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.

Sketch book travels SMA 1

Gord and I traveled to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico for our 4th visit. As usual I passed the time on the plane doodling in my sketchbook and gluing in things that spoke to me. There are always magazines, advertising and brochures in the airports that I peruse as well when waiting. Sketching on the little airplane tray, especially when I add watercolour becomes very tight and usually creates a little interest from the people that are in view of me. I figure it helps them pass the time as well.

Finished Sketch Book

 I finally finished the sketch book that I have been hauling around with me. I just had foot surgery so a lot of the sketches were done while waiting in doctor's offices or labs. I am especially happy to start a new one as the old one was thin paper and if I used water colour it all curled up and I could not blend any of the colours. When I was in Mexico I was shown how to break water colour paper up and put a plastic cover and round bindings on it so I have no excuses now. I made 3 small ones so it would not take me forever to fill one and I could easily carry it with me...my Mexican souveniers.

 These sketches were done while travelling in the car from Sicamous B.C. to Calgary Alberta through the Rocky Mountains. Hard to sketch in the moving car but when you are not worried about the end result, you really look at the quickly passing scenery.

Holiday sketches

I did not realize that I had not posted this one, it went into the "Draft", so I am going a little back in time with this one.

We are now in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico and enjoying all the art and culture as well as a very physical walking holiday. Our friends from Portland Oregon (Rylla and Brian) have joined us. Brian has written and wonderful book called "How Hammershod Got His Name" and is orally reading 3 chapters a day (more if we can convince him to). I am really enjoying this story that he wrote for his nephews and nieces. It reminds me of reading the Harry Potter series to my kids.

While Brian is reading, I have been sketching in my book of what is in front of me (no thinking required while I am listening). The very bottom sketch was done of the glass coffee table in front of me while Brian read aloud. The top two sketches were done on site (1. Guanajuato and 2. my suitcase while we waiting to board the bus from Guanajuato to San Miguel de Allende).

More holiday sketches in San Miguel de Allende

On November 11 I sat on a park bench sketching and thinking about what November 11 means to me...the pictures, documentaries and movies about the real people that have and are fighting in wars. Every family has been touched by war. I used water colour pencils and ink in this one.

These two sketches above were done after a hike through a small Mexican village. The goats were in a brick barn and were extending their necks to get a good look at us as we went by. One fellow hiker made a "baaa" sound and the goats all answered back. The second sketch is of a plant that was growing on the power lines and on trees all over the place. They looked like Christmas ornaments to me but by the shear numbers of them they must be very invasive.

We saw these two types of cactus after hiking around the "de un jardin botanico" called El Charco del Ingenio on the outskirts of San Miguel de Allende. The gardens and multiple paths were beautiful as was the view of the city below.

Sketch book holiday

This sketch is of a poster in the front room of the house we are renting in San Miguel de Allende of the botanical gardens we are planning to go to.

I did this sketch from a photo after a day of hiking near San Miguel with a group that meets and hikes weekly.

Sketch from a Mexican magazine advertisement

Holiday sketches 2

These sketches were done while sitting and looking down below off the deck, from the front room into the kitchen and of flowers found around town (idea wise, not visually). I am trying to do a sketch a day (or zentangle) while we are on holidays. This sketch book is just regular paper so I can't mix, blend or bleed out my water colours on the paper. The coloured areas feel more like a colouring book than actually painting. The bottom two were done while Brian was reading aloud 3 more chapters of the children's book "How Hammershod Got His Name" that he wrote.

Travelling with a sketch book

We are on a holiday and instead of filling my suitcase with oil paints, palette, easel etc. I decided I would just take two sketch books, water colour paper, water colour paint and pencils and a couple sketching pens. I really enjoyed passing the time doing designs (zentangle) on the flight tray and while waiting in the airports and bus terminal. My plan was to do one page per day on my holiday. Below are some of the pages on the flights and first couple of days of travelling.

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

Rest of Melaque Mexico sketchbooks photos

This is the wonderful homemade sketch book I received from Debbie. I kept it unused as it was to pretty and precious. It was time to enjoy the beautiful 5" x 5 1/2" blank pages of water colour paper on Gord and my Melaque, Mexico holiday...1 page for each day. This is the rest of the sketch paintings in water colour. I have enough unpainted pages left for another holiday!

More water colour sketches around Melaque, Mexico

 

These sketches were done in the gift of a 5" x 5 1/2" handmade sketch book from my friend Deb. This wild door made me think of the Tree of Life. I loved the ornate metal and the wild wall colours. Don't you just want to go in and explore more?

As it was not prime season yet, the umbrella vendors had spare ones set up without the chairs and I loved their dancing reflections.

Water colour sketches around Melaque, Mexico

 This summer Deb had made me a small travel water colour sketch book (5" x 5 1/2"). I had been taking it with me through out the summer, but thought it was to beautiful to use. I finally started on the first page and really enjoyed painting in it on this trip. I tried to paint a page a day but will use photos to finish the last couple. There is still enough pages for 1 more trip (thanks again Deb).

The first sunset was spectacular and the colours were vivid...perfect for my tastes! It was interesting painting in such a moist climate.

This beach was tucked away, we pretty much had it to ourselves. The water felt calm and serene.