Can you imagine anything better than the smell of freshly cooked paella on a warm evening in Spain?

The delicious aromas, the anticipation of a wonderful meal and the pleasure of watching someone who knows exactly what they are doing.

Cooking Paella is an original acrylic painting on paper, created from life during a visit to Andalusia in southern Spain.

We had been told that a local woman called Maria would be coming to prepare paella for our evening meal.

Naturally, I couldn't resist the opportunity to paint her!

I asked Maria whether she would mind if I painted while she worked. She agreed, and even put on lipstick for the occasion!

As she prepared our dinner, I settled down with my painting materials and began to work.

I created two paintings that evening, responding directly to the scene unfolding before me.

I love painting people absorbed in everyday activities. Cooking, in particular, is full of wonderful gestures and movements. Hands reach, bodies bend, ingredients are stirred and attention shifts constantly from one task to another.

When painting from life, I have to observe carefully and work intuitively. There is no opportunity to freeze the moment or ask someone to hold a pose.

Instead, I try to capture the essential character of the activity, using colour, expressive marks and composition to convey something of the atmosphere.

For me, these encounters are what make painting such an enriching experience.

An ordinary evening meal becomes an opportunity to connect with another person, to observe the beauty of everyday life and to create something that will preserve the memory long after the plates have been cleared.

Because cooking is not simply about preparing food. It is an act of generosity, creativity and bringing people together.

And what better example than a delicious paella, made with care and shared around a table?

Cooking Paella celebrates these simple pleasures, the warmth of Mediterranean life and the extraordinary richness of ordinary moments.

Two paintings, one wonderful memory

This painting is the companion to Maria Makes Paella, created during the same evening in Andalusia.

The two original paintings belong together and would look wonderful displayed side by side, bringing a little Mediterranean sunshine, warmth and character into your kitchen or dining room.

At 30 × 40 cm, Cooking Paella is a lovely size for a kitchen, dining area or cosy corner of your home.

It would also make a thoughtful gift for someone who loves cooking, Spanish culture, Mediterranean holidays or original art inspired by everyday life.

And yes, the paella tasted absolutely delicious!

Artwork details

• Title: Cooking Paella

• Original artwork: One of a kind, only one original exists

• Medium: Acrylic on paper

• Dimensions: 30 × 40 cm (height × width)

• Inspiration: Maria preparing paella during a visit to Andalusia, Spain

• Technique: Painted directly from life, on location

• Style: Contemporary figurative and expressive painting

• Themes: Cooking, Mediterranean life, hospitality, food and human connection

• Artist: Sibylle Laubscher

• Companion painting: Maria Makes Paella

This is an original, one-of-a-kind painting. There is only one in the world, and once it has found its new home, it will no longer be available.

Packaging and shipping

Your painting will be carefully wrapped in protective cellophane and sturdy cardboard to keep it safe during transport.