Galeria Amiga is opening a show tomorrow of work produced in art classes at the CENAC (The Center for Arts and Culture in San Patricio). There have been paper mache, acrylic, oil, paper collage and other classes with art produced there. I will have the 3 paintings below in this show. Show your support for these growing artists and enjoy seeing what you can produce by taking a class next year.

The fourth day started the same, picking out a photo, this time of a market scene or a scene with one or multiple people in it. Efren also offered out sketches of market scenes so there was no colour reference. Again with the idea of building on the skills from the previous three days, I chose a sketch rather than a photo. After a coffee, toast and fruit, Efren again started with a demo with one of his sketches. He drew then blocked in the colour in a market scene. It is really fascinating to watch how quickly and with such ease that he can accomplish this. We then went to do the same thing from our chosen reference. I chose a market scene with people, buildings, awnings and plants so I could practice and learn from all of them.
If you get a chance to take a class/course from Efren, I would highly recommend it. I am putting my name down for a watercolour class next year, that should be a another real challenge!  https://www.artinmexico.com/artists/   https://sic.gob.mx/ficha.php?table=galeria&table_id=56   ​https://www.facebook.com/artefrengonzalez/?locale=es_LA

Top left and middle: 2 of Efren's sketches. Top right: Efren's demo painting drawn and blocked in. Bottom left: Efren's demo  Bottom right: My painting as Efren is critiquing it only making the crosses bigger this time and adding the light under the table. While the critique is going on, we are enjoying  tequila or a glass of red wine. Lovely way to relax and end each day. I went home with 2 wet paintings, one in my front bike basket (resting on my arms) and the other in my left hand and biked home at lunch over cobblestones, paved and dirt roads. I did the same at the end of the day with day 3 and 4 paintings. Happily the paintings and I made it home safe and sound.

"El Paseo Del Domingo"
20" x 16", Oil on canvas   #20029224

Day 3's challenge was boats with photos of single boats and multiple boats. Again to challenge myself, three boats on the edge of a shoreline is the photo I chose (top left). Efren did a demo to begin the day and explained how to block in the boats. Each day of his class is building on the skills from the day before.
It took me lines and lines in diluted paint to get the boat shapes correct. I had to take a break from the boats so worked on the background then came back to block in the darks and first colour layer on the boats. Top right: my painting in progress. Bottom left: further along, still working on the water shadows (very strange colouring). Bottom right: Efren critiquing my painting and adding stronger highlights to the top of the boat. What a difference his final touches make! 
https://www.artinmexico.com/artists/  https://sic.gob.mx/ficha.php?table=galeria&table_id=56   ​https://www.facebook.com/artefrengonzalez/?locale=es_LA

"Tres Amigos"
18" x 23", Oil on canvas   #20027234

Again, we came in to a table of photographs, still life of florals in vases, clay pots, green peppers or onions. I figured as this was a learning class, I should choose something that I had no idea how to paint, curvy peppers it was! What a challenge!!! 
Again Efren did a demo to get us started with the drawing in thinned oil paint, then blocked in the darks. Off we started. Another demo on blocking in the first layer, more painting time.... Working on a different photo each and not getting up for supplies really intensified our focus. 
When Efren came around, he pointed out that I had to darken the shadowed areas further and pay less attention to all the shapes in the shadows. In the critique he added a few brighter highlights on my highlights.

Top left: Efren's demo, drawing done, now adding colour. Top middle: first round of colour in. Top right: Efren critiquing  a floral still life. Bottom left: My painting in progress with the photo above. Bottom middle: Efren critiquing and adding stronger highlights (notice the orientation is different, probably how he took the photo). Bottom middle: the photo in the orientation that I painted it. I had taped it to cut off what I did not want.  
​https://www.artinmexico.com/artists/   https://sic.gob.mx/ficha.php?table=galeria&table_id=56   ​https://www.facebook.com/artefrengonzalez/?locale=es_LA

