Teror's Almond Arches

Watercolor on paper | 26 x 18 cm | Unframed | Teror

A quiet afternoon in the Square of Teror

Immerse yourself in the peaceful atmosphere of the heart of Gran Canaria with this expressive watercolor painted by Kristiina Roots on April 12, 2024 in Plaza de la Alameda, Teror.

„Teror’s Almond Arches“ is an original work depicting a picturesque city square where the bare branches of shaped almond trees intertwine into elegant organic arches. At the heart of the painting is the subtle and rhythmic network of these branches, which contrasts with the strong architecture in the background. This play of detail – like a lacy structure against a stone background – gives the work its unique character and also carries a poetic connotation: lace and stone.

The fluidity of the watercolor, the alternation of light, and the vibrant tones create a moment that is both fragile and powerful. This work captures a place where nature and culture meet in harmonious symbiosis – full of the poetry of local life, quiet dignity, and timeless beauty.

The artist's story

On the day I created this painting, I spent time in Terror, walking around, enjoying lunch, and finally stopping at the Plaza de la Alameda, where I was immediately captivated by these special arches shaped from almond trees. I sat, looked, and sketched, observing the patterns of the branches and how the light moved between them. The atmosphere in the center of Teror was special, with chickens and roosters roaming freely, which gave the place its own character and variety.

While I was painting, a local rooster even came to inspect my tools. This unexpected and direct encounter made the experience particularly vivid and memorable. It is moments like these that often remain in a painting, even when they are not directly depicted.

My process with watercolor is intuitive and spontaneous – I add, subtract and adjust elements until they form a whole. I always try to capture the moment quickly and directly. Watercolor as a medium fascinates me precisely because it loves to go its own way. In this painting, light, forms, local life and inner peace met in a very specific moment, the atmosphere of which I wanted to convey.

I don't strive for photorealistic accuracy. I'm more interested in the nature of the place, its rhythm, the light, and the impression it makes on me. There was something at once delicate and dignified in the almond arches of Teror - like a natural ornament in the middle of a historic urban space.

Work details

Teror's Almond Arches
English title: Teror's Almond Arches
Artist: Kristiina Roots
Completion date: April 12, 2024
Location: Plaza de la Alameda, Teror, Gran Canaria
Dimensions: 26 × 18 cm
Technique: watercolor on paper
Painted on location: yes, plein air