In 2009, I wanted to go to Tom Hoffmann‘s Oaxaca workshop. Donald and I discussed it, and I was ready to make a commitment, but alas, that year, we had a huge income tax payment to make, so I just couldn’t justify going. I started thinking about it in 2013, but I had already made other plans, so this year, I finally got to go. I had run out of excuses.
Tom started us right off in a lovely shady square across the street from a church and told us to paint shapes. We were all nervous, but put paint to the paper. As it got warmer out, we moved to Manual Alvarez Bravo Institute where Tom suggested we paint flowers abstractly and to learn about values by painting in just one color. And yes, I did learn.
Just for fun, I went to a seminar taught by my nephew Chris Crew, on how to get a license for growing or selling marijuana in the state of Washington. As many of you know, it’s legal in our state now, so one imagines that we are in the same position as the country was in many years ago when prohibition was overturned.
Those of you that know me would be most surprised to see me attending such a workshop, I don’t smoke pot, I don’t even drink alcohol. But I was curious to see my nephew in action. And he did not disappoint. His talk was clear, concise, factual. He was very helpful and honest, telling some people that they would never get through the licensing process because of their funding sources or the police record of their spouse.
Ah, but those of you that know me also know that it is impossible for me to sit in a meeting without drawing… so I did. A good time was had by all.. except maybe the guy whose wife had too many DUI’s!
I mentioned yesterday that it was easy to sketch someone who was working on the computer. It is so much harder to sketch someone who is not only reading, but animatedly acting out what she is reading. Nicola is an actress who married a potter in Concrete, Washington. She wrote a book about their life. It is called “How to Make a Pot in 14 Easy Lessons”
Tomorrow, a completed portrait painting.
I was captivated by this scene. A young couple is walking down one of the ancient, narrow, crowded streets of Naples. The young woman pushes a baby in a buggy and is carrying two big bags of groceries. The young man? He’s playing his accordion. For those of you that do not know, the accordion is a musical instrument with a big voice. It is not easy to play, you have buttons on one side, keys on the other, and a bellows in the middle. It is an instrument that does not really need accompaniment, a one man show.
Once upon a time, Neapolitan street minstrels wandered the streets, playing Italian music to tourists. But today’s Italian youth would rather play heavy rock, or rap. There are still street minstrels all over Naples, but they are not Italian. They are probably clandestini, or undocumented persons. It seemed strange to me at the time that the beautiful music known the word as being from Naples is played now by gypsies and Albanians. I imagine in their hearts they are Neapolitan and their children will be Italian.
This is a 9″ x 12″ watercolor painting. It is for sale for $150.00 until February, when the price will go up. Except for the postage and sales tax, all of the price goes to help endangered species. please use the paypal button below to buy:
In the amazing city of Naples, people watching is a fine art. Everyone is looking at everyone. Some older people pass their day watching… everything. This old woman lived opposite from our friend’s apartment. I found her to be more entertaining than the people she was watching.
This painting is on sale, it is bargain priced during this 30 day challenge at $45.00. Except for postage and sales tax, all of the price goes to help endangered species. please use the paypal button below to buy:
