My Temporary Studio In Vancouver

This summer, for the first time in years, I rented studio space here in Vancouver. I had a few paintings to finish (mostly Pacific Northwest images), and this seemed the best way to avoid distractions. For the last few years I have used makeshift "studios" at my home. It's been good in many ways, but there is always the distraction element when I am working from home - and never enough room.
I started out by completing those paintings (always a hard task for me; if it were easy, I would finish them all in one go!) It's just so easy now, when I am stuck, to pull out a new canvas, full of possibilities. However, after a week or so of dutifully working on those unfinished ones, I couldn't resist the chance to do a few paintings that were rumbling around in my head - colorful umbrella abstractions from my time in Mexico. In the photos above you can see a few of them in a corner of my 1000 Parker St. studio space.

Saved by Israel's Sharp Eye

 

Looking back at the images I had in my laptop, I came across these pictures of a potentially expensive problem diverted by Israel, who often does projects in my house.
When we were trying to figure out how much water was still in the tank, he noticed a vigourous tree root growing under the tank (which is on the roof). This would have grown quickly, and with the weight of the water, would have caused the tank to crack. He worked it out, and saved me from even more water problems than I already have, with a relatively small storage system... gracias, Israel!

I already miss the color!

 

Back in Vancouver, at midnight, Karen, Mary and I are greeted by my son, Jason, who leads us out to the car - the smell, even though we are still in the airport, is overwhelmingly beautiful - green, sappy, green, fresh,...and very green! It has been raining here - surprise!! and I know that in the morning I will wake up to a very green Vancouver. (The photos above are in my computer, courtesy of Sheila Page and Madeleine Wood - thank you!)

A Proud Artista

 

 

 

 

 

A Beach Paradise

 

Here is a shot of some of the beautiful umbrellas that are set up and maintained by the beach restaurants in La Manzanilla. It is still so quiet here, especially on weekdays...the shot above this is one of our almost deserted beach (in February). The 3 photos above are pictures of Easter Saturday - a very different story! Mexicans from the cities love to spend their Easter week at the beach - and La Manz is a favorite destination.

Blue Pail

 

I enjoy these glimpses of color, texture and line created by the outdoor domestic "still lifes" in La Manzanilla.

Tenacatita Mantel

 

 

This painting - "La Manzanilla Portrait - Jeans" is one of the paintings I just finished. It is on dispaly in the Galeria La Manzanilla, along with the one above, which is called Tenacatita Mantel (tablecloth)

Kitchen

 

The kitchen is great to work in, especially with so much contact with the outside world - I dont miss having a dishwasher.

A peaceful retreat

 

This is the upstairs (palapa level) of my house in La Manzanilla, looking out towards the sea. This is quite a big room, cool because of the palapa (thatched roof) There is a sink in the room, and a bathroom with an outdoor shower, just outside the room. It's pleasant to sit in the hamaca chair, and read.

Enrique and Lyle

 

Jason, Nadia, and Enrique have been here from Vancouver for the week, and this is their last full day at the beach. We've had a lot of wind the last 2 days, and the boogie boards are really popular.
Enrique had a chance to renew his friendship with Lyle, who just moved to the house across the street- how lucky!

 

Noel posing on the log in front of his house...the kids here run up and down the street quite freely; lately, some of them have been showing up at my place asking if they can do a painting. Mostly, they find amusement playing in piles of construction sand, and just anything they can find - but when I offered these guys Lego to play with, they were really hooked!

Abraham and his family

 

This is Abraham and his son, Noel. Abraham (pronounced Abram) is helping Noel with his homework. They do most of these kinds of activities outdoors, since the weather is so good, and natural light so abundant.

 

Here's Dan enjoying another day in Paradise.

 

Not realizing that it was a holiday, we got in to quite a crowded restaurant on the beach.

Now That's Rustic!

 

On the way to Tenacatita, Dan and I stopped when we saw this beautiful woven wood building - what is it about such a simple way of building that is so appealing? I am going to see if I can get a little door made like this for the back yard to disguise the washer, etc.

