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.