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.

Travel Sketching - SMA to Mexico City to Calgary

Our next adventure was to travel from San Miguel de Allende (SMA) by bus to Mexico City for our flight back home to Calgary. The bus ride was 3 1/2 hours long. As I get car sick I could only enjoy the view and take a few photos. I tried to sketch the back of the seats ahead but that was all I could do.

We took a cab from the Norte bus terminal to the International Airport then had a few hours wait before our flight. The airport had the wonderful sculptures of Rodrigo De la Sierra. They make you smile looking at them.














On our flight to Calgary, I sketched the views from the bus based on photos. It is quite interesting to sketch from the middle seat in cramped quarters. The entertainment screen did not work so I was happy to have something to pass some of the 4 1/2 hour flight.

Drawn in one continuous line.

Travel sketching - San Miguel de Allende (2)

I was lucky enough to join Colleen in her studio class with Ernesto Folch. Everyone was working on their own individual pieces (mostly abstract) in acrylic. It was a real treat to be a "fly on the wall" and hear the teaching and watch everyone work. One artist even stood on a stool to paint. I brought my water colours and worked on my journal.

A place not to be missed in SMA is the Aurora Fabrica, an old textile mill that is now a very large art gallery with a lot of studios, in fact to much to see in one day. The work is varied with textile, paintings, sculpture etc. Some are galleries as well as working studios. Two of my favorite Mexican artists are Juan Diaz Durian and Juan Zaragoza.

The trouble with sketching people is that they move to much or leave altogether! This was the case while we were waiting for our breakfast in this tiny restaurant. Unfortunately pencil sketches do not show up well on this cream coloured paper when photographed.

Travel Sketching - San Miguel de Allende (1)

We traveled by bus from Rincon de Guayabitos to Puerto Vallarta. We then took an Interjet flight to Leon and finally a shuttle (cab) to our friend Colleen's in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico on Christmas Eve. We arrived to find Colleen busy making a late pasta supper complete with wine! Fireworks randomly going off kept us on our toes while we happily caught up.

We enjoyed walking around the city on Christmas Day and marveled at the huge number of people around the main square compared to a holiday we had there last November. The second sketch is of the view on our way to the main square. I found it inspiring every time I came around the corner.

Travel Sketches in Rincon de Guayabitos, Mexico

 While waiting for our bus in Melaque to go to Rincon de Guayabitos I took out my trusty travel sketch book and worked on what I was looking at in the room. I tried not to pay to much attention to the person across from me as whenever I looked at her, she looked back. The top drawing is done with an ink pen only (no chance to erase).

The sketch on the right in done in ink pen and then watercolour added to it. Some of the homes are painted very brightly and seem to layer up on each other all the way up the hill. The view is from one of the decks in Gord's sister Leslie and Carl's winter hideaway in Rincon de Guayabitos.

Mexico travel sketches - Melaque

 These are some of the travel sketches while we were in Melaque Mexico visiting with Ken and Marg. The first is a sketch that I did in a small format to work out a larger one I was going to give as a thank you gift (see previous post).

The middle sketch is of a pickle ball tournament we were in (our first). As usual the players were gracious and inclusive. We had a great time especially as Gord and his partner came in first for the men. It was a fun tournament and the prize (besides bragging rights) was a jar of pickled asparagus! 

 The third sketch is of a beautiful beach Ken and Marg took us to (Tenacatita). I had to correct the spelling on my page. It was stunning, calm and great for snorkeling.