Author Archives: Linda Denis

Where to go to find a sanctuary in a foreign place? In Guayabitos the Catholic Church is open to the public on extended hours, no admission fees, beautiful and comfortable. I go there to sketch and remember my loved ones with a lighted candle. It not the simple act of lighting a candle and giving a donation. You need to cross the street and buy your candle at one of the local depanneurs or 7-11 stores. There is a good selection of votive candles; hot pink, red or lime green or religious icons for about 30 pesos. The offering box is near the main alter. You give what you want. The church is named, The Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The icon of Mary and Child associated with this church harks back to the Byzantine era of the 15th century.

Linda Denis, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, watercolour, Venezia Sketchbook, 2015

There are other places of tranquility but not of the same quality. Beyond the maleçon in La Peñita the fishermen beach their boats when not out in the bay.

Linda Denis, Parked until the next Sea Journey, watercolour, Venezia Sketchbook, 2015

Linda Denis, Beached Fishing Boat, La Peñita, watercolour, Venezia Sketchbook, 2015

I return to the building site on the maleçon for my final look at progress.

Linda Denis, Progress on the Construction Site, La Peñita, watercolour, Venezia Sketchbook, 2015

Then, I take out my sketchbook to do a watercolour of suburbia Guyabitos. Here quiet persists except for the barking guard dogs and a few pedestrians out for a leisurely walk or a quick walk to the swing bridge to look at the crocodiles.

Linda Denis, Storm maybe Today, watercolour, Venezia Sketchbook, 2015

I continue to sketch daily in my Venezia Sketchbook. The construction workers in La Peñita are exceptional models: very reliable, quick to change a pose or disappear. They do not care who is watching, photographing or sketching them. You cannot ask for more. Lagom är bäst.

Linda Denis, Worker finishing tile window ledge, watercolour

Linda Denis, Finishing touches to cement ledge, watercolour

Linda Denis, Workers applying their skills, watercolour

Linda Denis, Another day with a shady spot to work, watercolour

This Swedish proverb means the right amount is best – no more, no less. In Viking times, this is how the proverb was applied.

How much mead one should drink from a horn as it is passed around in order for everyone to receive a fair share?

Still it applies in modern days for how much is needed when less will do. Oddly, I am applying this thought to my watercolour sketching. How much water to mix with the pigment? How damp or dry is my paper? How many figures, building, trees or sky is needed? How light might the sky be or dark ?

As an artist,  I look towards a master watercolourist for answers. Swedish watercolour artist, Lars Lerin shows the way. Dawn Treadler’s blog covers three of his exhibitions with her photographs. Another site worth visiting to see Lerin’s paintings is Art Investment RU.

Lars Lerin, watercolour, via www.forum.artinvestment.ru

Lars Lerin , watercolour, via www.tradera.com

Lars Lerin, Light in the East, watercolour,102×142 cm, 2002-2012

So, I continue sketching daily in my Venezia sketchbook, with my newly acquired Holbein 500 palette, the Escoda brushes recommended by Joseph Zbukvic and plently of water.

I visit the Guayabitos beach daily to sketch figures and eat. I particular enjoy sketching the area where several vendors cluster to sell their ready to eat food and drinks from Friday to Sunday. Brochetas Cora Costend, Luisa, Kande offer white fish or shrimp. A refreshment of Agua Fresca and Tejuino will finish the snack and costs 10 pesos. A brochette of white fish and shrimp cooked over coals is 25 to 30 pesos. Great value, nutritious and good.

Time to rest

Pineapples, Mangoes to go and Fish Brochettes

Sunday Brunch on Guayabitos Beach

Construction work in La Pentia

In Mexico, Febuary 2nd is a festive holiday. It is a mixture of past pre-Hispanic and present Catholic beliefs. One of twelve festive holidays, it falls forty days after Christmas. The action for this celebration starts on January 6th, King’s Day. A sweet bread, Rosca de Reyes is filled with small figurines of baby Jesus. If you bite into one of these figurines, you must share in the preparation of tamales and atole for Dia da la Candelaria. In Pre-Hispanic tradition, villagers brought corn to the church to receive the blessing for the corn seed planted and the hope of a plentiful harvest. Here in this village, Guayabitos, we attend mass and picnic on the beach. Others are more attentive putting a figurine of baby Jesus in a special niche after taking him to mass. If you chose to keep the baby Jesus at your house be prepared for visitors and to share your food. This commitment is for a year.

Pagans celebrate this day as a midpoint between winter solstice and spring equinox. We celebrate it as Groundhog day. This morning the groundhog cast his shadows: three out of five times seeing its shadow. So we will have 6 more weeks of winter in Canada. Anything new there?

Back to sketching in my Venezia by Fabrino.

Passage via Jacqueline Hotel

Water fountain, town square

Waiting for a sale

Each year since 1967 Stewart Hall Rental in Pointe-Claire,Qc  offers artists a chance to submit their works to be juried into their annual rental and sales. This year the collection is open to view from October 25- November 23, 2014. Vernissage is Sunday October 26 from 2pm until 5pm. Stewart Hall is located at 176 chemin du Bord-du-Lac, Pointe Claire, Qc, H9S 4J7. Monday through Sunday 1pm to 5pm and Wednesday 1pm to 9pm. All welcome, free admission. I have been fortunate to be part of this collection for several years. In the past my landscapes have been chosen but this year my water fountain buddha. Please visit and enjoy the variety of works.

Buddha, acrylic, 30×30