No Plein air this week and a new studio Class Nov 27 2011

"Baskets and Flowers for Sale "15 x 11"  watercolor  This was another of the old vendors on the streets that I love to paint so much. She was just down the street from the last one on Aldama. Starting next week a new class will be added on Friday afternoon. 'DRAWING JUST FOR FUN' It will be 1:30 til 3:30pm to start with. In this class we can explore different techniques in drawing, pencil, pen and ink charcoal, adding w.c. to pen and ink etc. We'll work from still life, sometimes drawing in the jardin and also in the courtyard , tackling nature , birds and animals. From exploring composition and line and texture we'll have lots of opportunities to play. There won't be a plein air Monday afternoon class as everyone is away this week.

A Rooster for Thanksgiving? and a few new colorful pieces. Nov.19th 2011

'Rooster in the Barn'  watercolor  15 "x 11" SOLD  This guy is pretty happy with his domain, so far he's the top banana!

"Flowers on Aldama"  watercolor 11" x 15" Who couldn't stop to admire all that beautiful color? The flower sellers are usually here on this street or just around the corner when it gets too sunny in the afternoon.

"Morning Tasks" oil on panel  8" x 10" SOLD  It's amazing how often the people going by wear  perfect colors for the scene they are passing through! This lady in Neutla blew me away! Happy painting this week end Donna

Art classes; new hours in the afternoon and new paintings Nov. 19 2011

For the cool months I've switched the watercolor classes and the oils to the afternoon. So for the next couple of months it will be- Tues. and Thurs. 1:30 to 4:30pm in studio.

Here's Carolyn out in the countryside 2 weeks ago.A beautiful panorama in front of her.

The studio is much warmer in the afternoon and so more comfortable for painting!
Plein air has been in the afternoon for awhile now.  We still meet at the Gallery at 2:15 pm to go out on location from there.
This week Nov 21st, we will revisit the site of 2 weeks ago near San Miguel Viejo  and paint 'the old hacienda' this time. They usually have laundry hung up to dry on Mondays......should be quite colorful. I don't know how old the hacienda is but looks to be quite old and still a working ranch.

'Evening Rio Laja' oil on panel  8 x 10"    By the time we finished painting last time, evening had fallen . A perfect ending to a perfect afternoon of plein air painting. No wonder it's so popular!

'Sunlit Interior' oil on panel  8" x 10" Instead of going out on location last Monday we painted in the courtyard at the gallery, watching the changing patterns of light and shade which the transparent rooftop created.A challenge to keep to the original shapes of the darks and lights that you saw to begin with.That's where the value of a black and white thumbnail sketch comes in handy. Donna

Next Plein Air Monday Nov.7th 2011 2:15 pm San Miguel Viejo Area

Yvonne caught this picture of a friendly local guy coming by to check us out.  Tom was trying to concentrate on his painting. Meet at the gallery upstairs 2:15 pm Monday ,Nov 7th 2011. Leaving by car at 2:30 sharp. We'll be going back to the area of San Miguel Viejo just out of town, but to a new area we haven't painted yet.We'll get those greens right with lots of practice! Last week there was sooo much yellow in those greens.

From last week's plein air group - Les , Tom, Yvonne and Karen. In the distance you can just make out the cows on their way.

And here come the cows !

Upcoming Plein air Monday afternoon Oct 31st 2011

Some pro's painting at San Miguel Viejo last Monday. It was a bit breezy but fun.

Gail up on the higher slope, Karen, Donna and Yvonne.
We'll meet at the Gallery at 2:15pm Monday to go out to the same area, near San Miguel Viejo. This time we'll be painting the view through the trees. The corn fields are turning a beautiful  golden color.Hope you can make it, Donna

Some New Plein Air Paintings from the Countryside OCT 26 2011

'Casa en El Campo'  Watercolor  11 X 15 "

We met the folks that live in this place while we were painting one day in Potrero. A very friendly family that invited us to a corn roast on their Milpas.What fun!

   

'Path near the Church', San Miguel Viejo oil  8 x 10"

'Off to another Pasture' watercolor 11 x 15'' 
It was fun painting the sun and shade in this one. We're finding all kinds of interesting people tending horses, cows, sheep and goats .They pass through a little amazed to find someone painting in their midst. Cows definitely have the right of way on the back roads.You have to keep your camera handy at all times.

Plein air Monday at 2:30 pm Oct. 24th 2011

Our Monday plein air class will now be in the afternoon as the mornings are chillier altho' not bad, the afternoons are definitely warmer and pleasant for painting. Monday we'll be going back to San Miguel Viejo but not to the church site this time. There is another location out there that will be fun to paint along the edge of the presa.When the water levels are higher it is a lake,but at the moment it is now fields of corn with a fringe of trees for shade.It's a  beautiful pastoral setting. Time to work on those subtle shades of green.
Remember to bring a hat, drinking water, perhaps a snack, an apple or trail bar to keep up your energy.
White is not a color that you should wear plein air painting. First of all you get reflections of light bouncing onto your painting from your shirt. Secondly too hard to keep clean! Just wear something semi neutral and bring a smock or apron. Paper nappies are handy and a grocery bag for your garbage.Only bring what you'll need for the afternoon of painting and leave the kitchen sink at home! :-) 
Meet at the gallery about 2:15pm  We'll be sharing a ride. Please let me know if you're coming. Donna

The presa is very low at this time. What would be lake is now fields of corn and other crops. In the  photo below you can see the higher  water levels.

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Looking across from San Miguel Viejo towards Los Frailes