 

Sculpture in La Manzanilla

 

I'm so glad I held on to the scraps from the hardwood that was used to build a guard rail last year...finally got them out for the kids to build with - this is Gael, one of my neighbors, and his casa. There are a lot of recyclable resources here, and I am so lucky to have a big yard to store them in.

 

This is "Natalie", our server at a restaurant at Cuastacomates, a great little beach village close to Melaque. Natalie (Cesar) was really friendly and helpful, and when I asked if s(he) wanted his picture to be published on my blog, he said "Sure, maybe this will give me my big break in Las Vegas!"

Peligrinacion de los Indios

Rodolfo y Grisenia helped me with the spelling of this religious tradition which is a procession that happens every evening for a week leading up to Dec. 12. As I understand it, the kids walk with their mothers around the village - and they are honoring the virgin Guadelupe. Anyone reading this blog, Please correct me if I got this wrong. You can make comments, you know... and please do! Anyway, it is delightful to see the childeren gathering in their beautiful traditional garments.

 

Contrasts

Walking around this village (and Mexico generally) one is so often struck by the juxtaposition of beautiful tropical flowers, carefully tended by a jardinero - or not - and then, right beside them, the dusty gray looking streets...you have to love it!

 

 

Art Walk, you say?

El Gallo doesn't have to wait for the Art Walk...he walks right in and starts critiquing my paintings. For more information about the first annual Art Walk, on the solstice, Dec. 21, click on visitlamanzanilla.com

I will be participating, and welcome you to come and see all my work - I am so keen, will probably be open for extended hours...and will have art for sale all over my house.

 

El Gallo

He marches into my yard (and house) every morning, crows loudly, and looks around for food. I know, I know, I should put chicken wire over the gate to keep him out, but I hear they eat scorpions, and fertilize the garden... so until he pecks at me or makes some other trouble, he and his family are welcome.

 

 

While Cleve is painting, Susan is pruning the lime tree in the back yard.

 

All in a Sunday's Work in La Manz

 

My neighbor Cleve is getting ready to paint the sailboat that he brought down from Oregon, in the trailer above, on top of a huge load of furniture, and pulled by a green '73 International Travel-All. His wife Susan, says that once again, they looked like the Clampetts arriving into town - where was I with my camera that day?

The "Verduras" Truck

 

I love when this truck comes by, and I am out of vegetables. Especially without a car, it is just so convenient to have vegetables delivered to your door. Today I got potatoes, carrots, papaya, (a really sweet one), beets, cucumber, mandarinas (like tangerines, but tastier), and a chance to take a picture of little Carmen. As you can see, she has great stage presence - maybe she will sing Carmen one day.

Color

 

Waiting for a ride to Melaque with Nancy, I spotted this shot of color, and wanted to get back into painting - right away! Soon, soon....

Classes de Arte

 

Cori and her brothers, and several other kids have been asking when art classes are going to start again - soon, I hope! Maybe we will do them on the teraza of my house this year.

 

Humberto helps me set up the tent

 

When Enrique comes down to visit, we might have a campout in the back yard. The tent is just big enough for 2.

 

 

 

Monte trying out the new kitchen

 

Last year on this blog I started to tell the story of how a chef named David (from the Laughing Oyster restaurant in Powell River, BC) came along just in time to help re-design the kitchen. He is not only a great cook, but also an expert in space design, he said with the modesty of a typical chef. Anyway, the kitchen is almost finished... one day, I will be able to replace the crates with cupboards, David...and the important thing is, it really is a spacious kitchen to work in, for 2 or even 3 people. I love washing the dishes, (no dishwasher here) and being able to call out "buenas dias" to my neighbors walking by.

 

Rodolfo and his family go into the coco business

 

Delicious cocos "tierno" are now available for only 5 pesos, and only a block from my house.

