This competition really made an impression on me, both in learning and admiring. The competition was open to a variety of ages and skills with that. Watching the less skilled competitors really added to the appreciation of how hard this sport is. The amount of hard falls and getting right back up was amazing. The more skilled athletes really made it look easy and fun.  A sun-protective clad volunteer holds up a paddle with the competitor's shirt colour which shows who has the right away but the other 3 competitors in that heat can go as well. Lots of action to watch. The comment was that the water was not co-operating with what the skim boarders would of liked but that was lost on me.

"Skim Boarders 2"
10" x 8" oil on canvas pad, #20031124

Friends and I spent a morning and a good part of the afternoon watching a skim board competition. It was really exciting to watch all levels of abilities compete, 4 at a time within their age, pro or semi-pro groups. It was very inspiring watching them run full tilt into an oncoming wave, throw their boards down and jump on it for either a great ride out and back, a lateral ride with tricks or just plain crashes. They stand and watch and watch for the right wave and moment. A coloured paddle is held up for the competitor in that shirt colour for the right away but anyone goes. Very fun and exciting to watch. The competitors said the water and waves were not optimal so a lot of standing, waiting and watching was done within their timed allotment.  

"Skim Board Competition"
Oil on canvas pad, 8" x 10", #20029124

The Saturday group met in the beautiful gardens at Villas Las Palmas and everyone found something that inspired them. I think at one point there were 18 artists around the grounds. Most were doing water colours or sketchbooks but Amy, Linda and I worked in oil. It was fun when the first person was ready to leave, we did a "slap down" of our works in progress for a photo. We did not catch everyone but had a good representation. We all had so much fun, we are going back next week. A huge thank you to everyone that lives there for opening up their garden, patios, open spaces, decks, roof top and offered us chairs and tables, gracias!

"Villas Las Palmas"
En plein air (on location), 10" x 8", Oil on canvas pad  #20025124

Last year we had a tote that we stored for the winter in Mexico. We had kitchen items, bike items, a few clothes and my oil paints. I had forgotten that I also stuffed in canvas paper (a few sheets were moldy), solvent and oil brushes along with jewelry and sandals. It was like Christmas all over again as I had forgotten what was in it.
My suitcase was filled with my tripod, wooden palette for oil painting, acrylic paints and travel palette as well as my water colour travel palette. I used my oil set up last Saturday with my plein air group and was very happy to have it. Now it is set up in a shady spot on our deck. It is so nice to paint in luscious oil again and with everything set up and handy, it is so easy to get started. It is interesting with the humidity here as the paint reacts very differently.

Above, my oil painting set up (for plein air and on our deck), small travel acrylic paint set with the pigment names on masking tape on the lid, my travel water colour set with the pigment names on the lids (it is to hard to tell what some of the colours are when they are dark). The water colour set will last me the full 3 months. I will leave the oil paint tubes and solvent here again and take everything else home with me when we leave. Oil canvas paper for oil or acrylic, water colour paper, brushes and 2 sketch books round out my supplies. Not much room for clothes!!  Bottom right: my beautiful handmade sketchbook bag, pencil case and carry bag (thank you Sue!!).

.I had enrolled in the weekly "Let's Face It" online course in Kara Bullock Art School for 2022 and 2023. There were enough classes that I have not watched or worked on that I decided that those would be a good focus for inspiration. She offered short, introductory free classes around Christmas so you could see the instructor's method of teaching. I managed to do a couple in oil paint before the offer expired.

Top row: Sarah Sedwick (Left: on easel, Right: in progress, Middle row, left: finished). Middle row right: Kim Van der Hoek, barns (using our B.C. neighbour's barn as inspiration), Bottom row: ​Natasha Ruschka,

Sometimes opportunity is just getting to know the right people! Amy asked 4 of us from our weekly plein air group if we wanted a lesson on values - YES, pick me, pick me!!!!! Amy is what I would call a colourist and sees and paints all the nuances in the scenes in front of her. She does absolutely amazing skies and water as well as great depth through colour.

