2013 December another year end.

 

 

       An old Hacienda outside of San Miguel 8" x 10" oil- I'm not sure I have completely finished this yet.

A little tweak more!

                          

My newest student. Juliana at 5 yrs old painting in acrylics -a cat in a flower pot. 
Just goes to show you're never too young or too old to paint. 
Dec 23rd tomorrow - we'll be going back to the hacienda in the morning meeting there at 9:00am Dress warmly if you're going.Take a hot thermos too.! -maybe a hot toddy for this time of year. Happy painting and hope everyone has their Christmas stockings full of paints and brushes! Donna

Dec 16 2013 plein air on Monday

We'll be painting in the Jardin on Monday afternoon. Time 2:30.  Meet up near the bandstand or there abouts. Should be warm and sunny. Don't forget your camera for reference photos.

Fisherman's Beach oil 9 x 12" Tom Dickson

This painting by Tom is from our recent quick trip to Zihuatanejo. We managed to do 2 plein air morning scenes, over the 4 days we were there. Definitely had to work in the mornings as the days were very hot. Just what we were looking for! The fisherman enjoyed us painting their boats and gear, and wanted to make sure we had the right names on the boats. I'll post mine when I get one finished. Lots of interesting venues for painting there. Monday should be fun to see what we'll come up with in an area we have painted a lot. We'll see. Happy painting. Hope Santa brings everyone lots of art supplies.

A new watercolor Dec 3 2013

"Finished Work for the Day" wc.  8. x 8.5, buy it now for $100.

  

These burros commonly haul big bags of soil or firewood from the campo all through the streets of San Miguel. They are really laden down in the morning but as you can see here just the sacks remain now from selling all day. I haven't done a lot of animals so it was a challenge to render the fur and look convincing. Hope you like it.


Next week classes will be switching times to the afternoon at 1pm to 4 pm as it is chilly these days in the mornings. No central heating when its cool very hard to get it warm in the studio. By afternoon the sun has warmed up everything so why struggle! So starting DEC. 11th we'll begin afternoon sessions.
We had no plein air this week as Tom and I have been fighting off sore throats and colds. Hopefully next week we'll be back on track.

Here's Tom and Luc painting last week in the Jardin .

Painting on Montes de Oca -Nov 2013

"Montes de Oca 12" x 9" Oil from plein air.

 Sold

I'm finally getting this one posted, but had a lot of fun with it. I'm working on a couple of other things too. This street is exciting to paint as there are so many choices of views. Tom sold his rendition of this scene, through the Daily Paintworks auction recently. I think I will sell this one through the gallery. So if anyone is interested they can contact me directly.
In other news we will be painting outdoors next Tues.  DEC 3rd -3pm  in the afternoon, instead of our usual Monday. morning. We will be going out to the country to an old hacienda just outside of San Miguel .We haven't painted out there for some time and the water level of the presa will make it entirely different then the last time. Anyone wanting to go, we are meeting at the old train station at 3pm. This is because the mornings have been chilly and foggy until the sun is well up. Let me know if you're going and we can car pool to the site. Hopefully we'll have a good sunny afternoon. You have to sum up the scene fairly quickly as the shadows will be changing getting longer and probably better. happy painting!

At Auction this week, Nopal Cactus at Dawn

"Nopales at Dawn" oil on panel 8"x 8"

This painting is currently on auction on the Daily Paintworks site. If you'd like to bid in this auction click  here

and ... This week our plein air Monday group will be meeting in the Jardin at 9:15. We'll be meeting approximately near the bandstand. Be sure to look around tho' when you get there and see where everyone is gathering. Bring your camera , sketchbooks, view finders and all. This is weather permitting of course. If it looks really overcast and  dull we probably won't be painting. If you have any questions email me : donnaleeartist@yahoo.ca
 here's a photo from on location last Monday-  calle Montes de Oca.

The street was pretty interesting in itself, but then a man with Burros came through with loads of soil and firewood for sale. Never a dull moment! I got some great photos of burros too. So I'll look for you in the Jardin on Monday morning.

Photos from last weeks plein air and new Plein air : Monday on Montes de Oca Nov 18

Here's the subject of last weeks regular plein air class. Monday was a lovely day to be out painting. We had Lorie and Bobbi painting in watercolors and Barbara doing her first plein air in oils. Fun morning. Lots of people to watch coming and going. Lorie, Tom and I chose this area.The vendors are selling hot Tamales.We had to work quickly as they packed up about an hour or so into it. The tamales are sort of light snack or breakfast item so they sell out quickly.

 Look at the great contrast between the orange, red and yellow church against the complementary dazzling blue sky! How could you resist,.. well Barb and Bobbi just had to try it. One thing to keep in mind when painting things like churches is the perspective. The top is getting further away from you- so is diminishing in perspective. Sort of like a rocket ship in shape.

Here's part of our plein air team I haven't signed my plein air yet so I'll add it later to this post.