... a photo of the kitchen taken from the side yard, looking through the very open kitchen window. By the time I get back, I am assured, the whole kitchen and a lot of the other areas will b e painted white (just the primer for now)

Packing to return to La Manzanilla

A friend, Kelly, emailed these pictures of the house in La Manzanilla - just before a big storm knocked down the big tree that you can see on the left of the balcony... it's going to be a different scene when I get down there this time. I hear that the fence was damaged, bougainvilleas are wrecked, and there is no electricity, because the mufa (electrical box) was also knocked down...still, I am so looking forward to settling in there again, and this incident can't dampen my spirits - the sun, sand, and sea is a powerful healer. I will post a few other pictures above this one, to show some of the improvements (most of which will not be affected by the falling over tree). Thank goodness it didn't fall towards the house, and that no-one was injured!

 
These are four of the landscapes at Creative Framing, only until Oct. 1. The two on the left are of the Fraser River, which is very close to my home/studio.

One of my new "red series" abstracts

 
My work alternates between representational and abstract - people do say they can always recognize my style, however, so there's always a lot of "me" in the paintings.

A current show of my work

 

I have 10 paintings featured (until Oct. 1) at Creative Framing Galley, 3332 Main Street, Vancouver. Here's a picture of Rob Austin, waiting to greet you, show you my work, and give great advice on framing as well. Scroll up to see some of the work - it includes landscapes and some new abstracts as well.

Domitilo's project

Three generations of one family worked on this project - Domitilo, his father, and his son, as well as other compadres from Los Ingenios, the village across the highway. They obviously enjoyed the work, the planning and the completion of a really solid, well-built "pas a mano" - and for me, watching the teamwork is a lesson in how to live in the moment, having fun and taking pride in one's work.

New pas a mano

The last improvement that was done on my house in Mexico was a guard rail for the teraza - it is an adaptation of an old style of building (antigua, as the Mexicans say) It has given the house more privacy and usable space...

Back to blogging - and a photo of the local hunter-gatherers

After a break from blogging, because of computer and camera problems, I'm back! This picture (above) is of two of my neighbors in La Manzanilla shooting an iguana. If they get him, he will be part of their dinner!

Just across the street from me, a palapa is being built - each piece of palapa (the palm grass) is towed up from below, and then woven into place on the framework of guayabilla (very hard wood) posts.

The Way to Go

Getting a ride down the hill with Paul on his ATV - then later, celebrating with the workmen, as we complete the renovations for now - i didn't think they would like sparkling wine - but it went down all right!

Some of the paintings I have completed in the back yard studio - a refuge while all the work was going on. The top painting - "At the Friday Market" (uncropped - that is the concrete of the background teraza you can see) - is my favorite, and the one that is displayed at Galeria La Manzanilla right now.

Siesta - and then on to the back yard patio pisos

I asked the workers to lay out the pisos (floor tiles) diagonally, as the back patio has no square lines to it - today, I will ask if they can do a mandala in small stones (piedras), just to add an interesting feature in the floor. I think they will enjoy the change - and the chance for some artistic self-expression.
It's interesting to see how they use fishing line to keep the lines of tiles straight, and build up the layer of cement, used as mortar, to level the floor as well. Here in Mexico, there are many uneven surfaces, and I have been teaching the word "trip" to Martin and Raul, as we try to minimize tripping hazards in the house.
As you can see, one of the columns is gone...creating a bigger patio space (or .
another studio) in this complex of home, studio and gallery space.

Another Demolition

There were 2 columns used to hold up the outdoor shower stall - one was blocking the flow of movement on the back patio - and then Paul said it could be removed, so here goes!

Papaya Time!

Los albaniles (the workers) have spotted a ripe papaya plant...time for a break to have a little fun. Manuel climbs a wall, and balances on the 4" wall while holding a home-made papaya-picker, as the papayas are way beyond reach...He uses the picker to wiggle a papaya free...then another, and another...but then he encounters a stubborn one...keeps wiggling it till it falls on his head - papaya shampoo! all this time, I am anxiously watching, worrying that he will fall off the wall, but no-one else seems to worry - after all, he is a Mexican, and they are very skilled at anything involving heights...still, I am relieved when he comes down, and we all share the sweet papaya -valor de la pena!

