Bright Shade

This painting is from a reference photo taken on a beach in Mexico. The beach was busy with umbrellas, restaurants and people walking and playing. I loved the movement of the trees, umbrellas, people and water. The photo reference had a grayish sky and I struggled with the colours until I changed the sky and it finally made sense. This painting was really different and challenging for me as I don't generally paint people and the photo of the beach was so busy with details.

"Bright Shade"

12" x 24" Oil on canvas in black drop in frame

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Small Beneath The Sky

"Small Beneath The Sky"
24" x 18" on 1 1/2" thick canvas with painted sides (no framing required)
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I was inspired to try painting with a palette knife again after watching Neil work on numerous paintings. We joked that he would have to sell his paintings by weight instead of size they were so laden with thick luscious paint. You can see some of Neil's beautiful work on his Facebook site.

I loved working on this mid-sized painting with the palette knife. It was a very physical painting loaded with thick and thin paint and I love the result.

Early Morning Rain

"Early Morning Rain"

6" x 24"  Oil on canvas, in a black drop in frame

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I wanted to try a different format and loved painting this size - narrow but long. It was nice to be able to put more of a vista in a painting rather than crop off so much. I bought this canvas in a frame and loved that it was so easy to see what it looked like framed.

Buen Dia Cafe

This painting is from a reference photo of a lovely restaurant in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. We stopped in to have a coffee and watch people walk by. While we were enjoying our coffee we were serenaded by two young musicians playing a violin and an accordion. SMA is always full of wonderful surprises.

"Buen Dia Cafe"

13 1/2" x 10 1/2" water colour 

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Sketch book travels, SMA #7

I joined the San Miguel de Allende Urban Sketchers on their weekly sketching outing. We went to the beautiful gardens of the Hotel Posada de la Aldea. I was intrigued with the bell tower and so made that my focus.

There were 11 sketchers spread over the beautiful gardens and you can tell by their sketch books that they were inspired by a real variety of personal interests. I started a 2nd sketch in ink and went back after a group coffee invite to finish it. If you are in SMA and would like to join these lovely artists, look up their Facebook page and ask for the info on the next meeting (Tuesdays at noon). I had a wonderful time.

Sketch book travels, SMA #6

We went on a Sunday hike, first meeting the group at a local gas station, breaking into groups for the different hikes and car pooling. This time and last time we were lucky enough to get a ride from Tizianna. It was so beautiful, I took so many photos of the "Canada de la Virgen" hike that I could do a whole series of paintings. This is a sketch of the red ant hills that were piled high with the same sized rocks that the ants had broken down and pushed out the hole to make quite a pile, I was wowed by the feat! There were also some flowers blooming all around to create quite a contrast.










This sketch is an urban sketch (done on location). We usually have a happy hour game of crib and from my vantage point I get to see beautiful sunset colours in the sky out of our rental front room window. After crib I sketched this then used water colour and ink. This is not done in my sketch book but on water colour paper that fits in my book. I can't blend colours in my sketch book and wanted to get the beautiful orange to blue sky.

Sketch book travels, SMA #5

These sketches are photo based of our travels around town (San Miguel de Allende, Mexico). As we are walking around town I am always on the look out for things that interest me or will  be a great reminder of our time here. The first sketch is a view of people walking and looking at their phone, oblivious to their beautiful surroundings.

 My husband Gord has been taken twice weekly Spanish classes from Javier at the Don Luis restaurant. As am not at that level I have been quietly sitting and listening in and drawing. This is a sketch of the table. Usually I also try and sketch patrons in another sketch book that I am drawing live subjects.

This sketch is of an elderly lady in the Dia de Revolution parade that went for miles. This group of seniors swished their dresses and danced the whole parade (miles!), I was so impressed!

Sometimes you come across something so simple it makes an impact and had me writing stories in my head long after viewing it.

Sketch book travels, SMA 4

Colleen drove Gord and I to the monolith Bernal and we hiked as far as we were allowed to go after an wonderful and tasty coffee and breakfast. After the hike we celebrated at a roof top patio enjoying XX Ambar cervesas with tasty salsa and chips. By the time we got home it was dark and we were tired and happy.

This sketch in my book is of a local lady selling hand made dolls. She had a basket of small ones neatly lined up as well as larger ones peeking out of her full bag on her back. The colour of the walls are painted the old colonial colours as it is a heritage sight in the old part of town. Very colourful and busy with vendors, locals and tourists from Mexico and abroad.  My sketch book does not have water colour paper so blending is a real challenge. I love the warmth and memories this provides.