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Tuesday, December 3, 2013

R.I.P.

My brother-in-law came to our home to do some carpentry work. He came with a closed box. As soon as he opened it, it scared me and screamed like crazy because I saw a body, I thought it was alive but it turn out to be a dead pheasant. He told me he found it, it was a road kill. I thought he was going to eat it, well...... I just learned that Pilgrims ate that for Thanksgiving right? No, he wasn't going to eat it, who knows how many days it was on the road frozen. He picked it up because he wanted the feathers. He already removed the tail feathers because they didn't fit in the box. I found myself fascinated by the beauty of this young featherless pheasant, so beautiful that I wanted to preserve its beauty forever in paper, I must say this drawing doesn't give it any justice. Rest in peace.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Open House Chicago

" The Chicago Architecture Foundation presented the third-annual  Open House of Chicago: a free , citywide festival that offers behind-the-scenes access to more than 150 buildings across the city. Urban Sketchers Chicago planned a sketch crawl around this event. My first stop was the Lyric Opera House was built with Art Nouveau and Art Deco ornamentation."
I sketched this building from the stage. It looks like a hamburger to me, it may be I was hungry. This one of the fastest sketches I have ever done, 30 minutes or so.

We walked to the next building, the "Chicago Temple, the first United Methodist Church, the oldest congregation of Chicago. It is the tallest church in the world at 568 ft." We took 2 elevators. The chapel is rather small but beautiful. It's surrounded by stain glass windows, you cannot see outside if the window is closed. It was too crowded so I sketched this one from outside.

We continued and finished our sketch crawl at the Palmer House. "This opulent hotel has been a Chicago mainstay since before the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The current Palmer House features a gilded lobby designed in the French Empire style with a formal staircase and Tiffany light fixtures." This is a detail of the lobby, view from the mezzanine near the electric stairs.

Every quote is source from a Special Advertising section produced by the CAF.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Roast duck in Chinatown.

A butcher in Stockton St. is ready to sell this roast duck to a Chinese woman. Someone is going to have nice meal.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

San Francisco, CA Part 5. Painted Ladies


Going around San Francisco city is easy. My friends and I used the hop-on hop-off bus to move from one location to another. The bus stopped two blocks from the Alamo Square, I wanted to sketch the Painted Ladies. I arrived with my tongue out, those hills are a killer. I used to live in a city geographically like San Francisco, but now that I live in flat land, I got use to it (♫ excuses). While sketching, an Asian girl asked me if she could take a picture of me and my sketch, she found me more interesting (?) that the Victorian houses itself. I'm founding I like being the subject of interest, I'm even enjoying it. Little by little my outgoings are making me grow as a person by defeating what makes me uncomfortable. Thanks Urban Sketchers, who would have though. Click here for Part 6

Monday, September 30, 2013

San Francisco, CA Part 4. Fisherman's Wharf of San Pancho


This area being so touristic is always busy. Lots of people and traffic. It turned out I sat in a busy corner at the opposite corner of this image to sketch it.  The fact that I was smelling of the pollution of the buses and cars passing by, in one of the most ecologically conscious cities in the U.S. was ironic to me. A tourist approached to me to asked me for directions to a place I had never heard of, and my immediate response was:-I'm from Sshikkago. I tried to mimic the Geico Lizard speaking like a Chicagoan. Oh boy! Was it funny! A tourist teasing a tourist! It may be she didn't expect this sort of answer but hey! I was in a good mood. I continued with my sketch with no further interruptions. Click here for Part 5

Friday, September 27, 2013

San Francisco, CA Part 3. Para surfing at sunset in the Bay.




