Patzcuaro Market scene watercolour

Busy Market -Patzcuaro watercolor 12"  x 16"

                         I hope to do a bunch of these from our trip. So much fun. I haven't worked in   watercolor for a month so I was pleased I remembered a bit. I didn't want to get into a  lot of picky details just loose, with lots of runs.

                 
                            And as promised some hot surfin' dudes
       

View from our Hotel window in Sayulita...you might note the lack of screen. We were assured there were no mosquitos! Sure ! Lol. Temp about 98F humidity about 95%...There was a ceiling fan. :)

 This guy was a great surfer. He made it look so easy.

Just about to go down.

Beach side scene Sayulita

                         hasta luego  Donna  Don't forget classes start again next week.

2013 June Travels Adventures and summer Classes

I've been away travelling in parts of 

Mexcio, and seeing Patzcuaro again after an absence of 26 years! It's a beautiful city and one that needs to be painted en plein air! 

Colorful corner of the Market in Patzcuaro

Approaching Janitzio Is. on Lake Patzcuaro The fisherman put on quite a display with their butterfly nets, we thought they were actually fishing! Lol. But alas you can see them here approaching the boat for a different kind of fish!

Fellow passengers- the musicians and an Island resident. This woman and her family still spoke their Purpepecha language. As for the music, hmmm.. the drums were a bit heavy handed but the guitarist /singer was pretty good.They certainly had a captive audience!

Fellow passengers and musicians on the return trip to Patzcuaro.

Street snacks Patzcuaro

 

One of many great churches to paint in Patzcuaro

Caminando-  walking in town

Summer classes in June 2013

watercolors Wed. Jun 19th 10 am to 1 pm

Oils and Acrylics Fri. Jun 21st 10 am to 1 pm

All are welcome to join me in summer classes every week. I've got some wonderful new photos to work from and if you wish to do some plein air painting in San Miguel let me know.We may go out on Monday am.

It would be terrific to do a plein air painting trip to Patzcuaro, if you've never been it's a must see. Perhaps a late fall plein air trip ?? At that time the weather would be perfect. Let me know if you're interested in the idea. Happy painting meanwhile where ever you are spending this lovely summer. Donna

In Nanaimo - A Workshop with Carol Marine - May 2013

Okay a great leap for me, instead of teaching, I'm stepping back and taking a workshop. What fun! I now know I'm a perpetual student because I just loved it.

Carol Marine is an amazing artist,  great teacher, very funny and her demos are dynamite. What more can you want? Everyone loved it.We had a great group, about 18 of us, from all parts. One woman came from as far away as  Cape Breton in eastern Canada. Mostly though from Vancouver and the Island. I will add some scenes from the workshop and some of Carol's beautiful demos. They are lovely in their simplicity, great composition, color and minimal brushstrokes. All part of the course for the week. She emphasized squinting, squinting and more squinting to see values and colour. Some of the exercises were capturing the image with lesser brushstrokes from 20 down to 10. Challenging but it worked to start seeing things simply.

Here we are with only 1 guy among us. Carol is comfortably posed across us! Lucky she is light as a feather. I'm second from the right front row!

We started out with Carol's favourite apples the first day. On Day 2 orange slices. A white cup and a very tiny eggplant Day 3 . A beautiful smoky blown glass vase and scissors, Day 4. And finally a broken egg in a green glass dish on day 5. Everyone was spellbound with the demos but that didn't rule out many questions and much laughter. One common question asked, What colors did you mix for that color?? To which Carol would inevitably reply "Red, Yellow, blue and a bit of white! In other words almost all colors are degrees of grey.

Vase and scissors this is part of the demo and not quite finished here.

Last demo, an egg and a fork are under way.

Red, yellow, blue and a bit of white written on the back of this Tee 

This photo captures some of the enthusiasm Carol brings to her painting and teaching

Watching one of the daily demos. Some of my efforts below.

My apple studies- Upper left 20 brushstrokes, upper right 15, btm. left 10 strokes, and btm. right no limit. This teaches one to really observe subtle changes in color and value but simplify too.

 

Study in yellow 6 x 6"

Study of a cup and oranges- Day 2 - 6" x 6"

On our last day I tried the egg painting too. It was fun to paint the yolk . All in all it was a challenging week, but  it's good to put yourself into a new venue that helps you to stretch a bit and see things in a different light.  Still lots to learn about still life painting in this style. I'll continue to explore the possibilities.  I would highly recommend Carol's workshop if you get an opportunity to go.

And a final reminder from Carol, almost all mixed colors are greys - in various proportions of red, yellow, blue and maybe a bit of white , depending on the grey. 

Thanks also to the organizer of this great workshop, Mary Stewart in Nanaimo. She did a fabulous job of keeping it all running smoothly. She kept us in daily snacks, coffee and tea throughout the week and saw to it that everyone had everything they needed. Kudos Mary! 
 Happy painting everyone!  I'm back in San Miguel trying out some new still life ideas. It's challenging and I'm still working it through but will post a few things in a bit.  Donna

O Canada and Carol Marine Workshop in Nanaimo B.C. May 2013

Flying over Mt Baker in Washington heading for BC

City of Vancouver rising into view

 Vancouver blooming in May. It was amazing with everything flowering like crazy! You'll note the sunshine too!

