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

#20127218

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 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.

Sketch book travels, SMA #3

 We joined a hiking group that goes out every Sunday to a different location. We had to meet at a gas station in SMA at 7:45 a.m. and everyone car pooled maximizing the amount of people in each car. 50 pesos/person helped pay for the gas. Gord and I happily joined the group on a hike we had done on a previous trip. I took as much information in about the cactus and flowers and drew and painted them as soon as I came home. Loved the variety and getting out of the city. The hikers were friendly and enjoyed themselves as much as we did.

This plant was growing along the electrical cords on the balcony above us. I loved how the single blossom was so beautiful considering what it was using to attach itself to. Tiny tendrils hooked themselves to the concrete and the shadows danced in the slight breeze.

Donna Dickson painting workshop - Day 2 and 3

After a lunch out together, the afternoon was challenging. We had a much more difficult San Miguel de Allende street scene to draw out and then work on painting the dark sky, mottled plaster building, perspective and people. This was completely out of my comfort zone but I was here to learn so I took a big breath and began. Once again, we all painted from the same photo reference Donna provided.  I used one of  Donna's palettes and enjoyed the large mixing areas as well as her paints. Both these were done on 14" x 11"  Arches water colour paper.

This SMA street scene below was more challenging than it looks. Having to get perspective right, plaster buildings that make sense, crooked light posts, multiple sized flags and shadows were really challenging! Donna's demo's, instruction and encouragement made this class a really enjoyable learning experience. I would really recommend taking her class regardless of what your level of painting is, so much to learn and do. I really loved the local scenes and references. Donna also supplied a piece of local Mexican water colour paper which was different to paint on.

Paintings done by the class. You can see the variety of colours, sizes and centre of interest everyone chose. Amazing how different each painting is.

Donna Dickson water colour workshop - Day 1 and 2

Our kids gave me a coupon for a one day painting class in San Miguel de Allende for my birthday. That class was cancelled but I came upon a 3 day workshop by Donna Dickson that was starting a couple days after our arrival...perfect. What really intrigued me is that she was going to use a local scene or two in San Miguel de Allende (SMA) and Puerto Vallarta Mexico. I was in the class with 5 other artists and really enjoyed my time with them and under Donna's friendly and encouraging style of teaching. Donna did demo's as we gathered around her watching her mix and apply the water colours. Her encouragement in asking questions and explanations was helpful to all the different learning levels.

This was the first painting we did to put down a wash. Donna also teaches in Puerto Vallarta and all the references were hers. I had to borrow a palette and paints from Donna and brought a couple of brushes with me. The flat brush was actually an acrylic brush so the top colour did not blend as I was trying to start with the sky blending the colours down.

This is the second painting, but we did the sky first and let it completely dry. We painted a wide variety of strokes and mixed colours. I found it a bit challenging using a palette where I was unsure of what the colours were and it made for a lot of surprise mixing.

This was the third painting we did, again using local photos Donna took. I loved painting the mottled background. The photos below are the artists learning paintings.

Dancing Shadows

I loved all the flowers that grew in random places in Mexico. They popped over the stucco fences seemingly warming in the sun. The shadows were forever changing in the slight breeze.








"Dancing Shadows"
20" x 16" Oil on canvas
#20028517

Hiking Back To Town

"Hiking Back To Town"

18" X 22" Oil on board

#20017417

The reference for this painting was after a hike through El Charco in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico taken on our way out. The sky was lit up and the house blended right into the coloured grasses, it was spectacular.

Casa Corazon

I painted this from a photo I took in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico in the historical center or centro of town. The walls are very colourful and have certain colours that are used in the historical centro, making it very appealing to the eye and textural. I loved walking around with my camera close at hand, there is just something about doors that is intriguing! 

"Casa Corazon"

12" x 12" Oil on board

#20006217

Isabel's thank you gift

This is a painting of the building that Leslie and Carl are renting (top floor). I try to bring a frame to places we go/rent in case I have the time to paint a small picture to leave as a thank you gift.

I had made a sketch from the end of the pool in my sketch book and enjoyed it enough to do another one using real water colour paper and my water colour pencils to paint the same picture. Her building is painted the red/orange and yellow.

Isobel's family owns the building and she looks after the business and lives on the second floor. She was both gracious and generous allowing us to stay with Leslie and Carl from Dec 25 until Dec 30. She was happy with her gift and enjoyed showing it to her family members arriving for New Years.

Forgotten San Miguel de Allende sketches

Now back from our holidays, I was going through my sketch book and thought I would post sketches that I did on the holiday but did not put on my blog. As I make a book at the end of the year of my blog posts, I wanted to add these.