"Title"
20" x 16", Oil on canvas

On this year's "To Do" list was to take a live art class. My Mom gave me some money for Christmas and Efren's class was listed at Galeria Amiga in CENAC. Quite a few of the Saturday en plein air artists were taking the class and highly recommended it. The timing was perfect!
I wish I took a photo of the set up. Each artist had a chair, easel, palette on a low plastic table, 2 or 3 small brushes, Liquin, thinner and 4 colours of oil paint - cadmium yellow, red, Prussian blue, ultramarine blue plus white, everything was supplied. On a table were landscape photos of which we were to choose one, everyone was different. Efren did a demo of how to draw with paint on the canvas and block in the darks. We were handed terra cotta coloured canvases, 18" x 14"!!!! The largest brush given was a 1/2"!
His family helped and walked around refilling anything we were getting low of, usually before we asked, leaving all the time to paint, paint, and paint. Next he showed how he covers the canvas with the first layer, again we are painting our own. Lunch and back to painting until around 3pm. He walked around, commented, explained or showed on the artist's canvas. At 3pm we all handed over our canvases and then he put them up, critiqued and added what was needed, certainly a huge learning tool. While he critiqued, we were offered a shot of tequila to sip on or a glass of wine. We went home exhilarated and exhausted. I had never attended a workshop where that level of work was produced!

Top right: Efren with his painting set up. He sat on a very short chair and lifted his easel up and down. He painted it up so we could see, then lowered it to have a look himself. His palette was also up high so everyone could see his colour mixing.  Top middle: blocked in and starting with colour. Top right: everything with colour. Middle left: Efren's finished demo painting. Middle: My painting before he shortened the fence post shadows and added tire marks in the road. Middle right and bottom: the class' work after Efren's critique.
https://www.artinmexico.com/artists/   https://sic.gob.mx/ficha.php?table=galeria&table_id=56   ​https://www.facebook.com/artefrengonzalez/?locale=es_LA

"The Scenic Route"
18" x 14" Oil on canvas, #20021204

Update: Thank you to Amy and Doreen for purchasing my two donated paintings. Amy bought the bottom street scene at the "Buy Now" price. Doreen purchased the top one through the bidding system. A huge thank you for supporting CENAC and artists!
Original Post: Each year in February, the Center for Arts and Culture in Melaque Mexico has The Tiny Canvas Auction so the children can have art time, supplies and instruction in the summer and to keep up with repairs on the building itself. The paintings are small and are bid on with a minimum bid price. It is up to the artist to paint in any subject using whatever medium they want, the canvas is supplied. Below is my fun little "A Taste Of Melaque" and "Dia de Mercado", both 5" x 5" acrylic paintings. All the paintings are all small so they can sit on a window sill, wall or tuck in a suitcase. 
Tiny Canvas show and bidding begin February 8 - 11, 15 - 18 (10am-2pm) with final bid ending at 1:30 on February 18. 
The Galeria Amigas has a wonderful array of art, jewelry, hand made clothing, aprons and bags, sculpture, cards and other treasures. I also have a small selection of my cards for sale there.

Once again, I decided to join @OpusArtSupply February challenge #opusdailypractice to make art each day. As we are travelling, I used my small sketchbook (6"x4" each side) for this challenge. Opus put a suggested word for the day and you could use it or do something else. I set up each side of my book with the date and prompt and then chose which one I felt like doing each day. We were prompted to post on Instagram #Opusdailychallenge Most of the time, I found if I just drew something in this thin papered book that I was happy with that. Painting or adding colour was a bonus and could be played with later. 

Prompts: Top left: Day 1 "Experiment" (squished plants to see if I could get colour), Middle and Top Right: Day 2 "Layers" A layered page that opens up of found papers. Lower left: "Explore" Linda asking permission to paint this juice vendor's business on our plein air Saturdays. Middle: Day 3 "Monochrome" includes a found feather. Bottom right: Day 5 "Sparks" - my name for a little hummingbird that rests on the electrical wires outside our balcony

Top left: Day 6 "Hand", Middle: Day 7 "Play" pickleball court, racquet and ball. Top right: Day 8 "Juxtapose" the white birds against the blue sky and water. Day 9 "Reflect" the beautiful colours of a sunrise. Day 10 "Dragon" summer dragon boat paddling in the Shuswap. Day 11 "Fluid" my sweating glass (drawn with a black Elegant Writer)

Top left: Day 12 "Fusion" watercolour, Middle: Day 13 "Vessel" ink, scorpions in tequila Right: Day 14 "Bond", dancers from Oaxaca. Bottom left: Day 15 "Fabric" a fabric store's street table.

