Sunshine Pallette Mexico Part 3 Process and Teachers work.

Before my class arrived in Mexico this past March,  I was lucky enough to have some time to myself at a friends place. This allowed me to draw a lot. I could go through my whole process, but I think drawing is the one thing I need to keep the creative juices flowing.  I've learned over the years painting on location that what really matters is composition, creating a mood, and getting things down loosely, not being precious about anything. 

Colour comes very easily to me. What I really need before teaching, is a period of time to explore ideas, shapes, composition. In this series I'm showing how I see the initial shapes, choose the proportions of my picture plane, composing, then add the smallest amount of detail, and value sketch. Lots of people don't love this phase, but it's actually the most important part of creating a painting. Concept, visualizing, and seeing if it works. 

                                                

I like to give many examples of what I'm drawing, and then the value study. You can go back and forth and note the details in the photo that didn't make it into the value sketch. I'm a bit strict about identifying your darks, mediums and lights at this phase. that's really how you'll see if it works. It's too bad there are many terrible examples of "thumbnails, which more represent the mess in soemones' mind, rather than how the painting will look. 

                                                

You can also tell how succesful the painting might be from yoru initial response to seeing each value study, know as a notan, or a thumbnail. I like to call it a value study because that is what your thumbnail should be. A drawing that tells you where your darks, mediums, and lights should go.  The viewer should  be able to see and figure out what the painting is about in a split second. 

I loved the two tones on this stucco exterior, so typical of many Mexican homes to be painted in a lively intense colour,  the subtle shadows, and placement of leaves and petals. I loved the drawing. The colour version is also small, I consider that a "field sketch" meaning a small piece in colour to see how the composition in colour would work in a painting. If it doesn't work out at this stage, I've only used up a small amount of time trying it out. By working small, you can try out more ideas. Creative people are swimming in ideas for paintings all the time.  This piece doesn't represent  the colours accurately. One of the things that happens when travelling and painting. You must "make do" with the selection at hand. And not fuss too much over being too particular. 

In my teaching life these days, I'm teaching more about creativity, working through ideas, and how to maintain your creative motivation. To stay in love with art.  That's why, on this recent painting trip to Mexico, we spent time talking about ideas, organizing them. Which ideas are best painted on location, and which ones come back home by way of sketch and photo? We only have so much time on these trips, so photo opps with no painting does happen. Here are some ideas that worked, got done, or may be in the future. 

Not only does honing your photography skills take the pressure off of painting everything while there, it is also a visual journal of sorts, a memoir to look back on and remember all the amazing things you saw while travelling. There are amazing things to paint everywhere, you never have to go far from home, if you know how to compose. What you do get from my trips is some guidance, the pleasure of travelling with many other like minded people, and the sharing of our creative spirit. It's just something you can't top, coming together under the umbrella of our love of art. 

Stay tuned for an announcement about my next trip, exotic, exciting, with a distinct culture.

Cheers, Margaret  

 

Sunshine Palette Mexico Part 2: The actual artwork on our trip

Barb, from Ottawa, captures the deep rich jungle background, with light interspersed, prayer flags keeping it playful, along with the purples and yellows on the ground. 

 I want to say a word or two about plein air painting. In this current art world, where many people are tracing photos, and many of us are even using photo reference, my hat goes off to the brave men and women who go outside on location, and paint what is in front of them. It's the most challenging thing any artist can do. Not only does it challenge your drawing skills in ways that studio work can't, my students are also learning to employ good compositonal skills at the same time. Lots of process work, while many subjects are experimented with. This ensures that even beginners make paintings with solid compositions. 

                                           

                Gail, from Angus, Ont., paints ocean views, with fence and the fullness of the gardens. 

There's nothing like several days of just waking up, having a lovely breakfast you did not make, having no excuse, no distractions, just time to paint, satisfy ones' curiousity on many ideas. 

                                                   

Miriam, from Ottawa defies the rules of composition with interesting split of the picture plane, and expresses herself with wild colour. 

As the teacher, what was really nice for me, was knowing where everyone was, with not too much distance between. It made it easy for me to keep on top of what everyone was doing, when they'd need my help.

Barb, from Shanty Bay, Ont. worked an a dark ochre pastel paper, and played with values, and how to create depth through values. The flower is more detailed, the back varies between some leaves and some soft vagueness. 

