The 2023-24 academic year for l’Hort del Xocolater Painting School, organized by the Mediterranean Foundation in Elche, began recently on a Saturday. The program welcomes students of all ages to deepen cultural awareness, master painting techniques, and sharpen skills in observing and interpreting nature. The registration window remains open through October 31, with details available on the Foundation’s website.
The course runs through May 2024, with sessions every Saturday during school hours from 10:00 to 13:00. Participants are grouped into four levels and age brackets, starting at six years old. Esteemed instructors, including María Dolores Mulá, Noelia Pérez Hernández, Irene Cano Quirant, and Miriam Martínez Guirao, guide the cohorts from basic drawing and painting to advanced illustration and comics concepts.
90 hours of training
In addition to the regular sessions, the program includes 90 hours of training and a calendar of extraordinary activities. For instance, in May, the youngest students will become their families’ mentors, guiding a collaborative canvas under the supervision of the young artists themselves. In June, a public exhibition will showcase the cumulative work produced by all participants during the course.
The Hort del Xocoter School of Painting was established to cultivate artistic interest from the age of six, fostering a lifelong curiosity about color, form, and visual storytelling. The program emphasizes hands-on practice and creative exploration, helping students build confidence in their own abilities and develop a personal artistic voice.
Throughout the year, the school offers opportunities to explore the rich artistic heritage surrounding the Foundation, including the Hort del Xocolater itself. Students learn not only technique but also how context and place can influence artistic choices, enabling them to draw inspiration from the cultural landscape that surrounds them.
The overarching aim of the course is to help students perceive and understand nature as a vital element of their environment. Through guided projects and individual expression, participants learn to observe closely, interpret what they see, and communicate that interpretation through visual means. The process encourages critical thinking and appreciation for the natural world, while also nurturing creativity and craft.