pomegranates for juice-making tomorrow (and another plant for decoration)
It is getting late here and there is a big festival at La Fragua tomorrow. The festival combines agriculture with art, food, and music...everything La Fragua is about. I am still loving it here. Finally feel some momentum with my art (more on that below).
This was going to be a quick update, but there are so many photos and video clips I want to share. So much inspiration and loveliness. So here it all is in a big lovely pile.
First, a video of me taking about a typical morning of trying to do stuff and not really getting anywhere fast.
The thorn that punctured my bike tire. Seriously one sharp plant!
The Market, Gourmet Foods Shop, and the Carpenter (and the pig!)
love this pink bicycle...and an old man was riding it which made it that much cuterA video of the plaza at sunset. The birds are incredible in this video. Give a watch! This was yesterday hanging out with Gaby and Uma.
These guys were hanging out next to the road when I was biking to the convent this morning. I just love those bells.
Pablo made Rosana and me an amazing Italian dinner the other night. I made the antipasto platter under his direction. His sauce was amazing!
Dinner and Dancing with Pablo and Rosana
So now for an art update.
Yesterday and today I finally felt some energy behind my work in the studio. I had energy and intention. Last week was hard because everything was new and my supplies were (and still are) lost and I had to find everything. This week I had a bad cold at the beginning of the week and so I focused on sleeping and eating soup. Now I am feeling better and moving forward.
I feel momentum, which is great. In particular because two days ago I was really hoping that I would find my momentum and get going. I actualy wrote:
"I am hoping that I am pedaling uphill, because I am working but it feels hard. I am hoping that this path is not actually flat and I am just weak. I hope the path I am on is taking me up so that at some point I will be able to coast down with momentum and start painting with furvor and results. I hope this is the uphill."
And it seems that was the uphill. I spent a lot of time thinking about my paintings, sketching and staring at my materials trying to figure out the best ways to make do with what I have. Well, I feel the hard times have lead to fruitful times again and for now I am moving quickly. Today I stayed at the convent until after dark. I painted for about 7 hours. Riding home in the dark with the stars was beautiful, but a little scary.
Some of my latest work here: (and they do link to larger versions this time)
Pilgrimage (12x24" on panel; encaustic and oil)
Losing It 1 & 2 (12x12" on panel; encaustic)
When All Feels Lost 1 & 2 (12x12" on panel; encaustic mixed media)
Climbing and The Garden (some fun warm-up pieces I did; ~7x7" encaustic on panel)
Lay My Head to Rest (12x12" on panel; encaustic and oil)
No Plan (12x12" on panel; encaustic)
the convent as I was leaving this evening