Jason and Enrique

Finally, the week I've been waiting for - my son and grandson arrive for a one week visit - and what a great time we have had - Enrique is in his element, with the beach, girlfriends, new foods to try (tamales, tacos, and frozen treats), the beach, a lot of alone time and bonding with his Dad and Grandma, creative time, and - did I mention.., the beach??

Primavera

The sign of spring here in la Manzanilla

Returning from my relaxing day at Tenacatita, I found the "new" kitchen well underway...it is being opened up, so that the sink juts out into a bay window, and I can have herbs and beet greens growing in pots at arm's length...nopal fritatas will be delicious from now on - I might never have to go out to a restaurant again! Actually, the workers are joking with me - in Spanish - saying "OK, how many orders of ceviche is that you want?" - and the best thing is... I am getting the jokes!! All this work on the house is definitely improving my Spanish!
In a later post, I will show before and after pictures of the kitchen - and tell the story of how an award-winning chef came to re-design it - stay tuned!

The Seductive Color of Tenacatita

Every so often, my friend Gail invites me to go for an afternoon at Tenacatita for a swim, lunch and some total relaxation. It is lined with very colorful restaurants, the tablecloths glowing like jewels under the palapas. I am so thankful for my digital camera on these afternoons - and one day soon, a whole series of Tenacatita paintings will be unveiled...

Another Art Class for Kids

Last week, Judy volunteered to teach self-portraits. Marco, from La Huerta, helped hold the mirrors so the kids could see their individual characteristics. Later,with his help, many of them continued exploring 3-D paper art (from recyclables). Some of the kids didn't leave till 1:00.

Other adults have promised to come and share their interests with the kids; Rusty (just a big kid himself, says Julie) to share his ideas for wacky characters, scorpions and such...and Katherine, who has a gift for making unique beaded jewelry... and Carol, who gathers humble natural objects like bones, feathers, and coconuts, and transforms them into art objects.

...and we have the Galeria just down the street - we took the kids on a gallery tour - so they could see there are many ways to express yourself. This village is so rich in resources - for artists of all ages.

New Steps

Finally, we can use the front entrance again, as the new steps winding around the column are completed...and the hibiscus is still bravely blooming, putting out new blossoms every day, even though, these days, it is covered in cement dust.

Art Students

Linda and Bruno are two of the students that meet to take art lessons with me in the back yard studio twice a week. Linda and Fred (second picture up) take the bus from Barra de Navidad...Fred actually spent his 82nd birthday painting an acrylic of my house from the front - sitting all morning in the hot sun, painting "en plein air". I plan to spend my 82nd birthday (in a few years) doing just the same!

The New La Manzanilla Towing Service

Hard to believe, but a few days ago, this little (macho) quad was towing Josefina in the full size vehicle through the back streets of La Manzanilla - did you make it to the service station, Paul?

Art From Recyclables

Every Saturday at 11:00, children of La Manzanilla are invited to participate in an art activity in the studio in my back yard. Here you can see the results of giving the children small boxes, paper, glue and markers, and just asking them "Que es possible?"

If anyone in La Manzanilla wants to get rid of clean small recyclables send them over to my pace at the corner of Perula and Manglares. Maybe we can use them!

More Casa Pictures

The new roof for the open living space will also be a teraza (large balcony) for the palapa level of the house; once the floor is finished with tiles, a rail will be added all around...a good place to go out and paint in the morning - or see the sunset.

It's surprising that the whole village isnt paved with concrete by now...for small jobs here, the concrete is just mixed on the street, and hauled in in 5 gallon buckets by Manuel, Mario, and Pepe, so Angel and Martin can use it for the plastering of all those new surfaces...at this time, though they are taking their desayunos break, and the shovels are getting a rest, too.

The third shot (going up) is the house seen from the front - the large tree is a primavera, and the vine climbing it is called a leticia (has beautiful mauve flowers)...2 different garden experts have assured me that the vine won't choke the tree - it sure is vigorous, though...