No, it's not that I have seen one of the iconic symbols of San Francisco Bay on a magnificent sunset what I will remember every time I see this sketch. It's not the cold wind blowing in my face. It's not that the American Cup was held in the Bay and I didn't had a chance to sketch it. It's not how much it impressed me how these para surfers love doing that despite the cold water. It's not that I had no time limit to sketch without the worry of someone waiting for me. It is, in fact, the phone conversation I held with Bob during the making of this sketch and how much I enjoyed his company at that moment despite the distance. THAT is what I will remember every time I see this sketch. Click here for Part 4

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

San Francisco, CA Part 2. Sea Lions at Pier 39




Aww! The life of sea lions.... so funny, so cute, but noisy and dangerous! I just witnessed how the biggest male threatened the smallest ones and pushed them out of the raft to claim their territory! I've always had my suspicious about this "friendly animal". They are no different than any other in the animal kingdom. I had the opportunity to swim with them in the wild in Baja, a little one was very curious, to the point that it came so close to us to play that I could have touched it, but I didn't, I was told not to. Once you touch them, they loose the fear of you and can bite you! So here they are, taking the sun in San Francisco, taking advantage of the sunny day, and me? Up in the restaurant sketching them from a safe and comfortable place. Am I missing being close to them? No, not really. Click here for Part 3

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

San Francisco, CA Part 1. Seal Carving


During my days in San Francisco, CA. I walked the streets of Chinatown,  they say it is one of the most authentic Chinese neighborhoods in the world out of China. I expected just to stroll the streets and get the feeling of being transfer to China by hearing people speaking only Chinese. The town has two main streets, one for the tourist and one for the local Chinese where all they do the daily shopping, and dry washed underware hanging outside the windows. I had nothing planned to buy, I just followed my friends who wanted to explore the town. Suddenly an idea sparked in my head while walking the streets. I've seen several artists who stamp their artwork with Chinese characters in red ink. Ooooooh! It looks so professional. So I decided to ask locals about it. The first person I asked gave directions to John Wong shop. This man is a professional calligrapher. He studied in China. His store had plenty of interesting things, among them a piece of newspaper showing a picture of himself with the mayor of the city of San Francisco. The article describes he was granted with a Certificate of Honor, which I think is a big accomplishment for someone who just came to the United States in 1990. His 9 year old granddaughter was there. She was our translator. I asked for the seal carving work. I wanted my name Adriana carved in the stone.  I chose from several stone blocks with my Chinese zodiac animal on it. The work was going to take about 30-40 minutes. I asked him if I could sketch him while he was working. He said yes. I've never being more comfortable sketching a person, since it is not my forte, he remained very still.  He wrote his name and mine in the sketch and of course Jazlyn wanted to write hers too. I asked him to write the word friends as well. He showed me how to stamp correctly, you can see it in my sketch. John loved my sketch so much he asked me to sketch Jazlyn as well, which I did gladly, she was a good help as a translator and made things easier. In return he gave me a calligraphy piece of paper with my name written in Chinese and free red ink. Fabulous! I told him I would make a print and mail it to him. I think I will never forget my new favorite word: Xièxiè. Click here for Part 2.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Joliet Regional Airport.

I've always wanted to sketch this airport. For some reason I'm attracted to it, like I have unfinished business here. Finally I made up my mind and went to sketch. I was in the parking lot and realized that I was in front of a Cessna, a memory came to me. I was 8 or so when my dad took me to the airport out of the city of Zacatecas, in Mexico. It was a Sunday. Dad managed to make arrangements for some one to give us a flight ride. It felt like any given Sunday day. I sat in the back of the Cessna. It was my first flight ever. It was noisy, but exciting as well. We flew over the city, I want to believe I saw my house from above but I don't remember if I did. Any way, I've think that booking a fly for a beloved one would be a nice birthday or anniversary gift. Some day I might book one for Bob, but shhhhh, don't tell him, it must be a surprise!

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Patience test.

