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