The Saturday morning plein air group were invited to Amy's. Her neighbours were very accommodating (thank you!) as we over took their grounds. Most of us found a spot in the shade and enjoyed a garden view. It was almost a still life as I decided to paint some of this beautiful and large plant. Right photo is the artists paintings in progress.

"La Guarida de Abel Salgado"
10" x 8" plein air oil on canvas pad   #20014224   Not For Sale Yet

The group was invited onto the Quinta Julia's grounds for a morning of en plein air fun. We had many choices of the buildings, plants, gardens, upstairs deck of the view below, as well as the street outside the gates. Seven artists were sprinkled around enjoying themselves. Below left is the "works in progress", Right is the view I painted and my painting at the bottom. Had a wonderful time and enjoyed going out for coffee after with 3 other artists.

"Quinta Julia"
8" x 10" plein air oil on canvas pad   #20012224   Not For Sale Yet

El Moyo restaurant set up beach umbrellas and tables for us to use at 8:30a.m.. It is right beside the malecon so the views were varied. I found it hard to settle down and focus on "something" as there was the malecon with a couple of vendors setting up, men fishing from shore and in boats, walkers and even a crocodillo in the canal....so many choices! The light was very overcast and grey to begin with but then the colours started showing themselves.
​
I chose a straight on view with a lone fisherman on the rocks. I started on a bright red canvas I had painted on with left over paint from last year. It was a tough way to start as everything was dull and various shades of gray.  I started trying to chase the light and the canvas was feeling slimy so time to quit. I took a photo and finished it at home. As soon as someone is ready to leave, we take a photo of the works in progress (not designed to be final paintings at this point). 

"Pescador Soltero"
10" x 8", Oil on canvas oil paper, #20004224

We had so much fun and were so inspired by our surroundings and possibilities as well as what the other artists painted the week before, we decided to paint at Las Palmas again (thank you owners of this complex)!! I found a shady spot with a view of the fountain. 13 of us put our unfinished paintings in for a "slap down" photo as one artist had to leave. 

"La Fuente De Villa Palmas"
8" x 10", en plein air (on location) oil on canvas pad  #20002224

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! 

Week 3, 9, 10, 11,   Instead of "Let's Face It 2023", I thought I would try PYHaS 2023. I ended up winning the "Let's Face It 2023" (thanks Kara Bullock!!) so happily worked on both.
We were in Mexico for the first 3 months last year so I worked on both classes in my sketchbook with the few supplies I had on hand. The results I made were interesting compared to the demo and I had to be creative without having the same supplies.
I also watched some of the videos and incorporated bits and pieces into my own work (not posted here). Watching the creative process is so intriguing to me. Again, the course is mine to go back to even when it is over. I would recommend any of the years if you are interested (started in 2017). Right now 2024 is on sale.

Below are the sketchbook results of the demos on this year long online course. I have posted them throughout the year on this blog with write up and instructor's names. They are in the order that I completed them, not in the weekly course order.
I was in Mexico for the first 3 months of the course and worked in my sketchbook with the limited supplies I had. It was interesting and frustrating trying to get similar results. The wonderful thing about this course, I watched the videos (without working on it) and incorporated some of the methods in my own work. This worked well for me as I paint what inspires me and what I see/feel in the world around me.
The great news is I won this course last year (thank you Kara Bullock!!) and it doesn't expire so I can keep going back. Each of these demos is to give you an idea of how the instructor teaches and if it resonates with you and you want to learn more, full courses are on Kara Bullock's website: karabullockart.com I also signed up for the course in 2022 so have that to work on as well. I did not sign up for this year as I have more than enough to work on, but am enticed for next year. I would highly recommend any of the "Let's Face It" years on her website. @karabullockart   @​olga.s.furman

Week 7 was a demo by Angela Kennedy @angelakennedy. Once again, supplies were minimal. I did not have acrylic inks, various pencils, and white conte. I used a 2B pencil and watercolour. The first photo is the demo half way through when Angela decided she wanted to change the hair, what fun following along. Week 8 was a mixed media demo by Holly Beals @hollybeals I used acrylic and mixed papers. I did not have acrylic ink, stencils, mixed textured papers, gloss medium, mat varnish and airbrush medium. This was a fun piece but difficult watching the wonderful effects Holly created in hers.