Today, after having breakfast and many cups of coffee, we decided to go the barbershop next to the restaurant. We've never being there before so we decided to take a look. The barber looked at us deciding whether to come in or not. He saw us and invited us to come in, waving his arm. Nobody was there but his daughter. I almost regret coming in because I knew I had to wait for Bob while he got his haircut and I felt caffeine started to get me restless, and unfortunately I didn't carry my sketchbook with me. Bob and the barber named Chico, crossed some words. Finally he was going to start his service. "We've done this before, we’ll be out in no time" I thought. Little I knew my patience was to about to be tested. Bob was ready, but for some reason Chico looked at himself at the mirror and started to trim his eyebrows (?) Then back to Bob to start, he started to cut his hair slowly, for every cut he made with the razor, he shook his hand twice (??) Then he had a small conversation with Bob but his hands were not moving, they stayed still on the back of the chair. Back to Bob, one more cut. Ring ring, the cell phone, he had to answer the cell phone. Few more unproductive minutes. Back to Bob and another cut. -Oh! Let’s watch a movie! His daughter came in the picture. Chico stopped once more to watch his teenager daughter place the disc in the DVD. OK! I’m starting to see where this is going. Chico is back to Bob, another cut. He stops and started to watch the movie! That’s it! I had enough! I got up and told Bob I was going to do one of the errands we planned to do for today. Ahhhhh. Peace, I’m doing something, I feel I’m not wasting my time. I returned 20 or 25 minutes later. Chico’s still watching the movie. O.M.G! I had no choice but to wait and try to hide the steam coming out of my ears. Focus! Focus on something else... the movie! Watch the movie! See no evil, hear no evil. I started to relax, I watched Bob enjoying himself, laughing with them, living the present. Bob smiled, I smiled. Finally Chico is done. Did I pass the patience test?


Monday, August 12, 2013

The trade of a little bag for a fountain pen.

This is a little bag I bought in Mendota Corn Festival that I hang around my neck in order to reach my sketch tools easily. I think I lost my fountain pen while I was trying them on. I was placing my pens and brushes in every bag I tried, because depth was important to me. Well... my pen is gone. Get over it, let it go Adriana.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Overcast

I'm not a fan of baseball or any sport for that matter, but last night I went to a baseball game. The weather was not very inviting but I followed an advice from Luís Ricardo Simões, of World Sketching Tour that sticked to my mind. He posted once on his FB timeline "go, don't stay at home", and sure enough there I was. The energy there, was amazing, people was constantly moving because the rain was on and off, however the game continued without interruptions. I sat in the opposite side of the crowd in order to do this sketch. What an amazing view. After a few innings we left. I was just curious to know who won, so I checked this morning Joliet Slammers lost, but at least a spent a good time with family and enjoyed a couple of beers.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

The back of the Old State Capitol

It was 5 or 6 pm, the building was glowing under the evening sunlight. I sat down to sketch it. Little I knew I was sketching the back of the building until Bob told me they were offering free tours inside the building, we went  through the back door  to catch the last tour, we missed only the explanation of one of the rooms, very interesting tour. At the end, we left the building through the front door and to my surprise the front of the building looked just exactly like the back of the building I was just sketching minutes ago. I continued my sketch and finished the back of the old state capitol. I was in the very same building where Abraham Lincoln was many times..... powerful feeling! 

Friday, July 19, 2013

The Rippon-Kinsella House

Bob and I visited Springfield, IL.The land of Lincoln. This is the view from our room in the Rippon-Kinsella House B&B. This old and beautiful house is full of well preserved old furniture, crystal dinnerware, silverware, it reminds me of my aunt grand mother's house. The bedroom was a little dark, the only thing real bright were the windows, that's how this image captured my attention. The owner of this place, Roger, is a man who's being living 9 years in this house and 37 years with his partner, soon to be married. Many of the things belonged to his grandmother. I noticed the silverware was made in 1841. He claimed to be a good cook. Soon he proved himself because breakfast was delicious, well presented and well seasoned. This man turn out to be a great conversationalist, funny, with a great attitude. I always wanted to have a gay friend, which I don't have. They are funny, pragmatic and are not afraid to tell you the truth. It's always nice to meet  interesting people, they are the salt and pepper of my journeys.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Artisan Beers of Missouri

Nothing like COLD beer after an exciting day in Excelsior Springs. There are so many artisan beers and wines made in Missouri. Oh well...is getting hot.... Cheers!

