true artist, having to not only paint, but sell what he painted as well. The self belief needed to convey value in your creation.

People who paint, create, make us think, stop, look, think and then think again. I admire the bravery of artists. It’s a precarious vocation.

I decided to share my experience with artist Jorge Hernandez whilst in Spain, I didn’t visit a gallery or shop or museum outside the hotel, inside as I meandered from my hotel bed room to breakfast and the swimming pool, my favourite part of El Fuerte, Marbella for my daily dip, I had to pass one painting, Blue by Jorge Hernandez.

I began to anticipate seeing it and about half way through my stay I discovered to own it would cost €6,600.

I didn’t purchase it. It’s a large work that needs a large wall and a bigger bank balance than mine but I did love the concept of combining contemporary art with hospitality and introducing artists to a wider audience simply by putting their work in front of the public in this gallery setting along the walls of the hotel.

I loved this painting and seeing it everyday made me curious about its creator. I have since looked at other pieces for sale and found out more about the artist who is actually acclaimed and well known in collector circles, not just in Spain but internationally.

This particular painting Blue drew me in for sure and on the last day I found myself standing for a while, knowing I wouldn’t see it again and taking it in. I guess it’s the reason to buy a painting and support the work. Because of the pleasure found in contemplation.

I read this on a site about Jorge Hernandez and it resonated perfectly, “The paintings of Hernández, suspended between cinematic evocation and contemporary exploration of the image, invite us to immerse ourselves—like his own characters—in a territory where memory, fiction, and desire float in a balance as enigmatic as it is deeply human.”

It was certainly true for me.

I love art, I don’t look at it enough, life gets in the way. Seeing this painting reminded me how much. I saw myself in it, my own reflection, a mirror of the pleasure of a solitary swim, being at one with nature and the deeper reflection on being alone encased in your own skin, operating autonomously and independently from everything else and how secure and serene that feeling is or can be, especially in the water.

There were many painting in the ever changing hotel exhibition but this one hung for my entire stay. Someone I am sure will buy it soon, it was extremely beautiful, I have looked at many in the same series but non I like as much as much as this.

Maybe it’s because seeing it in person, the imposing scale is important or maybe it was just meant to cross my path so I could write this and share the experience. I love the thought of every person who reads this, even perhaps Jorge Hernandez himself and how much curiosity my experience will generate. Like a game of “pass it on”.

Writing down my thoughts about the experience made me think about Anna Wintour saying. “We wear the things we love because we love them.” And ponder why we always gravitate to the same items of clothing over and over above all others. How travelling and the simple act of packing the suitcase makes you break down your wardrobe to just a few favourite things and how, especially for someone who loves fashion, this task can be difficult. Singling out the painting was the same feeling, a knowing, there were maybe 70-80 paintings hanging in this gallery but I always gravitated to the same one, this one. I looked at the others sure, some of the photographs in an adjacent corridor were very interesting but nothing captivated me like this work. We wear the things we love because we love them. This painting for some reason I loved. Shame it wouldn’t fit in the suitcase crammed with other fashionable works of art.

I have learnt sometimes we don’t have to buy something to own it. Why great works of art are given to the world, JW Turner, Jean Cocteau, (there are many more) and hang in free public galleries for everyone to appreciate and enjoy. Unlike fashion they cannot be duplicated or copied.

The memory of the walk, the regard, the swim, the walk back, the regard and then repeat, is why we go on holiday. To discover something new.

I took quite a few pictures of Blue by Jorge Hernandez, sadly none really do it justice. I picked the best one. If you want to see it for yourself and have the experience, all the works on display were provided by ES Arte Contemporary Gallery. www.esartegallery.com