Teaching Nature Journal

In the studio at J&J Ranch

I taught a private "Nature Journal" workshop to my friend's Art Posse. We were hosted by Jill at the J&J Ranch in Descanso. It was a stunning spring day! 

My page in progress by Jane LaFazio

grinning

completed page by Jane LaFazio

from my sketchbook by Jane LaFazio

from my sketchbook by Jane LaFazio

Student work at the end of the day

Happy artists at the end of the day. Outstanding in the meadow!

Design and Carve your own Stamps. Workshop in San Clemente, CA

May 4: Stamp Design and Carving

$125. 10am-4pm

San Clemente Art Supply, San Clemente, California

Click to REGISTER HERE

Description: A rubber stamp of your own design is a wonderful addition to an artist’s personal ‘tool box.’ Create a simple, graphic design to be used again and again on paper, cloth or any surface. Jane will guide you to select an flower image from a copyright free source, change it, simplify it and then, once it’s your own unique creation, carve the design into a small printmaking block. You’ll use this skill again and again!

I love to design and carve my own original stamps. It's so satisfying! And you can use them on paper or cloth and they last for years and years. Don't worry if you don't think you can draw, I'll have copyright free books to inspire you.

REGISTER HERE 

REGISTER HERE for the May 4 workshop in San Clemente, California

Puebla, Mexico. fifth installment

our hotel lobby! in Puebla

We spent 6 days in Mexico City, then took a very comfortable bus to Puebla (just two hours away.) We stayed in Puebla 4 days, and then flew home.

Compared to Mexico City's 21 million people, Puebla at 1.5 million seems small. We stayed in the historic center of town and were able to walk to many sites, including the zocalo and cathedral.

(links at the bottom of the page)

The cathedral

A daytime view of the cathedral

Walking the friendly streets of Puebla

Kids practicing their English on us

another group, practicing their English on us

beautiful day, beautiful view of Puebla

Lupita (Los antiguos bohemios is an amazing entertainer. Right in our hotel lobby.

historic Puebla

Kids fascinated by our sketchbooks

The zocalo at night

working in our sketchbooks

Ancient pyramids nearby Puebla

Our group of amigos, at the pyramids

St Maria Tonatzintla cathedral

Farewell to Mexico dinner

traveling home from Puebla to Tijuana to San Diego

We had a wonderful time! Lots of great artistic inspiration, along with history and just plan fun. Mexico's people were incredible friendly everywhere we went, and seemed happy that we were visiting their country. 

See installment one, two, and three and four.   

Mexico City
The Red Tree House B&B, Condesa (FANTASTIC)
Merotoro restaurant, Condesa (very good)
Museo del Palacia de Bellas Artes (murals. amazing. do not miss)
Soumaya Museum (incredible collection. do not miss)
La Capital restaurant, Condesa (we ate there twice)
Museo National de Antopologia  (all day venture, with lunch on the patio. do not miss)
Museo Frida Kahlo Casa Azul (Frida and Diego's house. duh, do not miss. make advance reservations)
Museo Diego Rivera Anahuacalli (amazing building. architect: Rivera)
Murals de Diego Rivera Secretary of Education Building (Diego fans do not miss)

Netouring with guide Kuny. (Private tour and bus)

Puebla

Mesones Sacristia  (small hotel, perfect location, with excellent food)

Talavera de la Reyna (gorgeous quality talavera pottery-there's a factory nearby, but it's closed on Sundays)

Museo Amparo (ultra-modern museum with great upstairs cafe view)

Hotel Royale (Azotea ~3rd floor for drinks and the view)

St Maria Tonatzintla cathedral (like no other you've ever seen!)

Manos de la Tierra (jewelry store)

Carlos Rivero Tours (tour guide and transportation)

Mexico City. The murals of Diego Rivera. Fourth installment

Diego Rivera's signature on one of the frescos. (notice the hammer and sickle?)

One of the biggest personal discoveries, for me, was the huge range of work, created by Diego Rivera. Just in Mexico City, there are dozens and dozens of his HUGE powerful and deeply meaningful murals. His sense of composition, and the strong message is incomparable. While at Palacia de Bellas Artes, I saw a video of his murals located at the Secretary of Publication Building in Mexico City. I knew I had to see them!

The Building is huge, filled with working offices. It's free to go in. Unfortunately, we didn't have a guide, so many of the murals messages remain a mystery to me. I am starting my research!

(Links for are at the bottom of this post)

The Secretary of Education Building, interior courtyard

A couple of murals were being painstakingly restored, with a teeny tiny brush

These are all photos I took with my Iphone. 

Santa Anita (Fresco by Diego Rivera 1922-24)

The Market (Fresco by Diego Rivera 1923-24)

Looks kinda like Diego, in the jacket doesn't it?

 The Dyers (Fresco by Diego Rivera 1923)

 Sugar Mill (Fresco by Diego Rivera 1923)

The Rural Teacher (Fresco by Diego Rivera 1923)

The Harvest (Fresco by Diego Rivera 1923)

The Offering (Fresco by Diego Rivera 1923)

Day of the Dead (Fresco by Diego Rivera 1923-24)

Tehuantepec Women (Fresco by Diego Rivera 1923)

The murals on the lower level depict the story of Mexico. The murals on the 3rd floor are clearly more political.

We Want to Work (Fresco by Diego Rivera 1928)

Wall Street Banquet (Fresco by Diego Rivera 1928)

So, the mural above was done right before the fall of Wall Street, and the start of the Depression...

Literacy (Fresco by Diego Rivera 1928)

Emiliano Zapata (Fresco by Diego Rivera 1928)

The Protest (Fresco by Diego Rivera 1928)

He Who Want to Eat has to Work (Fresco by Diego Rivera 1928)

Look at the figure in the bottom of the above mural. 

Here's a detail shot. The figure seems to be an artist...music, paint, books. Is she/he wearing lamb's ears? I have no idea!

In the Arsenal (Fresco by Diego Rivera 1929

Clearly Frida Kahlo made it into one of the murals. Above.

Fascinating huh? And these were only some of the dozens of Rivera's murals at the Education Building.

See installment one, two, and three. I'll share more of our trip in my next post. But meanwhile, here are the links so you can plan your trip!

Mexico City
The Red Tree House B&B, Condesa (FANTASTIC)
Merotoro restaurant, Condesa (very good)
Museo del Palacia de Bellas Artes (murals. amazing. do not miss)
Soumaya Museum (incredible collection. do not miss)
La Capital restaurant, Condesa (we ate there twice)
Museo National de Antopologia  (all day venture, with lunch on the patio. do not miss)
Museo Frida Kahlo Casa Azul (Frida and Diego's house. duh, do not miss. make advance reservations)
Museo Diego Rivera Anahuacalli (amazing building. architect: Rivera)
Murals de Diego Rivera Secretary of Education Building (Diego fans do not miss)

Netouring with guide Kuny. (Private tour and bus)

Puebla

Mesones Sacristia  (small hotel, perfect location, with excellent food)

Talavera de la Reyna (gorgeous quality talavera pottery-there's a factory nearby, but it's closed on Sundays)

Museo Amparo (ultra-modern museum with great upstairs cafe view)

Hotel Royale (Azotea ~3rd floor for drinks and the view)

St Maria Tonatzintla cathedral (like no other you've ever seen!)

Manos de la Tierra (jewelry store)

Carlos Rivero Tours (tour guide and transportation)