Fall is here!

Can you believe it? Though it was one of the most enjoyable Summers I've had, and though the days are still hot you can already start seeing the leaves turning yellow or more red as you drive around. With that, the beauty of a golden palette appears and the ocre yellow landscapes seem so appealing. Tonight, as I attended a Silent Auction Art sale of a your artist (Way to go Nathan Graalman!) I enjoyed the beauty of the displayed pieces and the drive to get there. There is something about the country landscape that is so enticing to this City girl raised partly in downtown Mexico City and partly in Puebla City. I know for some the sky, harvest fields (and even cows enjoying their supper) may seem nothing but business, but to me is the reminder of "Openness" and unlimited opportunities. Never did the sky seem so big and clear; and the horizon line seemed so far as when I first came to Canada. I still love it! I enjoy those views every time I go for a drive to a different place, no matter if it's only for 15 minutes.

Here is "Alberta Sunset", a piece made in 4 canvasses of one of the views that I loved in one of those short drives in the Summer. When it comes to Sky pieces the titles may not seem that original, but the ever changing views that they offer are unlimited, hope you enjoy this piece and take the time to enjoy the views wherever you go!

Summer Demo's

Demo #2! What a great experience I've had at Health Street, Olds doing Demo's. The first one was on the 3rd of this month and today it was the 2nd one! Visiting with people and painting with those who want to join in and make their own pieces have been two of my highlights. Finishing 2 pieces during these days has been another one! While talking with Rick Kohut (the business owner) and Shauna (one of his really friendly employees) I was reminded once again why I paint: yes, the colours, media, texture, dynamics, movement are very important, but what really want to communicate through all of these is the message. There are many things that can inspire me about Life, one of them has been nature ... trees to be more specific. "As I stand..." came up from my constant passing through Bowden, you can usually see a train besides a tree that "sees" how things come and go, how the trains, people, cars, life pass by as it stays waiting itself for the next season. Isn't that like us sometimes? We may think that life is passing us by and that everything around us moves but us, though, as that living tree, there is life flowing through us and though there are different seasons, some of which may seem barren, as long as there is life in us we'll continue renewing, flourishing and giving life, shelter, joy to all around us who take the time to appreciate that life in us. Just like that tree (and many others) we stand and our root systems keep growing, nourishing, strengthening & preparing for the future.  "As I stand" doesn't pay homage to the sometimes boring process of waiting, but to the life that whether we see or no is flowing in us. Hope you enjoy this peace and enjoy every season of your life!
NOTE: I had to make some corrections as I thought it was still needing something so here is the the final product!

Early morning!

Mornings are great!... or, so I think. Especially when they come early and you get to enjoy the pleasure of enjoying them. With two young kids, I have really come to appreciate early mornings even more than before. Somehow that urgency of waking up 'cause I couldn't wait to see what I could do during the day has become: how can I make this day one of the most productive ones so I make time to enjoy the company of the people in my life and the things I love doing? Thursday was one of those days when I woke up early, 'cause my 2 year old decided he needed a 'break from his bed' and after he went back to sleep I was more than ready to enjoy the morning. I read part of my favourite book, finished reading a new one that I had just started, and while having coffee and reading I saw the morning landscape being filled by the colours that the sun was bringing out from everything. My favourite things of this experience? 1-The fog over the river, making a separation of trees, almost like someone had added a layer and blurred it away making an even more interesting line. 2- The colour change throughout the 2 hours that I was observing and reading; enjoying the smell of a fresh morning with residues of dew, fresh leaves and my coffee. 3- The thought of the possibilities that everyday brings, just as many as the changing colours, shades, shadows, smells and feels of the day. Here are 2 pictures (from the many) that are going into my "To paint" file. Enjoy your mornings, even if they don't start at 4 am :)

Summer time!

Summer! Those eight weeks that keep us on our toes (in Canada) So much to do, see, experience, value, so many memories to be created. This is the time when I love seeing the early sunrises (at 4:30 am, I discovered because of my casual all-nighter painting times) and the late sunsets! What I love the most is the so called "Magic Hour" by some- now between 8:30 pm & 9:30 pm. I rather calling it the "Hour of Colour" as everything seems brighter, more vivid, almost surreal. As I drive home by night and observe one of my favourite spots on the overpass, the reflection of the sunset in the water transforms the "common" green into one that you can only see in the Summer. I had to turn around and take some pictures with the hopes of re-living those experiences and jol my memory when I paint that scenery if I choose to. Maybe, I'll just keep the pictures as reference to remember the beauty of the season and to study a little bit more the colours and shapes that are originated by the sunset. I wonder if I can capture on time the colours that I see there... I guess it's time for another "Plein Air" experience! Happy painting to all or at least happy enjoyment of the Hour of colour!