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Superior Pagoda Well

I didn't know about this town until I went to visit a fellow artist whose work I really like, Cathy Johnson, check her artwork  hereThen I realized that this town has quite a history for having 20 separate mineral springs with four different varieties of water. Locals used to sell spring water to drink directly bottled from the springs and usually constructed pagodas around it. Many people came from all the United States to receive treatments for weeks and therefore ended up being expensive treatments if you consider that you have to stay in hotels. This boom decline in the 1960's when people found out other alternative treatments that were more affordable and effective. Today there's only the romantic past left as well as an original and well preserved well called Superior Pagoda, which reminds the locals and tourists what this city once was.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

The Dana-Thomas House

One or the best preserved house of Frank Lloyd Wright Houses. He's my new hero. He was a visionary genius and control freak, just like me, ahead of his time. This side of the house is actually the front of the house, however it has no front door. He wanted the people to look for the door and doing so they could please their eyes by looking at the architecture of the house. How is that for an ego. That reminds me the tomb of Napoleon, where he asked for the tomb to be design in certain way so you bow in order to see the tomb. Genius' ego. That hasn't change along history ....and will not change.

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Stinky shoes.

5 x 5 in. I went through my closet and found these shoes I haven't used in a year. I sketched them in 2011 when new. Very comfortable but they still stink..............amazing.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Rock Run Preserve in Joliet.

Joliet is a city where you can find public art everywhere in the form of old buildings, sculptures, mosaics and  painted murals. Rock Run Preserve is part of an aquatic complex in Will County. It is rich in species and support animal life like birds and mammals. It is in this the site where I have encounter white-tails deer several times crossing my path when exercising, a true encounter with Mother Nature. This sketch illustrates Rock Run Preserve on Essington Road. There is a piece of art by the entrance called "Egrets in the Wetland", a sculpture of two egrets on a mosaic column featuring a wetland with cattails, dragonflies and a frog  by Sculpture artist Kathleen Farrell and Mosaic Artist Kathleen Scarboro. 

There's a plaque on the floor with more information.


 

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

A little pleasure

One of the little pleasures of a rainy evening: fixing Bob's short I promised him to do a long time ago.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

The veggies of our garden.

I spent the afternoon and early evening in our plot at the community garden. Bob has done an excellent job. The plants look healthy and are growing well. Bob has received compliments because of that. Truth of the matter is that he has spent a lot of time taking care of them and the plants are grateful and are showing it. As first timers we didn't know what to grow this season, so we ended up deciding to plant what we often eat.  Two kind of tomatoes, cucumbers, chard, two kind of kale, sweet, poblano and  jalapeno peppers, basil and dill weed. Some were given to us and we bought the rest. While there, Chris, the leader of the community, visited us in our plot. She make us feel we are not alone in this adventure, she is like a good hostess that makes you feel comfortable in a place that is not yours, she's great! We always talk to someone in the community, people is very friendly and helpful. So I took my chair and draw the leaves of our plants, and I hope next drawing I do there, will actually be the vegetables.

Monday, June 3, 2013

Otomi doll and a gorilla.

This is another Mexican craft from my small collection. This doll is made by a group of Indians from Central Mexico called Otomi. I remember it was given to me by my father many years ago. The other toy my father gave me was a gorilla when I went through a rough period of my life. I lost my first job. When I thought I was doing well, I was mistreated for reporting to the owners of the company I was working in, about the manager’s corrupted business he was doing under water and where affecting the final product. That could save the company a lot a trouble, but to my surprise I was fired. It turned out the manager was making more money for the owners avoiding taxes than the money he was making for himself. He stayed….with some restrictions, I left. Therefore I cried for several days. I was naïve, no experience, recently graduated from school. I idealized the work field, I was very disappointed. That’s when I received my gorilla. I think I just found why I worship little toys my father gives me, they give me comfort. Thank you dad.

Friday, May 31, 2013

Balero

5 x 8 in. Balero, Mexican toy made of wood. The target is to place the stick tip into the hole at the bottom of the colorful barrel after throwing it in the air. Old fashion, simple, funny, and very challenging!