 Okay this coming Monday we'll be painting on the picturesque street Calle Montes de Oca. This street is so beautiful looking up or looking down over the city. I walk it every day from my house to the gallery and return in the afternoon and have never seen it not look good. Today I was snapping photos walking up ( quite steep) and I encountered a woman coming down doing the same!
So we meet up on Montes de Oca between 9:15 to 9:30 near Garza....Nov.18th
-  translations for street names "Oca" means goose. so roughly Goose Mountain!  "Garza" means Egret.
 See Tom's blog "alotaboutlight" for his take on Mon.'s plein air and view his finished painting.  Donna in San Miguel.

Plein air Monday meet at 9:15am at the gallery

Corner of the Jardin watercolor 12 x 12 in. sold

           This is a quick watercolor sketch from last Mondays plein air. It was a perfect morning for painting. Tomorrow Monday we will be going to the Plaza Civica after meeting at the gallery first. We'll meet at 9:15 am . Make sure you bring your camera, warm clothes in layers as it will warm up as the day progresses. Donna

Plein air in the jardin, Next Monday Nov. 11 2013

Kathryn & I and Susan with watercolors in the Jardin on Nov 4th /13

At the corner of the Jardin with Kathryn and Susan. It was a  fun morning and a perfect day to be out painting, Next week we'll meet at the gallery at 9: 15  #1 San Francisco,  then  head over together to the Plaza Civica and try our hand there. It's been awhile and always fun to revisit again. Weather permitting of course. I have extra portable stools if anyone needs one. Meantime happy painting folks! Donna hasta pronto

Dia de Muertos Nov 2 2013

Here's some selected photos from the Dia del Muertos activities this week in San Miguel. This altar or ofrenda has 1000 origami  hummingbirds made by the local kids at the Library as a fund raiser. It's very colorful and well done.

This little one was taking it all in while her parents y moi took photos

Another amazing altar. They use rice, beans, seeds and flowers to make these beautiful ofrendas.

Present schedule for art classes  Monday plein air ( 9:30 til 12:30) weather permitting we may be in the jardin this Monday.
Wednesday in the studio Watercolors 10 til 1pm
Thurs & Friday in the studio acrylics  and oils
This the basic  schedule.   *   note if you can only come on a Wed. for example ,and you work in oils then we can accommodate you in that case.
Have a great week end. Let me know if you'd like to join our plein air group either oils or watercolors Donna

This is beautiful. They are are set up all over the city. Private homes and street corners and stores.

October is here and some new watercolors and oils

"Beach Camp" watercolor 14" x 18" 
 laundry day at a beach camp outside of Lorteo Baja Cal.

"Breakfast Surprise" 15 x 20 " watercolor
 modified from a photo that a student took in an outdoor cafe - San Miguel- Papaya and limon a great breakfast.

              

                        "Rooftop Cactus" San Miguel- oil 36" x 24"

-   this a more abstract oil.  Just fun working with the shadow shapes.

More students arriving back for the fall. Great to see old and new friends. We haven't been out plein air painting lately as the weather has been rather unpredictable. We'll likely be out again soon. Happy October painting everyone.

September Storms

2013 Sept storms over San Miguel

Stormy eve with just a peek of sun towards the north of San Miguel

Needless to say with the weather being always in a storm or between storms we haven't had much plein air activity lately. Maybe by next week it will clear up. Classes continue in the  studio Wed., Thurs., and Friday mornings. All of the vendors of tourist stuff have vacated downstairs so we are waiting to see who moves in. Meanwhile they are doing extensive renovations. But we are still open for business upstairs even though it looks like the building has been abandoned. take care hope you have great painting weather where ever you are today.

2013 September classes and Patzcuaro trip

 A Hat seller in Patzcuaro He was hanging out in the street called Once (11) patios - lots of Textiles, Pottery, Copper, Jewelry just a ton of crafts being made in this area. it's so interesting to see and paint. We had mostly crummy weather but we did do 2 paintings while there. All the buildings are white with red trim and lower part of walls. And signs must have the first letter of each word Red and the rest in black letters

We made it out to Janitzio Is. and wandered about. We - Mary, Tom and I had a great meal in one of the island restaurants overlooking more islands on Lake Patzcuaro. The Purepecha natives have beautiful hand embroidered clothing they wear. We had just decided on our painting subject when it started pouring buckets. We had a pretty soggy ride back on the ferry.

Here's an example of a typical store, red and white with tile roof tops. This one is selling the best refrescos in town apparently!

In a rare moment of sun this vendor looked good with his orange umbrella. As you can see from the sky it was a short moment of light and shadow.

A scene from Janitzio Island just before it started raining. Lovely scenery for painting.

 Classes continue this week as before on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 10 til 1 pm. Sorry you weren't able to join us in Patzcuaro but we will probably do another trip there.

Tom painting on our first day in Patzcuaro. Just love those tile roofs. Happy September painting everyone.

Rancho del Sol Dorado Tomorrow and Tues. only class next week.