Amy had a planar apple that she had on a tablecloth, with a cloth behind and lit up from the side. 3 of us had easels and one artist worked in water colour on the kitchen island. Amy had moved all her furniture out to make room for us. I unwisely chose to paint in acrylic which dried to fast to make a "mother colour" and paint in the way she demo'd. Above is the apple that I painted twice  monochromatically. We then moved on to colour. Again I really struggled with my paint drying but her teaching did not go to waste. I had to almost overcompensate and mix a lot of paint! Interesting to notice the light colour difference when I took the photo of the two apple painting at home.

We had wonderful art discussions and sharing of knowledge. Amy is a very good and knowledgeable instructor! We all went home mentally exhausted and thoroughly grateful!! Thank you Amy!!!!. In Melaque the CENAC Galeria Amiga has a show on right now with some of Amy's paintings as well as other artists in our plein air group.

It is interesting trying to photograph my oil paintings in Mexico versus Canada. The sky is such a different colour and intensity; what works at home, gives different results here. These were all taken on our patio in the shade at different times of day! It almost feels like those newspaper squares "Find 6 differences"!

"Three Amigos"
​8" x 10", oil on canvas pad   #20013124

So excited to share my new gift. My friend Sue brought this wonderful art bag, pencil pouch and foldable shopping bag that she made out of perfect material...a print with art supplies, WHOOOO HOOOOO!!!! You can imagine how quickly I discarded my plastic bags and set up my new art bag for my plein air water colour outings. It has 2 outside pockets, inside pockets and zips closed (a must for in a bouncing bike basket!). As you can see, the colours are perfect for Mexico. I am so thrilled and grateful! 
This is second homemade art bag I have received in my art journey from two creative and talented friends, THANK YOU SUE AND RYLLA!! I think of you both every time I use them!

My second outing with the Saturday group was at an open bar on the beach. They were cleaning up from what looked like a wedding and setting up for another! We painted here a couple of times last year and loved the tranquility and the lagoon and ocean views all to ourselves except for a few beach walkers.
This time, the waves were pounding like I have never seen. Peg was standing at a table as the huge waves made it up the beach to her feet. There are 2 more tiers of beach below her. At one point a huge wave thundered on the shore and came way up where we were. I jumped onto a raised platform and skinned my knee in the process. Chairs were knocked over and Peg was hanging on to her table while beach chairs and everything swirled in the waves around us. Needless to say that was the end of our session.
​Another part of the adventure, was a man who said he owned the property wanted us to pay $100 pesos each for "using the tables". We ended up paying $400 for 5 of us as not all of us had money with us. This is common for people renting tables for the day, but we never had to pay before and normally we are the only ones in this open area bar early on Saturday morning. More fun and adventures than we expected!! Four of us celebrated the morning excursion with an iced coffee after.

"Waves Arising"
8" x 10" , en plein air, oil on canvas pad, # 2008124

I am so happy to connect with other artists here and meet up every Saturday morning around different parts of the town. My first one was with 3 other artists in the town square where we sat in various places with different views and interests. When the first person has to leave, we all gather and do a "slap down", (the sound of our sketchbooks hitting the tile floor). The paintings are usually not complete at that point but we share them in a private messenger group for everyone to see. I am enjoying my new (Christmas present) dress and gold water colours (thank you Evan!).

We are fortunate to be in Mexico again for part of this winter. The warmth, friendly people and outdoor active living suits both my husband and I. Looking back on some of the art I did while here last year, brought back so many memories.
It is doing this review that I realized how much art I had produced and so many memories and moments I captured for myself in paint, not just photos or words.

While in Mexico for 3 winter months, I painted weekly with a group of like minded artists at a different location each week. Sometimes our group was big and sometimes just a few of us. I loved it. At the end we had a show in the Galeria Amiga of our en plein air work. I also participated in a month of sketching prompts by Opus Art Supplies for February. After completing the 28 day challenge, I continued on to complete my first 100 day challenge in my sketchbook of small 4" x 4" squares of something in my day. A couple of my gallery paintings were gifted to new home owner friends and one was exchanged for a bedspread and hammock for this year (gracias Cathy y Pedro). Below are a few of my Mexico adventures. 

Thank you for your support in my art adventures!! I wish you many memorable and soul filling activities in 2024!