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Jury Duty

Endless hours waiting at the Jury Assembly Room, at the Will County Courthouse in Joliet, IL. I was summoned for jury duty. The cloth people chose to wear today was interesting to me, so I highlighted their cloths in color. There were three TV screens in the room. This is a clear indication that this morning was going to be long, and an attempt from the courthouse for this so diverse group of people to make time pass.  The sound on TV was on in only one of them, the other two had the close caption on, thank you for the common sense. Despite the effort of the courthouse to keep us entertained….can you spot how many people were sleeping during this sketch? If it wasn’t for my sketchbook I’d probably be one of them. The mistake in the sketch: courtroom: I’m not that lucky, I wasn’t selected a juror today.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Lincoln Square Chicago

10 x 8 in. Sunday, families, friends and urban sketchers gathered today at Lincoln Square in Chicago. Although a fountain may be the landmark in this area, many of us focus on the lamp light. I was fortune enough to sit under the shade of a tree to listen the live guitar player. Very relaxing. It took me 80 minutes to get there, but it was worth it. After that I had to head to my niece to check out the place she is going to get marry, because, guess what? I'm doing the wedding invitations! What an honor!

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Mexican wool frog toy.

10 x 8 in. Since my family is in Mexico, I travel often there. But living abroad made me look at Mexico with different eyes. Now, I really appreciate our culture and what people do. I'm sure that happens to anyone who lives in another country, like my Mexican friend from the university, who lives in the Netherlands, she feels that way too. Craftsman are among the people I respect the most. Their unbelievable pieces of art, full of tradition and made with techniques which are passed generation after generation, make their work even more valuable. 

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Historic Rail Road Bridge

9 x 12 in. I know nothing about bridges. This is the historic Rail Road Bridge in Joliet @ the Des Plain River. When sketching, I didn't know the bridge was down and weights up. Then a cargo boat went through and realized the bridge was up and weights down. Good thing I got that right. Uff! I had a hard time sketching this. So many bars, very confusing, even I tried to use the binoculars, it was even worse. At the end I had to walk towards the bridge to take a good close look at it to understand what I was drawing and then return to my spot the get the perspective view. At the end, I'm happy with the result.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Chicago Wells Street Parking

5 x 8 in. On my way to USk Chicago meeting, I couldn't  help but to stop first to sketch this view. It's Sunday and traffic is great, many business are closed. Finally sun is out after almost a week of rain. Still chilly. Life is good.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

My strawberry cheese pay.

5 x 8 in. Evening snack. My version of a strawberry cheese pay. Sprouted whole grain bread + raw cashew honey spread +  fresh strawberry. I suffered for 30 minutes until I finished the drawing, then ate it! Yummy!


Monday, April 1, 2013

Orange blossoms

5 x 8 in. A friend of mine is an orange farmer in Rio Verde Mexico. He built a hotel, cabins in the orange fields and invited us to show it. It’s a wonderful place, take a look at it here. When we arrived at the cabins, the first thing I noticed was the scent in the air. Oh Lord! It was a punch of orange blossoms scent to my nose. My friend kept showing us the place, but I had a hard time focusing on his words, all it was in my mind was that scent! It was around 6 p.m. He told me at that time is when the intensity of the scent is at its highest! Boy! I’ll be back on a second to be wrapped in this orange heaven!

Sunday, March 31, 2013

The mistery of the Australian lobster

5 x 8 in. In our way to the crystal clear water springs Media Luna, (Half Moon), in Rio Verde, Mexico, we saw two men diving/snorkeling in the canal coming from the spring water. We were curious so we stopped and asked them what they were looking for. -Acamayas (fresh water shrimp).  They told us they eat them and sell them if there is any left. I was wondering where did they come from? I knew there are acamayas in rivers, but canals? Any way that same day I met with a friend, I told him what I saw and he told me it wasn't acamaya but Australian lobster, and he was the farmer! When the lobsters hatch they are very small and somehow they leaked from the farm into the canal! Here I found my answer to my question without looking for it!