The sunshine held for an amazing 11 days with only light rain on the last day.

Waterfront Vancouver- walking along the seawall where there are miles and miles of paths.

Okay time to get prepared for the workshop in Nanaimo with Carol Marine. here are my props I found in Sally Ann's .

A great collection of stuff. Next post  on to Nanaimo across the pond.
 


 

Monday Plein air on Montitlan 21 April 9:30

Desde Arriba" oil plein air - Tom Dickson. This was done a few years ago up in the area we will be painting on Monday. Tom really captured the moody atmosphere of cloud and sun.

Okay our last plein air for a bit. 9:30 on Montitlan just off Cuesta de San Jose. Part of Colonia Balcones. Turn onto Montitlan at the shrine across from the condos called Cruz de San Jose.
We'll be shutting down the gallery (only open by appointment) for the month of May and first half of June. We've had a great winter /spring of teaching and met many new students. Hope every one continues to paint and learn.
Speaking of learning, I 'll be taking a workshop with the very well know and respected Daily Painter Carol Marine while I'm in Canada for a couple of weeks. Eagerly looking forward to that.What fun!! Look for more still lifes next winter as well as working on color and light.
See you all Monday don't forget cameras, view finders, hat and water. No cafes near by so bring a snack. Plein air is hard work! Donna

"Cerca del Mercado" watercolor  This a watercolor I did this week in the studio with my shrinking classes. It was fun to work with this image. Everyone cropped it or did what they wanted with the original photo which I took in front of the San Juan de Dios Church. The ladies were walking back from the near by market place. D

Some new oils for spring in San Miguel April 14th 2013

"Sollano en la Manana " 9 x 12" oil plein air DonnaDickson

This was done on a Monday morning a couple of weeks back. If you follow Tom's blog (there's a link on my home page "Alot about Light" ) You'll note the car wash guy standing behind me rated mine a 10! Tom got a 9.....very funny. I wonder if it had anything to my being 'mujer" with blond hair and blue eyes! Do ya think?? I was sorry he didn't have more cars to wash that morning, as I really didn't need him looking over my shoulder - did my best to block him out.

Jacaranda in Spring Col. Guadalupe. 9 x 12"  oil  plein air Donna Dickson.

Did this one a few weeks back just as the Jacaranda were beginning to fill out. This was done near the art store called El Pato ( the duck??) where most of the artists in town buy their art supplies. Lots of color here.

"Resting awhile" 20 x 24 " oil /canvas Donna Dickson

Finally finished with my lady on the corner. As I got too busy with teaching I had to put her a side for a bit. I was pretty much happy with the painting in the end. I added a few things like the bolsa bag of flowers that she "could" have been carrying and a few other details like changing shadows to bring it all together.


 And for Plein air this Monday April 15 th 3pm. We're going to make it an afternoon scene as that's when the light is best at this location. We'll meet at the corner of Cardo and Prolongacion de Aldama. Some interesting scenes in the area so hope you don't mind the afternoon time slot. I tried to post last evening but the gremlins were playing too many tricks with my computer.
Bring water and sunhat but we'll be in the shade for sure. Happy painting folks! 

Colors and how do you say them ?? April 7 2013

Vermillion Flycatcher ?

I love Pthalocyanine Blue and Green but how do you say it aside from dropping the "P"?? Is that thalo like halo or thalo like shallow??
Quinacridone ?? The "quins"  red or purple, gold, vibrant and transparent. Say it like "Cads" in short form and don't bother with the rest?
Lets not forget Aureolin Yellow, my favorite yellow. Como se dice en ingles?? Like Oreos ??
" Ore.o.len ?  Very few people can get that one ! Maybe Dafodil "daffy" yellow?
Alizarin red how about crimson? Lets keep it simple. Or how about Lizard Red 'cept lizards aren't red!
No problem as I've always liked Purple Finches and they are not purple but a colorful name all the same. Medium red and mousey brown Finch is not too exciting I'll be the first to admit.
Vermillion flycatchers are great but they are more like Cad. red medium. Brilliant against dull cactus greens. Vermillion is definitely catchier, for a flycatcher!  Scarlet Runners , yes the flowers are a gorgeous scarlet!
So in the end my friends I guess it's a bit like you say "toe.mate. oh" and I say " toe. matt. oh!
Or in Mexico it's "Jitomate" (hee toe mat eh)!
Have fun painting with all your wonderful colors , squeeze them out and don't try to pronounce them... adios Donna

  Plein air Monday April 8th - 9:15 ish ....on Aldama near the corner with Cuadrante. We'll take the shady side of street as it's getting hot these days.  It's better from the middle of the road if we could just block off the street! Remember it's a narrow street so don't bring the kitchen sink. Donna

Scarlet runner flowers