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.