Monday, May 8, 2017

Bountiful Baja

Home after my workshop at  Rancho Bellota in the beautiful mountains of Guadalupe Valley, Baja Mexico. Our weekend was amazing as usual but this year we had the excitement of an unexpected spring storm. It meant that we had more time to paint and draw...with a few glasses of wine, yummy muffins, chocolates,  and warm brandy.....
Mark the dates for next year and sign up! April 19 to 22 2018.....space is limited to only 10 students. 



"If you paint the sounds you'll find the rhythm of the ranch"
                         Raul Aguliar 


morning demo and paint out at the cabins




 Demo of Agave and cabins with a Tombow pen underpainting for values....
Watercolor glazes on top

 Off to two wineries in Guadalupe Valley in the afternoon. Our hosts Raul and Caroline took us to Misiones de California and Vinas de Graza. 




Our Sommelier and owner of Misiones de California gave us a wonderful education of wine selections, processes and more....we were also given some delicious chesses made in the valley at Cremería Los Globos .....a  shop selling local cheese, wine, honey, olives, and jams. Km. 92, Hwy. 3, San Antonio de Las Minas, Valle de Guadalupe; 52-646/120-5092.




along the way on our drive home to the ranch......


The next morning we ventured out in Bellota Canyon to paint on location. The storm was moving in and it got a bit cold....lucky for us Raul arrived with Melon Margaritas to warm us up....






The Ranch dogs followed us on the trail and guarded us against the varmints....






Raul, Ellen, and Ian..... Ian is from Belgium and working on the ranch as an intern. 


Went on a rainy 4.5 mile hike down Bellota Canyon.....Lois found this incredible rock....