On the first weekend of June, Villanueva de los Infantes once again transformed into a vast open-air art space to host the National Speed Painting Competition, organized jointly by the “Arteaga Alfaro” Association of Visual Artists and the Villanueva de los Infantes City Council.

From early in the morning, dozens of artists from across Spain filled the Plaza Mayor and the streets of the historic district with color and creativity, capturing the town’s landscapes, monuments, courtyards, and iconic spots on their canvases using a variety of styles and painting techniques.

This year’s competition featured a total of 15 prizes sponsored by various companies and collaborating organizations. Among them, the first prize—sponsored by the Villanueva de los Infantes City Council and worth 2,000 euros—was awarded to Manuel Sánchez Lucas for a work that offered a spectacular aerial view of the Plaza Mayor in Villanueva de los Infantes, standing out for its technical quality and composition.

The second prize, sponsored by the Globalcaja Ciudad Real Foundation and worth 1,500 euros, went to Emiliano Vozmediano López. The third prize, sponsored by the José María de Jaime Foundation and worth 700 euros, was awarded to Miguel Torrús García.

After an intense day of artistic work, the pieces were exhibited in the Plaza Mayor that afternoon, where residents and visitors were able to enjoy the talent and creative diversity of the participants.

The jury’s decision was announced shortly after 7:00 p.m. For this edition, the jury consisted of Victoria Eugenia Chamorro Martínez “Nina Ich,” who holds a Ph.D. in Art History from the University of Granada; Marisa Hernández Ríos, a professor at the University of Granada and a Ph.D. in Art History; Julián Luis Medina Martínez, a visual artist and director of the Villanueva de los Infantes Painting Workshop; Ana Lima Alba, an artist and printmaker; and Tomás Ayuso Inarejos, a graphic artist.