Semana Santa and plein air monday April 1st 2013

Jacaranda en Primavera 10 x 8" oil A rare posting for me my "finished" plein air from last week. Finding more time now as the winter crowd is heading back north again. The trees have been so much fun to paint and seem to be lasting longer,

The Mojigangas , giant paper mache puppets are really popular, This is Semana Santa week end on Saturday. Lots of visitors.

On Sollano just up from Parque Juarez . Lots of possibilities along here and I don't think I've seen this street looking better.

You just might be wondering where we're meeting for plein air this week???     I'll let you know tomorrow am. I promise !! Sollano and Juarez park corner The photo below will show you where.   Take care and be patient. Hasta manana  Donna

Near Juarez park and Sollano a good place to meet for our plein air Mon at 9:15 to 9:30 am Remember hats, camera, water paints and all Hasta manana Donna

Jacaranda on Recreo plein air Mar 25th 2013

A beautiful Jacaranda in bloom on Recreo

 

Hard to beat this! This year the Jacaranda are really blooming.
Here's our challenge for Monday Mar 25th at 9:30 am. This is in the large parking lot (Estacionamente) on Recreo between Correo and Cuadrante. Hope you can make it. This will be fun.
   In other news I'm announcing that the gallery will be closed for about 6 weeks from May 1st to mid June. There will be no classes during this time but the gallery will be open by appointment. I'll announce new classes in June.

Jacarandas in Col. Guadalupe Mar, 18th /13

Saw some great Jacarandas blooming in colonial Guadalupe this morning, very near to El Pato the art supply store on Calle Maragrita Ledesma.
Being as there are several near there, let's meet in front of El Patos at 9:30 am or a bit before then walk from there. There is one on Julian Carrillo just around the corner from Via Organica. There is also one on Colegio Militar at Maria Felix the other direction from El Patos, Near a meat market  so lets check it out from there.  Don't be late as we'll need to walk around. If you do arrive late just check out the adjacent streets I mentioned above and you'll find us. Hope the sun shines on us! This weather has not been great lately.  I'll attach some photos in the morning. Donna

This Monday plein air Mar 11th 2013 9:30

Iglesia San Antonio 12" x 16" oil by Tom Dickson
  This is a painting Tom did 2 weeks ago with another plein air group.

This week we'll meet at the San Antonio Church as our visit there got cancelled due to the cold weather last Friday.  One stalwart from our workshop last week, Ian stayed and did a nice sketch but nearly froze. The rest of us retreated to the studio. Brrr. I doubt we'll have a problem this week as it has warmed up nicely.
Plenty to paint there and lots of room for our group. See you there.
Remember, hat, camera, stool, paints, paper or panel, brushes, pencil and paper for your thumbnail sketch, easel. View finder, solvent for oils , water for w.c.'s, papertowel, plastic bag for trash.  etc. Good idea to have your own check list at the ready. Eezy peezy to forget something. See you at 9:30! No coffee close by so bring it with you if you need a buzz!
Have a great week end. Lots of painting I hope!
Next week we have to find some bloomin' Jacarandas......keep a sharp look out folks They are starting to bloom again. Donna Dickson.

Plein air Mon. Mar 4th 9:30 Oratorio Church

Regular classes begin on Monday the 4th with plein air in front of the Oratorio Church at 9:30 am. Hope it warms up a bit, better dress in layers it's chilly at first. Bring cameras, view finders, hats, and your art materials. Keep it light, you don't need to take your whole studio with you outdoors!
See you there.     Donna
In the studio -Tues 1 to 4 wcs. - Wed. 10 to 1pm wcs. -Thurs & Fri. 10 to 1 pm oils & acrylics.


We had a terrific plein air workshop this week - with a great group of painters and almost perfect weather until the last. Very cool and windy the last couple of days but we found some back up locations to paint with interior views and finished up strong. I'll post some of the wonderful photos of us painting.

back row: Tom Lips,  Leslie Roundstream,  Gail Pendell,  Kathryn Boll,  Mary Li,  Lucie Michel,  Gary Heger,  Donna Dickson,  Tom Dickson,  Eadie Richards,  Ian Carter

     front sitting: Cynthia G. Smith,  Carol O'toole,  Elena Sacal

Our first morning out in front of the famous Parroquia. Tom and I gave a talk about the three variables of color and it must have had some positive effect because our student hues, values and saturations were pretty accurate over the rest of the week!

All intent on their work on Day 1 near the Allende museum.

In the Jardin in the afternoon Gail has more then enough help from her little Mexican friends. they love watching us paint.

Kathryn in front with Carol and Lucie in the area of the inner courtyard, by the gallery. It was a great back up spot for us when the weather took a bad turn.

Up at Cruz del Pueblo we get aerial views of the city . Tom L. and Mary tackled this challenging scene and did very well

 Here's Gary above them doing any interesting old casa with light and shade.

On another level lower, we have Kathryn, Ian working in watercolors with a view of a very artistic doorway.  Carol has another view in acrylics.

Elena always found a little niche to accommodate her. She did a wonderful lyrical scene with the churches of San Miguel dancing across her aerial view!

Eadie found her spot and a wonderful doorway to paint.

Lucie found her stride and did several impressionistic vignettes here in acrylics.

Gretchen and Cynthia found a quiet spot and great yellow house with flowers across from them to paint in watercolors.  Gretchen could only join us for a couple of days this time before heading back to the beach at San Pancho.

Gail tackled the larger aerial view as well in watercolors from her quiet perch.

Donna and Gretchen conferring on colors

At San Miguel Viejo, Les intent on painting. He really got into the distant landscape of misty mountains and harvested fields. He managed to paint 2 wonderful scenes here that morning. Everyone arose to great challenges this week and seemed to enjoy the emphasis on color. Congratulations are in order for everyone. You did very well.