"Ir del brazo a brazo" ("Walk arm and arm")

"Ir del brazo a brazo" ("Walk arm and arm")
Originally uploaded by Agave Latte

Peace and Joy to all this holiday season!

New Class in San Diego!

I'm very honored to be a new Instructor for the La Jolla Athenaeum School of the Arts. I'll be offering this class starting in January 09. It will be perfect for those of you who live closer to downtown San Deigo. It's going to be located in University Heights at 4441 Park Blvd.San Diego, CA 92116. Go online to www.ljathenaeum.org to register!

Watercolor Botanical—a Contemporary Approach

Wednesdays, 6–9 PM Jan. 21–Mar. 11

San Diego/Park Blvd. Studio$190/215
This class will focus on botanical elements using the “dropped in color” technique, which incorporates luminosity and brilliance in watercolor. It’s a messy, exploratory, out-of-control way of painting that allows the colors to blend and fuse without making “mud.” We’ll work with contemporary experimental painting techniques, including batik methods with Masa paper. Colored pencils and collage elements will be added to embellish shapes. We’ll also use pours, translucent collage, mark making, and surface textures to create magnified, close-up botanical and still life compositions. Alternative supports will be explored such as paper mounted onto canvas and sealed with an acrylic varnish. Pigment characteristics, color theory, composition, and design will also be covered with demos, critiques, and individual instruction.
Materials: We’ll discuss the full supply list at the first class meeting, but bring the following to the first class: Butcher metal tray or plastic palette; large water container, 2B soft pencil and soft eraser; paper towels; at least two round watercolor brushes, #14,#12, or #10; one-inch flat watercolor brush, and one medium-size round acrylic brush for collage work; one sheet Arches cold press 140 lb. watercolor paper; suggested professional grade palette of watercolor pigments (wait until first class meeting to purchase new paints): Lemon Yellow, Cadmium Yellow Light, Quinacridone Red, Quinacridone Rose or Permanent Rose, Quinacridone Gold, Quinacridone Burnt Sienna or Burnt Sienna, Cobalt Blue, Sap Green, Phthalo Green, Ultramarine Blue or French Ultramarine, Cobalt Blue, Manganese Blue, Carbazole Violet.

Talmadge Art Show

Hi!
Tis the season once again for the San Deigo Talmadge Show. I'm bring lots of cards,paintings and icons.

Talmadge Art Show Sunday November 2310am-4pm San Diego Women’s Club2557 Third Ave. Hillcrest—between Laurel and Maple Free Admission – Free Parking – Credit Cards Accepted To see the full list of artists and craft, go to: http://www.talmadgeartshow.com/ Or call 619-559-9082

Quail Gardens Workshop

Dear friends,
I'm holding a workshop at Quail Gardens www.qbgardens.org in Encinitas, CA on November 9th- hope you can join us!

Book Arts Nature Journal Workshop
Sunday, November 9, 9:30 am - 4 pm
Renowned watercolor artist Helen Shafer Garcia guides you through a day filled with the beauty of art and nature. The morning begins with watercolor painting at select locations throughout the scenic Gardens. The afternoon will include the creation of an extraordinary hand-bound journal with decorative rice papers to record your prose, drawings, collages, and paintings. Bring lunch and supplies. Watercolor supply list available upon registration.
Cost: Members $65, non-members $75 (plus $15 materials fee). Advance registration required. Call 760/ 436-3036 x206.

Two new watercolors!

I've been busy painting new small works, a continuation of my postcard series. These paintings represent Life in an uplifting way. I hope they inspire you.

Tree of life

I've been working on this for a couple of weeks now off and on. It's going to be a book cover for a project in my Oceanside Museum of Art Book Arts Class. http://www.oma-online.org/

It's very relaxing to draw without a preconceived idea. This was especially fun working over gesso and collage images. I like the combo of processes and hope you do too.

Acrylic and Watercolor Class

I still have room in my Palomar College Painting class! If you would like to sign up the info is listed below. This is an opportunity to work in a relaxed atmosphere with plenty of encouragement.

Palomar College
http://www.palomar.edu/
3 units Fall Semester starts August 30th
Acrylic I # 225,Acrylic II #226 , Watercolor I #235, Watercolor II #236
Saturday s 9:00am to 3:30pm Concepts of studio painting utilizing acrylic based colors and watercolors as the primary medium. Exploration of different styles and techniques with emphasis on contemporary modes of expression. Concentration of gaining skills in composition, brush handling, and the use of color.

New watercolor workshop

I'll be teaching next Sunday August 24th at Quail Gardens in Encinitas, CA.

http://www.qbgardens.org/

Here are the details:

Sunday, August 24, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm

A contemporary approach to watercolor focusing on garden botanical elements- we'll spend a portion of the time painting in the Gardens. The materials list will be supplied upon registration.
Cost: Members $65, non-members $75Advance registration required. Call 760/ 436–3036 x206

2 new events for August!

I'll be showing small mixed media works and paintings at these events- hope to see you there!

Bazaar del Mundo
http://www.bazaardelmundo.com/
4133 Talyor St. San Diego 92020
619 295-3161
Visit the new upstairs gallery dedicated to my works!

Special event on August 1-2-3
Latin American Festival
Look for my booth in the courtyard!
10am to 8pm Friday and Saturday - 10am to 5pm Sunday

Summer Talmadge Show
http://www.talmadgeartshow.com/
Saturday August 16th
10am to 4pm
Encinitas Library Community Room
540 Cornish Dr.
Encinitas, CA 92024

Preview Party
August 9th 4pm to 7pm
Trios Gallery
404 N. Cedros
Solana Beach, CA 92075
http://www.triosgallery.com/

D'Alessandro workshop

Just finished taking a workshop at San Diego Watercolor Society with Sandi D'Alessandro. Wonderful workshop! I highly recommend it! Sandi really stretched our imaginations with color and creative exercises. I worked and worked this painting - we started with a charcoal value drawing on a gessoed surface - then applied layers of acrylic. I couldn't get the values and hues that I needed and became really frustrated. I added soft pastels on top in my studio and felt a lot better about the work.