The last picture here gives an idea of all the layers of construction...would make a good abstract painting...oh, the muchachos have just arrived to start work - they always arrive about 10 minutes early, start work at 8:00, and work till 5:00, with only one formal meal break for an hour. I enjoy practicing my Spanish with them, though it takes concentration, as they speak so quickly, and in the local dialect...mas despacio, por favor!

Hibiscus - with matching Puesta Del Sol

The hibiscus is such a beautiful flower - love this peach color!

Rodeo

Last week was Rodeo time, with bull riding, fiestas, mariachi bands, and folks dressed up in their cowboy gear... Here I am posing with the architect/builder for my renovations. Paul, Josefina, and their son, Neo are great dancers, too!

A Painting of My House

Debbie and Fred are in my drop-in class meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 - 12:30 in the studio behind my house at the corner of Perula and Manglares. Debbie completed a watercolor of my house seen from the back, with the primavera tree overshadowing it, That tree will be in bright yellow bloom (no leaves) in March or April.

A Brick Floor for the Studio Space

Israel is a local man who has been doing small projects for me - here he is posing in front of arsilla (like sand) floor. Later, we will decide to change it to a brick floor. It's a big job leveling the area, keeping the floor square on property that is not square, and getting the bricks all level. Israel is a great "jack of all trades", reliable, and just as pleasant as he looks.I often chat with him in the morning and evening, as he sits in front of his place on the main street, talking with his wife and playing with Cristian, his grandson...maybe when Enrique is here, about 3 weeks from now, he and Cristian will be friends.

The BIG House

Check Out the View!

This is the view from one of the many BIG houses in this little fishing village - just a 2 minute walk from my house, but definitely a different neighborhood!

...Internet Cafe (Yolanda's on the beach) By Night

Internet Cafe en La Playa

This was my internet cafe for the first few weeks I was here...

Renovations - at last!

After waiting patiently for 2 months, I am now seeing some exciting changes on the horizon - a new bathroom, upstairs teraza, and a more spacious and convenient kitchen. Angel is an expert at flinging the concrete so it hits the ceiling with a satisfying "splat"; later, he uses a trowel and very patiently smooths it to match the texture of the rest of the house. The workers here work hard, and cheerfully, and take a lot of pride in their cratsmanship.

Children's Art Classes

The kids here love the fresh, juicy paint I brought down from Canada...and here they are painting "en plein air"

The Season is Half Over!

After changing my mind many times, I have decided to make a gallery out of the upstairs room in my house...it will also be a guest room, so will require some creative furnishing, but for now... a gallery. Humberto and Ana, my neighbors, are helping arrange the paintings, using fishing line (cuerda de pescado), so we dont have to make holes in the very hard concrete walls.

Day 5 in La Manzanilla

Day 5 - and most of the cleaning and organizing has been done - and I've had a few enquiries about art classes, so it's time to get out all the art supplies, and make some plans. The patio in the back of the house is big enough for 4 people, and I have volunteer help to set up the canopies in the back yard, so better get some planning done!

The weather is perfect; I am sitting in Yolanda's new restaurant on the beach, laughing at the grandmother opposite me who is chatting with her grandson on Skype; I should be doing the same! Technology has hit La Manz, for sure

I'm Here

Back in La Manzanilla - aaaaaaah, the sun, the sea, the sand, the birds chirping and waking me up; forgot to take pics today, and even if I had, how do I download/upload them to my new laptop (never really used one before,- but thanks to Dee, Ervin, Connor, and Jason, I am launched on this brand new learning curve...and it's all good, I know I can do this - Now will post this

Open Studio

It’s November, and I will be leaving for Mexico in about 2 weeks.

I have an abundance of new paintings to show you before I go away for the winter. They are on display in my home/studio for the next week – until Tues., Nov. 20. Please call or email and make an appointment to see the best selection of my latest work. After that, consultants (including a new contact - the “Vancouver Art Gallery Rental and Sales”) will be choosing from my inventory… and some pieces will be going with me to Mexico.

