A little move forward in painting at my studio with palette knife on a larger canvas than I took for my plein air paintings at Big Bend National Park in Texas in October. It was a perfect trip with eight other women to paint at Big Bend and the Ft. Davis for more than a week--a 10 hour drive from Rockport through barren country right near the border of Mexico.

Evelyn's Pond in early December after much autumn rain---I wish this was a painting rather than a photo but I've been working on other projects and didn't want to miss the opportunity to at least record the natural mystery of this place near Aransas Bay. A jigsawpuzzle of this image with some enhancement of the color would be a challange!

So, what else is in my file of sights from travel over the last few years????

Musicians, Mariachis in particular, memories of joyful sound and color--but this time I wanted to try and connect the blacks and paint the color around it---just a painting to warm up--to get in the studio, to start my right brain functioning... Maybe because I've decided to try taking some beginning Spanish lessons again, I'm still in the world of Mexico. These mariachi's are a group from San Antonio Texas that I heard last year at the convention center on the Riverwalk.

Dance of the Horse Tzijolaj

performed on the steps of Capilla del Calvario

in Chichicastenango, Guatemala

Painting again after many months of vacation feels wonderful. I decided to "warm up" by going over my photos of Guatemala and researching the significance of one of the most intriguing sights we saw in Chichi on the steps of the smaller church across the marketplace from St. Tomas. On the side of the wooden horse in one of my photos the name EL TZIJOLAJ was printed. That was my reference point for research here at home. The rider on the horse is Santiago, or St. James. He is the guardian and protector of pathways. The icon of Tzijolaj syncretizes St. James with the indigenous supernatural. A member of one of the many Cofradias in Chichicastenango, carries Tzijolaj in his arms and dances to the slow rhythm of a drum and flute, while other members kneel and pray together, in the directions of north, south, east, and west. The carrier of Tzijolaj has a rocketball in the other hand and soon comes out to the middle of the steps of the chapel and slowly swirls while the fireworks go off and smoke surrounds the area. The performance gives an uncomprehending bystander a feeling of great excitement and you don't know whether to look, take pictures or join in the prayers. Ah, the wonderful experience of travel and discovery.

Auspice Maria

"Auspice Maria" Under the Protection of Mary.

Working on a grid for the painting "Woven" was a begining of collecting images and compiling them in a new design form. All of my photos of Mary from various venues throughout the world were in a stack in a drawer. I thought I might try a painting in the same manner as "Woven". But it seemed Mary didn't want to make it that easy for me.!!! My photos weren't exactly right. So the collection started new and this time my friends donated images of their special Mary's and the painting became all of ours instead of just mine. The painting is finished in the month of May.

Woven

Guatemala bombards the senses, visually and emotionally. Last winter, after returning home from a third trip teaching art in that intriguing country, I sat with a pile of photos from my students and fellow travelers. The color and patterns and faces of the women called to be recorded and so I squared off some watercolor paper and got started, not having any concept of the finished product. The process of sorting the photos and choosing the face that belonged next to another became a joyful game. The cloth, faces, baskets, flowers, and background color became woven all together. The painting was finished in November.

Good Morning Aransas Bay

Shrimp boats at Fulton Harbor on Aransas Bay have been my subject matter for the ten years I've lived here and many years before that; like since 1978!!. Actually, I don't paint boats often--but rather light on the boats and on the water near them. I finished this painting early in the morning and framed it by afternoon. It's ready for the art auction on July 4th.

Spring Break at Rockport Beach Park

Usually the "blue wave" beach on Aransas Bay in Rockport is rather empty. Birds, sand, and a few planted palm trees are the images that fill the hazy blue grey atmosphere. But spring break brings families to the area and if the weather is good, the colors are warm and bright.

Garden Guadalupe

Shells from the Gulf of Mexico surround my stone Guadalupe in the corner I call a grotto in my backyard. Hibiscus, Tye, and Plumeria plants grow close by.

Wow, I just discovered how to make a blog!!! Amazing what a little extra time will allow. Just fun and games on the computer. The opening watercolor is 22x30", Aransas Palmetto Tapestry, and inspired by painting in Evelyn Atkinson's natural garden last year.

Aransas Palmetto Tapestry