I call this piece "Agave Excelente" It still might not be finished......

The perfect coffee house entrance found in Florida

Viva la Vida

My nephew Jordan and his lovely bride to be Mandy are getting married this weekend in Florida. I designed the invite illustrations. Mandy requested a paisley design with seashore elements. Jordan requested negative painting!

Blessings to both of you!

This is a special piece- it's now owned by a lovely lady who came to my booth at the Rancho Santa Ana Gardens in Claremont, CA. www.rsabg.org

She lost her family to Katrina and her sister loved butterflies....

The poem reads:

A Beautiful Song Resounds

I sing the flowers

Butterflies of song.

Would that they leap forth from myself,

Let my heart enjoy them.

Xayacamach- Aztec Sage

Viva la Vida

San Miguel de Allende is a magical place for artists. Fiestas, fireworks, musica, cafes, cafe con leche, processions with angels and songs, hiking in the Jardin Botanico, sharing laughs with friends and best of all- Color! I spent a week there with my friend Barb-each day was an adventure- great finds like metal angel wings and mini metal nichos for assemblage. We walked everywhere and stopped in cafes for drinks and yummy foods. Life is good.

Warren Ranch Paintout

I was invited to be the Demonstrator for the San Diego Watercolor Society www.sdws.org May Paintout at the Warren Ranch near Escondido, CA.
The area is a canvas of golden rolling hills , mustard flowers, oak trees as well as wild turkeys and other creatures seen as we drove to the ranch. The ranch is located at the border of Rancho Guejito, the last remaining intact Mexican land grants. A holdover from the days of the Mexican dons and missions, the Guejito, at more than 21,000 acres contains an intact Mexican Land Grant much as it was when it was created in 1845. I hope that this beautiful land will continue to be preserved for the future.

About 30 artists gathered for a quiet morning taking in all of the beauty. Our hosts and artists provided tons of yummy foods and coffee! Thanks to all for a great adventure!

Maude's illy

Kathy http://www.themaudeblog.blogspot.com/ created this fun creature in my Book Arts class at Oceanside Museum of Art http://www.oma-online.org/. We printed small images on a Gocco printer- it took us 3 hours to figure it out and after burning up 4 blubs we got it to work!

My friend Jane http://www.janeville.blogspot.com/ gave me (Thanks Jane!!) the printer and I finally had a chance to test it out. Its a great little printer with waterproof inks. So.. its perfect for watercolor washes as you can see here.

Asilomar Art and Soul

Heaven on earth.... that is how I describe Asilomar http://www.visitasilomar.com/ in California. It's located on the Monterey Bay Coast with a front yard of brilliant white sand dunes, verbena and poppy flowers, deer, and the pounding surf. My friend Beth and I attended Art and Soul- an artist's retreat. http://www.artandsoulretreat.com/

Needless to say we had a great time- I took workshops with Daniel Essig, Sally Jean Alexander and Tom Ashman in Book Arts and Soldering.

I discovered that torching to patina copper is fun and soldering.....well.........it takes a little practice.

Took my art classes to Palomar College Cactus Garden in San Marcos, CA. On Monday Ron brought an outrageous salsa and Phyllis brought the chips. My Friday classes went as well- Margaret brought donuts. We spent the time drawing, taking photos, munching, and painting.....What more do you need in life?

oh, and this is for Ron: Agave salmiana ferox!

....and thanks again for the succulent plant gifts

a family of kitty lovers

as you can see my family has always loved kitties- here's my Mom and Grandmother with 2 beloved cats in Virginia, USA.

Borrego Springs March 22, 23rd!

Drive out for the weekend - March 22-23- to see the Art and desert wildflowers in Borrego Springs, CA. I'll have my work on display on Saturday and Sunday at Christmas Circle in the heart of Borrego Springs. www.circle-of-art.org

Letterpress!

Took a Letterpress workshop with Sybil Rubottom at www.bayparkpress.com

on a 3 ton Vandercook Universal I Proofing Press. I created a small Aztec Poem "The Dream of a Word". What an interesting process for a unorganized person! I was pleased with the results.

Book Arts Nature Journal Workshop

I'm teaching this cool workshop at Quail Gardens!

Sunday, February 17

9:30 am - 4:30 pm

Quail Botanical Gardens is just 20 minutes north of downtown San Diego in Encinitas, California. It covers approximately 35 acres at 230 Quail Gardens Drive, which runs parallel to Interstate 5 between Encinitas and Leucadia Blvds.
This workshop is a great opportunity to create an extraordinary Japanese Stab Binding Journal to express your thoughts with prose, drawings, collages, and paintings. We'll start the day painting in the gardens at selected locations with watercolors. Construction of the journal will begin in the afternoon with beautiful decorative rice papers along with the painting. Watercolor supply list available upon registration.
Cost: $65 members, $75 general public (Plus $15 materials fee)
Advance registration required. Call 760/ 436–3036 x206

Moonlight San Miguel

This was a demo I created for my Pastel Class months ago. I donated it to the Vista High School Art Auction to be held on February 9th. My dear friend Barbara (Dept. Chair Art) started this auction years ago to raise funds every year for student art supplies. Our school Art Programs in California are severely underfunded. If you would like to donate please contact Vista High at

760 726-5611.