This painting is at the Tyler, TX, Rose Garden. There is a beautiful arbor covered with little white roses and the day I was there, I painted a small 8x10 on location amid onlookers, then went back to my studio and did this 22x28. I went with my art buddies that I talked about earlier. It's called "plein aire" painting which means in French "open air" painting. It's so much easier to see and feel and touch the vibrant colors and the mood when you are painting on site. It's also nice to have a little study to go by when you want to enlarge something in the studio. There you have all your colors on your little study. 
My husband and I are huge fans of Mexico travelling. We absolutely love it. Our church has Mexico missions several times a year, with men's building trips, the high schoolers building trips, and medical campaigns. I have been going on trips for about 10 years and my husband and I have vacationed up and down the Mexican coast. We have dear friends that have a beautiful vacation home in Akumal. Will show you photos sometime. Anyway, over the years I have learned Spanish (since highschool) and I can get by quite well. Not completely fluent, but certainly know what I am talking about. This painting is called "Waiting on the Padre". I have done several mission paintings. I love the architecture, the stucco, etc. I have several friends in Mexico from our travels.
This is my little darling, Cookie, of which I have spoken several times. She was a red Pomeranian. I had her for 13 years and she died this past year. I miss her so much. She could read my mind. We were inseparable. I went through a time where I was doing pet portraits for the public and loved meeting new people and getting to know their pets. I can do portraits from a good photo, too. But I don't do people portraits - too difficult. It takes a special person with a LOT of patience to do people portraits.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Here is one of my favorite spots in the entire world. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAkumal. We spent a week at our friends' beautiful vacation home there on the beach. It is all done in Spanish style complete with a little Indian couple who take care of the home and cook for you if you want. It's called "Casa de Suenos" - House of Dreams. And it is. I'll have to see if I have a photo that I can scan and show you. Or you can google it I think. OK, now, I put in a link for you to go look at. Eat your heart out - I've been there and plan to go back. Ok, that's all for today. We're fixing to go out to eat with my husband's parents for his dad's 80th birthday. I have the cake all ready and his can of Sir Walter Raleigh, which he always gets. We're going to eat catfish - Bepa's favorite and the kids are going (except my oldest of course, who lives in Nashville - I will assume that he's already called his Bepa to wish him happy birthday) I'll be stuffed tonight! Later - Vickie
11 comments:
Your paintings are beautiful! What a talent you have! Thanks for sharing.
They are all so good - but the one of cookie is really great. Looks like she had a lot of personality!
Wow, Im so Glad you stopped into my Blog House. Your paintings are Amazing Eye Candy... I cant wait to come back and see what else you are up too.. any friend of Margo's is a friend to me!! Have a wonderful weekend. Nice to meet you, jamie
Quit working right now and SELL that art work! Those are marvelous! I hope we will see more!
You are truly talented, You captured the life in Cookie's eyes, and those places look just wonderful. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks to one and all for your kind comments about my art. You all made my entire week! blessings - Vickie
What a wonderful talent you have! It was a joy to see your paintings. Thank you so much for sharing them. (I agree. You need a painting cottage and time to devote yourself to this work.)
I'd sure like to be on that beach! Your paintings are so beautiful.
I agree...quit your day job & paint all day long. What a gift you have! They paintings are beautiful.
What a SUPERB talent and eye for color you have. I especially love the Tyler, Texas rose garden. I'm originally from Texas (Spring Branch), but spent many years in California. One of most favorite 'hole in the wall' places to eat was Tyler Texas BB in the San Fernando Valley. Thank you for bringing back that memory. I can't get decent BBQ here in the North Woods! I often crave Sally Jo's in Houston or Tyler Texas.
Vickie, thank you so much for your 'validation'(for lack of a better word) on my feelings and thoughts. SO many people have looked at me like I'm crazy! We too had 3 sons and it's not necessarily entirely them, but with the older 2 it was who they married. As they say, a daughter is yours forever, but you lose your son to the wifes family. The boys are great with us, but the daughter-in-laws and their beliefs have created monsters. I remember one Thanksgiving when our granddaughter (who had recently been spending a lot of time with me as I got her into girls scouts, etc...) asked me to 'please' pass the potatoes. Her mother leaned down to her and said, "My we're being polite today" and my son (imagine me beaming with pride here) looked at her and said, "she has learned that is the only way it will happen in this house". Needless to say, the daughter-in-law, like always didn't offer to help with the clean-up any more than she had the meal preparation, but in the end I didn't care that day. OOPS ~ I soap boxed too. Sorry about that, it is obviously a topic that still grates on me. Anyway, have a super day! Smiles!
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