Centro Histórico CDMX, The House of Tiles.

 

Pen&ink and watercolor on A6 Hahnemuhle watercolor sketchbook.

This is the last drawing I did in Mexico city, for now. We stopped few days in this city before our final destination. We ate at the Sanborns de los azulejos, the house of tiles. A beautiful old building in downtown on Madero street. We sat at the central courtyard, and although the is a beautiful fountain on one of the walls covered with Día de Muertos ornaments and offerings, looking up there’s this view which shows part of the beauty of this colonial gem, one of many palaces in downtown Mexico City. Mexico city is known, after all as the city of palaces.

This is a wrap up for the first part of my sketches in Mexico City, all in downtown. On my way back to home, I’ll stay more days in this beautiful city in another neighborhood. I can’t wait. Stay tune.

Centro Histórico of CDMX, Palace of Fine Arts

Pen&ink and watercolor on HP watercolor paper 10 in x 7 in

 A cup of coffee that I forgot to drink while I was sketching, and overhearing the revealing confessions of a young gay boy to his friend, made this unbelievable view at the Cafe on top of the Sears store an unforgettable experience. I bought a book about the Palace of Fine Arts. I try to buy books of places I visit as souvenir whenever it is available. This book shares very interesting facts about the construction’s history and the meaning of some architectural elements. We also took the 1:00 pm free tour of the theater’s interior with an English speaking guide who mention two of the most visually beautiful elements, the stain glass dome and the Tiffany’s glass stage curtain, which make this building a work of art itself.

Very few popular artist have been allowed to perform here, it’s after all a venue for Fine Arts, but they have made some exceptions, for the joy of some and for the unfairness of others. 

Centro Histórico CDMX, Postal Palace

 

Pen&ink and watercolor on HP watercolor 10 in x 7 in

This building in downtown Mexico City is very beautiful but very overwhelming to sketch. This sketch doesn’t make it any justice. This is the side where all windows for mail and parcel are. I sketched just part of it. The stairways where the elevators are have a metal work so detailed, it remains me of the Rookery in the City of Chicago. It’s so worthy of a visit.

Centro Histórico CDMX, Monumento a la Revolución.

 

Pencil and watercolor on A6 Hahnemuhle cotton sketchbook

I did the self tour fast, very few people were there. The elevator takes you to the top tear and from there, if you want to go to the top of the dome, you have to use the spiral staircases, 132 steps. Mmhh, no thanks, how much different the view can it be, I was already in the top tear, the sickness of altitude was already affecting me in the past few days. After my visit, I found a corner where to sketch, I really wanted to sketch the whole monument but some trees and some canopies where there so they added a little bit of interest to the composition.

Centro Histórico CDMX, Zócalo

Pen&ink and watercolor on HP watercolor paper 10 in x 7 in

 Plaza Constitución AKA Zócalo in México City was full of tents from the events on the weekend. I also  wanted to sketch the Cathedral Metropolitana, this last one was all covered with scaffolding. So I found this view in a corner near Zocalo next to some police officers on watch, whom made me feel very comfortable. On the sketch from left to right, Torre Latinoamérica, one of the bell towers on the Cathedral and La Parroquia de la Asunción AKA Sagrario Metropolitano.

On the same spot 180°, I sketched quickly this was the view of Calle Moneda.

Pen&ink and watercolor on A6 Hahnemühle cotton sketchbook