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Tacos.



8 x 5 in. Yesterday I went to the barber with Bob. While waiting, I saw this man preparing food at this taco business across the street. It’s quite popular here in San Luis Potosi city. For those who don’t speak Spanish, the two outer sings states “line to go” and “line for table”, those signs are very clear about the success of the place, but I wonder why they haven’t  fix the missing U letter? Too busy, or no budget because they are not as successful. What I do know is that I sketched from the car, seating straight, turning my head to the side window, and ended up with a neck pain. Why didn’t occur to me to get out of the car? I was in hurry to finish the sketch, before the natural light was gone or before Bob returned to the car. Just in case you wonder… my neck pain is gone.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Demand and supply in OXXO.

5 x 8 in. It’s fascinating how these convenient stores around the corner, called mini-markets too, have evolved here in Mexico, they not only sell goods. Over the years the services they provide are increasing tremendously. For those who have not access to internet it is very convenient go to these stores to add calling minutes to your cell phone, pay utilities, buy tickets for passenger busses or events, even some banking services, yes, banking. They are fast and reliable, no more lines! No wonder they are multiplying like rabbits. Demand and supply.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Habemus Papam.

8 x 5 in. This image has been for 2 days on TV, a perfect subject to draw. Now I'm just waiting to know the name of the new Pope. I won't understand if the Pope is not from Latin America. 45% of Catholics are from Latin America,  however the highest number of Cardinals is concentrated in only 3 countries, US, Brazil and Germany. We'll see what the Vatican choice was.

Saturday, March 9, 2013

1000 years old tree @ Los Peroles, Rio Verde

9 x 12 in.  "Los Peroles" is a hidden paradise in the middle of nowhere. We drove North from Rio Verde, MEX to San Francisco, then La Muralla, then a small village without name, and then a detour form a dusty road to this area where this spring water is surrounded by ancients trees over 1000 years old. Going there, we notice the further we went away from civilization the smallest the towers of churches. Here I am floating with my ears in the blue water, listening to my heart beating, the sun in my face, totally isolated from civilization. That's what I call relaxation. We saw some skunk fish you can only find in this region, they are in fact , look like a skunk, they are black with a white line on top. Drawing this  was not easy (when is it) my only companion were the loyal flies and ants, besides the strong sun and Bob. When we arrived we looked like cockroaches in a bakery, of course we took the dust off diving in water, and after that we looked like breaded fish. This nonsense ended with a shower at our hotel.


Thursday, February 28, 2013

Airlines experiences.

5 x 8 in. When I posted this drawing, my mind was in blank, I couldn’t think of anything to say, but now I have a story to tell about my experiences with airlines. One day, at the airport in Frankfort, Germany, I order a coffee at a coffee shop, the employee told me they were out of coffee. Well I left the line but overheard the guy next behind me order coffee too and suddenly she had coffee to sell! My heart dropped to the ground, I´ve never being humiliated like this, I was so in shock that I didn’t react and return to complaint, actually, I was so embarrassed that it took me several minutes to tell Bob about it. The truth of the matter is that that day I was traveling wearing the worse cloth you can ever imagine, sweat pants, old T-shirt, my hair was mess too (as it usually is). Just because I’ve traveled to some countries I felt like an experienced world traveler, I thought I could travel wearing as I please and still being treated like a queen. But I don’t finish yet. I’ve experience the other end of the spectrum. Years before that, I flew to the United States from Mexico. I was very well dress-up, almost like a European princess. I had a coach ticket though. I was at the gate ready to board the plane and the lady behind the front desk scanned me from top to bottom, I saw it in her eyes and out f nothing she asked me, if I wanted a seat in business class, a free upgrade! Of course I took it. The incredible thing is that it didn’t happen once, but another day, again, twice!  Airlines should treat you the same regardless what you are wearing, but this is real life. So the lesson here is: They way they see you…… the way they treat you. This turns out very true, at least for me.