Another great thing about being a group, was sharing ideas, seeing different interpretations of the same subject material, appreciating unique viewpoints. As a teacher it is amazing to see so many different ideas culminating in many paintings. 

           Judy, from Clinton Ont., expresses depth, light, and subtle colour change in the ocean and sky. 

Many people who ask about my trips think you have to be an expert to go on a painting trip. Not on my trips! This trip to Mexico had some people who had taken my basic intro to pastel class, but had other art classes, knew how to draw and use other mediums. One person came from B.C. who had never studied with me before but had pastel experience. Many had several years of pastel work, and some had been on many of my trips. So the students level runs the gammet from beginner to advanced.

                                                   

                             Lynn, from Vancouver Island captures a delicate light on this Welcome plant. 

My job, is to guide everyone to start off simple, challenge yourself with realistic goals, build your portfolio of works, be on top of who needs lessons on whatever, and to have in depth discussions on confidence, future ideas, developing your voice and anythign under the sun. 

Bev from Toronto brings a solid drawing, bold colour and a unique idea of what constitutes a solid composition. 

Time is spent on photo management, and making in the moment decisions about what can be painted plein air, and what may be painted in the future from a photo. After all, even if 10 days seems like a lot of painting time, there's no way you can try out all your ideas while there. How to make the most of all the images you see?

Margo from Newmarket knew to isolate herself and sink into a delicious drawing that will remind her of our wonderful trip together. 

The thing to do, is to write a journal, take photos, and let the most exciting ideas rise naturally to the surface. Trust that process. In this way, the trip can last a lot longer than 10 days or two weeks!

Koreen, from Langley B.C., started off the trip with a solid painting of sky, ocean and the gorgeous Bougainvilleas that abounded.

On a painting trip where you are not spending tons of time on the road, one sinks in, warms up, gets a few pieces done, and falls into a groove. Things start to flow, compositions improve with every painting, ease replaces angst, and you remember why you love art. 

Nancy, from Ottawa, created this seemingly simple work, which would take time, skill and care to observe each leaf, it's particular shape and place within the design. In our busy world, it is a luxury to take the time to do nature justice. 

Margaret, teaching in a very relaxed atmosphere. 

We had many presentations on thumbnails, composition, drawing, still life, slide shows, and colour. In between, when breaks were needed, we'd swim in the ocean, laugh, talk a lot, swim in the pool, enjoy happy hour and relaxation time as much as the painting time. 

Stay tuned for Part three, where I talk about my own work on our trip, drawing, thumbnails, field sketch and pastel painting, start to finish.  See you then! 

Sunshine Palette Mexico Part One: Puerto Vallarta and Nayarit

This March (2025) 12 brave Canadians left the winter behind to adventure ourselves into warm climates on our trip, Sunshine palette Mexico. Here we are outside of our home away from home, Casa Buena art retreat. We were located about 3 hours north of Puerto Vallarta (by bus), right on the Pacific Coast. It was a beautiful blend of established students from the Ottawa area, and a couple of Canadians from as far away as B.C. 

Our adventure began a few days before, when people arrived in Puerto Vallarta, and we all gathered together to enjoy the cultural activities around beach walks, sculptures, gorgeous mosaics, many art galleries, interesting historical architecture, and out hotel, which was a cornucopia stuff to paint! 

Gorgeous mosaics everywhere. 

Our first night out in Puerto Vallarta, eating at a seafood restaurant, PV's speciality.  

Artwork, including sculptures and murals abounded, as well as many galleries. 

Church of Our lady of Guadaloupe, Puerto Vallarta. 

Many streets adorned with flags, or umbrellas, to provide some shade for the many visitors. Pretty, and nice to paint. When you are on the move and can't, or don't have time to paint, a photo reference for after the trip also works. 

And now, on to Casa Buena Art Retreat, Nayarit, Mexico. 

After 3 hours of driving, and stopping to shop at the open air markets of Sayulita, we finally made it to the retreat. Since I've posted the picture of the main building with pool many times, I thought I'd show some other sides to the retreat.

Trees and bushes, flowers were everywhere, which means plenty of subjects to paint, and plenty of shade to create in comfort.  

The absolute abundance of Flowers

Bougainvailleas of every colour imaginable.

Halyconias, also many types.