For a preview, check the website www.flickr.com/photos/carol-lopez-artist/ it’s like a catalogue of almost all the work I have available. On this site you can see the work in “sets” of subject matter or location of the artworks (in a gallery or in my studio).

So, do call or email me with a time you would like to come by. Allow time to browse – and bring your art loving friends. I look forward to showing you my work.

Carol Lopez
www.carollopez.com

604.430.4734
3540 Cordiale Dr., Vancouver (in Champlain Heights)

Color Boot Camp

I made an impulsive decision to go to California 3 weeks ago for a painting workshop...the teacher called it Color Boot Camp... and I agree. Never have I looked so hard to see, and then exaggerate the colors in wooden blocks - yes, blocks! After 2 days of block studies, we went out and did some plein air painting in beautiful Sonoma County. After a week in California sunshine, getting to know the town of Petaluma, I returned to the rather different weather in Vancouver, with a "new" color theory to incorporate into my painting and teaching. Now I look forward to returning to Mexico to see even more color in the little fishing village, La Manzanilla.

Working in my back yard studio

On the eve of the summer solstice, we have summer here! We've had almost two days of warm sunny weather - and it's time to start working in my back yard again - I can hang the paintings on the fence to get back and look at them - how great to have an outdoor studio again.

Back in Communication

Oops - I've been forgetting to blog - and now Daniel, in La Manzanilla, has published a list of all the blogs, websites etc., of people in la Manz - so I better get up to date! I've updated my website by uploading all my available paintings, and some new ones, onto Flick'r, at http://www.flickr.com/photos/carol-lopez-artist/... so maybe, eventually, I'll be all up to date, and can start to paint again!

What is more important than play?

Just had such a wonderful day playing with my grandson, making a "tent" out of cushions and blankets. Looking forward to getting back to some playful painting, too, now that some major organizing, finishing, framing, and marketing of my paintings is almost finished.

Finally found an ideal frame!

This is directed to other artists, mostly...have you noticed how small is the variety of floater frames available at conventional framers? Floaters are the best for me - to be unobtrusive,contemporary looking, yet finish off the painting for presentation. The places I have checked have only black (not great for some high key paintings), or they are too heavy looking, or... way too expensive to invest in for a demonstration frame. Anyway, I just had one made to order from inexpensive hemlock lath. The woodworker planed the rough wood and joined it in an L-shape, then mitred the corners to create a box that is 1-1/8" deep, just right for a standard canvas. I use spacers made out of matboard scraps in all 4 corners to centre the canvas, then screw it to the frame from the back - easy to remove and substitute a new canvas when necessary. It cost $39 for a 20 x 30" and is an unfinished natural blond color. You can see the matboard scrap spacers in the second picture - these will, of course, be removed after the screws are in - wish me luck!

Teaching again

I have just received an order of tempera paints that I will take down to Mexico to use with the kids' program on Saturdays. The colors are intense, the paint is thick, the kids are going to love them! Now I just need good brushes - last time, we did finger painting, as the brushes at the multicultural centre were so threadbare...

Back to the Blog

Website updates, a newsletter, now photo-sharing with Flickr (to post my newest paintings ASAP) - how did I become so technology-driven? "Well, soon I will give it all a rest, as I head back down to La Manzanilla for the winter" I thought....but now I hear that La Manz has DSL - oh, no, does that mean my little palapa roofed casa will house a computer?? (so I can use VOIP to make phone calls...yada yada yada...)

Snowfall in March???

We got a beautiful overnight snowfall to wake up to!! Reminds me of the painting I did last year... this painting is now available at the Candler Gallery in Camrose, Alberta.

A West Coast March afternoon

A mixture of sun and cloud - that's what we are getting - time for a walk by the Fraser for the sunny part!

New paintings

I've just finished some new paintings - here is one of them!

The workshop in Mexico

12 participants (some of whom had never painted before), were given an introduction to oil painting at the workshop in La Manzanlla. Here I am, demonstrating a flower painting.