Above - Guanajuato
Flower and butterfly - drawn during flight

Above - Nov 11 - Remembrance Day

San Miguel de Allende - parting gift

Something I started years ago, was to leave a painting or card for my hosts that I painted while I was visiting or renting. I sat on the curb down and across from our rental house on San Rafael Norte and painted this water colour. The sidewalks are so narrow, I had to turn my feet sideways to make room to let the cars pass. I was certainly getting interesting looks as it seemed everyone was driving home from work! We packed a mat and metal frame from home but the glass broke in our travels, hopefully the owners can get another one cut.

"San Rafael Norte 6"
Water colour, ink, matted and framed
#20112216

Sketching another roof terrace view

This is another sketch done from our roof top terrace of San Miguel de Allende. There is such a fabulous view and the architecture is so varied that I could probably draw a different point of view daily. We haven't been able to spend as much time as we would like due to the unseasonably cool and windy weather this month. I wish our holiday was longer!

Centre Square (Jardin) sketch

I was sitting behind this young woman deciding what to sketch. Her braided hair caught my eye and the rest was built after that. The upper part of the Parroquia was out of my view sitting under the "marshmallow" shaped trees of the Jardin (main center). I was happy she sat long enough to get her likeness. I am getting braver using an ink pen (thanks Rylla and Brian) instead of pencil.

Sketching - Back yard thoughts

This urban sketch included thoughts of my time here in San Miguel de Allende, particularly with the view from the ground floor patio of the house we are renting. We have thoroughly enjoyed fresh limes from the tree in the backyard, thankfully the umbrella stops them from landing on us. The amount of stairs inside this house and to get to the roof top terrace. The vast amount of potted plants surrounding the patio and terrace are lovely.

Water colour and ink in my regular 80lb sketch book.

Roof top patio view of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

We finally had a nice day so I went up to the roof top patio and sketched the view behind us of the buildings. There is such a variety of shapes and building materials that made it really interesting. I am getting bolder using a black ink pen without any pencil.

The second sketch was done of the view to the front of the house of San Miguel de Allende while Brian read the book he wrote "How Hammershod Got His Name" aloud to us. I found it alot easier to sketch this urban scene while Brian read and kept that side of my brain occupied. Brian and Rylla left San Miguel de Allende and are now home in Portland Oregon. I enjoyed every chapter of his book and was happy we were able to finish it before they left. I do hope he looks into publishing it!

Outing with San Miguel de Allende Urban Sketchers

I was lucky enough to join this group for another afternoon of urban sketchiing. We met at Calle San Grabriel #1, Calonia El Obraje Azotea for lunch on the second floor and then sketching. I went up to the roof top patio and didn't leave to go down for lunch. I enjoyed a cold beer and the view. I sketched in ink (no pencil) and then used my water colour pencils on regular 80 lb sketch book paper. The colours did not blend and the paper wrinkled but I was happy with the end result and a wonderful afternoon!!

This is the second sketch I did through a corner opening of the azotea. I did not have time to paint this but did have time to have another cold cervesa!

Sketching while being read aloud to

The first sketch is of our rented outdoor ground level patio. It is a view of the wall with the wide variety of planted pots and vines, While Brian was reading aloud "How Hammershod Got His Name" I sketched and Rylla coloured in her bird colouring book. It is amazing how well you can pay attention when your hands are busy.

The next morning Gord and I went to pickleball. In between games I sketched some of the moving players. It was interested as they were continuously moving. I don't think any of them would recognize themselves.

Susan Dorf workshop

I enjoyed a day of learning and sharing at a workshop in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico taught by Susan Dorf. The one day workshop was called the "Artist's Journal Workshop 1". Michelle and I enjoyed the class with 9 other participants, a very full class. Susan had said that she was not going to critique anyone's work and appreciated if all artist's would refrain as well. It made for a quiet class but allowed less of the inner critic's voice. I wish this class had been offered when we first arrived so I could of started a journal of this holiday. Instead of dragging my painting materials on my next holiday I will take a sketch book, water colours and pens. I learned a lot and as always, just need to "do it".  Below are the exercises in my sketch book. Check out Susan's website and art at http://www.susandorf.com

Afternoon Walk in San Miguel

"Afternoon Walk"

9" x 12" oil on canvas paper
A framed thank you gift

This is a typical street in the historical part of San Miguel de Allende. The roads and sidewalks are very narrow. A lot of the front house walls actually open into large, beautiful courtyards and garage pads. It took me a little while to figure it out as the homes seemed to have trees coming out of the roof tops. There are also a lot of beautiful roof top patios.

I left this painting in our condo suite for Colleen (the owner) as a thank you gift. We became wonderful friends and enjoyed a wide variety of sights, entertainment, laughter and travelling together. The colours are inside and on the outside of her building. The three of us had gone for a day trip to Guanajuato where I had purchased 2 "worm wood" frames to use as gifts here in Mexico. I would of loved to bring a dozen home...just have to visit and go shopping here again!