Morning glories. 

The palm tree were beautiful, but as you can see, we had many multi-coloured floral choices

 as well. 

You didn't have to go far to get amazing views of cliffs, water and sky or mist. This was an early morning shot, which burnt off easily as the day warmed up. the weather could not have been more perfect. 

Potted plants, how much detail? How far away? Many ways to figure this into a painting. 

A few side trips to photo other subject matter. In these instances where there was nowhere in the shade to paint, we'd stop for a photo opp, and keep going. 

The sunsets did not disappoint, nor did the sunset challenges. A lot of learning was had by keen observation. 

Spending all day together, sharing meals, painting or swimming, you get to know the other artists on the trip very well, and in a comfortbale way that you don't get from a weekly class. This, is a shared experience, under very relaxing circumstances. 

Of course, this is just a sampling of what out trip was like. Stay tuned for part 2, where I go into much more details about what was painted. 

Til then, Adios. 

 

Janet Milne, a woman who was respected, admired and loved.

Janet, hard at work on thumbnails, Le Piannore, Tuscany, 2015

On Thursday January 25th, 2024, I received a shocking phonecall, that Janet Milne had died suddenly that morning. Everyone is in shock, as Janet was a model for me, of how to live a healthy meaningful life. I always admired her, and often thought I wanted to be just like her when I get older. 

the lighthouse at Pointe au Baril, soft pastel by Janet Milne

I met Janet many years ago (guessing 20 years?) when she phoned me, she had been referred to me as the pastel teacher in the Ottawa area. I was teaching a workshop that week, and Janet showed up in no time, with works in progress. Like many of my students, she was in disarray, because something was wrong with her drawing, and she couldn't figure out what it was. The painting, in pastel was of her granddaughter. It was easy for me to help her with the proportions, and voila, the piece was much better quickly. Janet was thrilled. 

A winner, on location, soft pastel.

The next day, Janet showed up at the workshop, and thrust a bottle of wine in my hand. She said "You're the best art teacher I've ever had". And thus began, the long friendship, bolstered by many life drawing workshops, every pastel class I ever taught, plein air, and her loyalty in coming on as many of my painting trips as she could muster. There was a nucleus, and small group of very loyal students who took many classes with me. When I left the Ottawa area to take care of aging parents, Barb Dickson took the flag, and kept the group going, with weekly plein air excursions that I am proud to say still go on to this day. Thanks Barb. Janet was an integral part of this ongoing group. To this day they paint, hike and snowshoe together and I'm sure Janet will be very much missed by everyone in this group. 

appreciating nature

There are so many things I really appreciated about Janet: First and foremost Janet was loving and kind.  To us, yes, but always talking of her family as well.  She was just into people, and seeing the best in everyone. 

2nd, for me, she was such a great supporter and encouraged ever project I took on, coming to as many workshops as she could manage, but also expressing her satisfaction with various courses and how much she was learning. Thirdly, Janet was generous in every way possible. The thrusting of wine bottles into my hand was a regular occurence, and she was up for so many adventures. I visited her at her cottage, in Florida, when her and Glen lived there in the winters, and she came out for so many plein air days, and anything I tried to put on. Thank you Janet, for your support. It meant everything. 

Janet was also into philosophy of every kind and loved debating art issues, but also politics, science and any subject. She was a person who could think for herself, and had many opinions on every topic under the sun. But an informed opinion, and intelligent opinion. She loved the interaction of human minds coming together in any kind of debate. I can't say I always agreed with her, but respected her right to voice her opinion. It made our freindship more genuine. 

Mostly I just loved Janet for being such a great, caring, generous person. I will continue to admire her and appreciate her place in my life for many days to come. 

Thankyou for your life, Janet!  

Pics of our travels together:

Peru

 

Portugal

Georgian Bay

Tucany and the Amalfi Coast

Visiting a winery, with a great view for painting

Outdoor pizza oven at LePiannore

Angus teaching us how to make Risotto. It was SO delicious!

Sienna

The ruins at Herculaneum.

On to Spain,...

Our reward for walking up this mountain, with a castle and a view!

Janet hard at word using her Vaultz box. 

A hint of the beautiful mediterranean water colours. 

Mallorca, Spain

There are literally thousands of photos of our travels. Thank you Janet, for being who you are, we love you.