Just another great day in San Miguel

 

We'll be going out to Rancho del sol Dorado tomorrow Sept. 1st Meeting at the gallery at 2:30. Looks like the weather is going to be good . Should be fun painting ranch scenes in the late afternoon light. We had a fine summery day today.
Next week only .....classes in the studio on Tuesday Sept 3rd , only. 10 until 1 pm. All mediums.
 Thursday a small group of us will be going to Patzcuaro for a few days of painting plein air.
 The week following will be business as usual.....Mon.Sept. 9th plein air Wed. Sept 11, wc.'s Thurs.12th & Fri.Sept 13th  oils or acrylics. Happy Painting!

Rancho trip plein air cancelled Aug 26

Nopal in Flower

Plein air at el Rancho del Sol Dorado cancelled today. It would have been a great afternoon and sunset but the weather hasn't aided in our plans today.... Another time . We'll  get there yet.

A painting trip to Patzcuaro is planned for Sept 5th to the 8th. If you would like to join our plein air trip let me know. We have some economical rooms available.  
Happy painting everyone where ever you are! Donna

Plein air on sunday Aug 18th

We got rained out last week, so we're going to try again for Sunday morning....9:30 starting from my place 22 Cuesta de Loreto , on my calle with no name (Sin Nombre) Interior #1
 In other words we are the first house (green)w/cream trim) on a little street coming off Cuesta de Loreto at #22.an orange place on corner. The hillside overlooking all of San Miguel is awesome.

This the start of Cuesta de Loreto where it comes off Salida a Quertero. On the right is a pink stone Capilla or chapel. It is narrow at the entrance but widens out a bit as you go up. See you Sunday

Donna

August update

A neighbor lady passing by my scene

This summer has just been so busy. Many students new and returnees. Our move to a new place in San Miguel has certainly taken up a huge chunk of our time. Just our casa not the gallery.
Monday we painted plein air up on our new hill, painting our neighbors colorful houses and met some of our neighbors. Very nice folks.

And here's the completed painting "Looking up Cuesta de Loreto" 9 x 12" oil

Moi  in front of my painted scene on Loreto

Tom painting the scene  looking down Cuesta de Loreto

The people who walk this street daily are very spry!

A couple of kids curious about us painting their "hood", the funky soup Tee shirt was very cute as were both of them.

This older lady 80 yrs old and her daughter. Thought their house was" feo", ugly , til we came along and thought it was beautiful. What an abstract!- better in life then this photo.

Mary painting the colorful abstract house.

One of the neighbor girls, so sweet.

Here's her sister

And little brother-  all smiles.

Next week plein air on Sunday. We'll be in our neighborhood Cuesta de Loreto but we'll paint from the hillside overlooking Atascadero and the city. We'll meet at our place and walk from their.
 email me or phone for more details if you want to come. ( 9:30 am ) at 22 Cuesta de Loreto Int. #1- grey green colored house with off white trim , take a left at the corner of Cuesta de Loreto at #22 (orange house) the second house in from the corner is ours. Sorry our street has no name ( sin nombre)!  Happy painting everyone-  Donna

Summer Art Classes new schedule and Day 1 Tom's Demo for workshop

"La Entrada Posada Carmina"  watercolor - I've always loved this entrance way to a hotel on Cuna de Allende in San Miguel.....one of my favorites and the first time I've painted it.

Some changes to the summer art classes, we have now added Thurs. to the schedule.
Monday plein air location announced weekly meet on location at 9:30 am
Wednesday  - in the studio WATERCOLORS  - 10 til 1pm
Thursday - in the studio   OILS or ACRYLICS - 10 til  1pm
Friday  -in the studio    OILS or ACRYLICS   -  10 til 1pm
Happy painting.
Tom and I have been leading a plein air workshop this week and due to all the rain we've mostly been in the studio. Tomorrow we plan to be out on location. here's a few pics from Tom's demo.

Tom's demo 1st day with Dan and Mary

Dan and Mary watching intently

Here's the demo start . Painted on a mid grey acrylic ground. He started by filling in the light  shapes with white. The darks were then painted thinly into the mid grey areas, very effectively creating the 3 dimensional aspect of this piece.With this established value pattern you could then start concentrating on the color.
 

Walkway  Janitzio Is. Patzcuaro - here is the demo in color. It's almost finished. There are a couple figures in the center to be developed a little more. You can really see from the intial start how faithful the color is to the original values of the  under painting. This was a great demo to watch and everyone learned so much.
And HERE is the finished painting below. WOW!
"JANITIZIO VENDOR"  9 x 12" oil on panel

2013 JUNE art classes in tte studio

 Some of  my summer students at work in the studio this morning. Anya, Kathy and Emma. A very diverse group from abstract to traditional.

Here's Emma our young student's version of a Panamanian "Mola" She had fun with this one.Great color selection. This is Emma's 3rd summer visit for art classes with me.

 And coming up next week, San Miguel is again launching a First Fri. of the month Art Walk. It will begin on July 5th 4 to 9pm. Hope you can come by for a snack or refreshment and see what we've been doing.