Layers and layers.

10 x 8 Red tacos of Doña Julia are a wonder. She presents her dish as a pyramid of layer of food. All combined it's an explosion of  flavor in the mouth. I......well certainly all of us, appreciate the fact that she came to cook for us today as she promised, despite she twisted her ankle  yesterday and she was in pain. Julia we love you! Thanks!

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

The scent of guavas.

5 x 8 in. I wish a could paint the scent of guava on my notebook to take it with me everywhere.

The looms of wool in Bernal, Mexico


9 x 12 in. Mrs. Julia, mom’s help, asked me yesterday, if I do my drawings from photographs. Although I try not to, sometimes I do. This drawing, however, is from direct observation. I sat down in the street, cold wind was blowing on my back, I was wearing a light sweater, I was very uncomfortable, not even the people who stopped to watch me or their comments distracted me as much as cold. So I went to look for Bob at the main square 40 meters or so from where I was to ask him to get me a jacket at the hotel. Bob to the rescue again. Just right at the center on this drawing, to the left of the craft store “La Aurora”, wool items are for sale. Bob and I were fortunate to enter to the hidden workshop where these items are made at the very same store. There were a lot of looms and many colorful wool yarns from the region. Three men were working the looms, the youngest was very skilled and fast, too focus on what he was doing for me to interrupt him asking him questions, and the other two older and slower. After a short conversation, one of them, Guadalupe, 82, showed us his old note book, it had simple designs of his creation. He showed us how to combine color wool yarns in the loom, smiling, excited and not using eye glasses! Those who live in San Sebastian de Bernal and share proudly their artwork live a simple and happy life. Knowing this, we left the place with a smile.
 

Monday, February 25, 2013

Quiet Tequisquiapan, Mexico

9 x 12 in. Parish of Santa Maria de la Asuncion, in the main square of the quiet Mexican small town,Tequisquiapan. The clock in the tower plays a beautiful sound that reminds me of Europe, specially Drosselgasse street in Rudesheim, Germany. After a few silent days of rest, we returned to my mother's in San Luis Potosi. We did not miss it but we'll hear again the demolition noise from next door. Oh no! Here we go again! 

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Sparkling wine from Ezequiel Montes, Mexico


5 x 8 in. Just because is not made in France, it cannot be called Champagne, but quality is very good. Sparkling wine made in Ezequiel Montes, Mexico....to the world. 

Friday, February 15, 2013

Old Prison in San Luis Potosi

Although I’ve visited a prison before, the experience was not bad at all. I was a child when my uncle was a political prisoner. The security check points at the airports in the United States are stricter nowadays that the inspection I went through that day. The visit was in the lunch area, so I did not have access to the prison cells. Out of my curiosity to “feel” a prison, I went to the old prison here in San Luis Potosi, aka hotel Juarez, because it is on Juarez Avenue. This building is very old and beautiful. It was built in 1904 and is made of stone, a real gem. It worked as a prison until 1999. A lot of important people were prisoners here, among them Madero, a Mexican president. It is now a the Center of Arts of San Luis Potosi Centenario. Before I entered the building I parked my butt on the grass to make this drawing. There was not a curious soul around me. I supposed for someone who is drawing in an art center is an everyday sight. After 90 minutes or so I decided to go inside before they close. When I was in the pavilions, the prison cells, now offices,  workshop rooms, rehearsal rooms, storage rooms, have stone frame doors instead of bars, and they are not very high. There was only one small window higher than an average person in every cell. The cells looked spacious…..empty. But with people and furniture in it, that’s another story. There’s no access to seconds floor but for students and professors. I don’t believe there’s difference between the first and second floor cell, except that upper prisoners’ prayers would be heard first by the Lord. This visit did not help me to visualize and feel a prison, everything is so beautifully remodeled that I even thought, if one day I go to jail, it wouldn’t be that bad, but I know is not like that, with all those images of prison we see on television and movies, overpopulated, dirty and full of people with questionable background, I rather behave and be a good girl.