View from Jean's porch

Painting Landscapes

Landscapes are a challenge to paint because you have to deal with a constantly changing subject. I painted this little study on a new friend and fellow artist’s, Jean’s, porch near San Miguel this summer. Jean graciously invited a group of us out to the country to paint and have lunch. What a delightful way to spend the day! I concentrated on simplifying the shapes of the trees and fields to blocks of color and hit the light to lead the eye to the farm house in the distance. Hope you like it!

Meeting in the Jardin

Under the Trees

I had just set up to paint one morning in the Jardin in San Miguel when this couple sat down perfectly framing the fountain. I thought,” I better get them in quick before they move,” but they talked and laughed for two hours. We all had such a nice time and I think this is a happy painting.

San Miguel Summer

San Miguel Summer

I painted in San Miguel for 5 weeks this summer and it was magic! My mother has lived in this charming little town for 25 years so I have been often. San Miguel is an old colonial Mexican town built around a square or Jardin and this church, La Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel, has graced the south side of the Plaza Principal for more than a century. It was built by a self taught Indian architect to replace another church that was built in 1689, so the town has quite a bit of history.

La Parroquia represents the symbol of the town, but contributes not just visually but audibly by the clarity of it’s church bells which toll every hour. The most famous of these is La Luz, cast in 1732, partially with gold donated by the town’s wealthiest families. I would have to say that the charm of the town, for me, lies not just in the beauty of the place, or the friendliness of the Mexican people, but in the sounds of the bells and the music you hear on every corner.

Hope you enjoy this collection of paintings!

Grapes and Oranges

Painting Grapes

Grapes are so much fun to paint! Since they are transparent and filled with liquid, when light shines through them ,the light becomes warmer. Have you ever noticed? These grapes are red so the light on the shadow side of the grapes is orange. Well, of course, the only fruit I could pair them with had to be oranges, right? I could call this little painting ” Study in Orange” but thought it sounded a little pretentious.