Day 5 at Hacienda Mosaico

Thank God for Day 5! Jesse was called away just before his morning demo and we were on our own for three hours. I think it was this extended, uninterrupted period of time that allowed me to totally submerge. I came up for air just before he returned. Not only were we all feeling good about our progress but also we had an opportunity to connect. Work on the "messterpieces" continued after his return but the major breakthroughs happened during that three hour submersion!

"Diversity" (30"x39") emerged from nothing. 

I had splattered and spread paint by hand 

over the canvas on Day 1.

Day 4 at Hacienda Mosaico

After a restless night, I decided to approach Day 4 of the workshop with no preconceived ideas of where the painting might go. With determination I allowed one piece to evolve in an undetermined direction. It was easier to work without too many pauses and without too much thought. 

The image that I started with at 10am

The same image 4 hours later at 2pm

Day 3 at Hacienda Mosaico

One of the mosaic settings at Hacienda Mosaico

Day 3 was frustrating for me as I listened to Jesse and attempted to translate his style of painting onto one of the three canvases that I have started. Am image started to emerge on one canvas just before we transitioned to practicing some techniques on paper. Following that I couldn't refocus, felt lost and decided to wait until Day 4 to take a fresh look at everything. 

I am probably making excuses, but the challenge for me is keeping my momentum and energy going through his monologues, demos and exercises as well as combining hand painting with brushes & oil pastels. Whew!...and all of this on an unstretched 30" x 39" canvas. That's a lot of space to fill!! John finally gave in to an urge and planted a big foot print on one of his canvases. Not sure if that was an expression of his frustration or if he was just having fun!!

The tough life of a cat!

Day 2 at Hacienda Mosaico

The swimming pool at Hacienda Mosaico is surrounded by gardens, mosaic sculptures and objets d'art.

Mosaic balls float alongside bathers.

The decor inside is even more interesting than outside!

Meanwhile our group of five students continued to layer acrylic paint with our hands. I managed another hour before the skin on my fingers started to open and peel. The texture of the canvas was too much for my sensitive thin skin! Fortunately the instructor decided that it was time to transition to brushes and oil pastels. By the end of the day something was beginning to emerge from our "messterpieces". That's when one of the students who had attended Jess's classes before told us what to expect tomorrow. On Day 3 we would be expected to "devolve" what we had started to envision!! What kind of sadism is this?!

MESSTERPIECE 1

MESSTERPIECE 2

How will tomorrow's "devolution" affect these two?!

Hacienda Mosaico

Today was the beginning of a five day workshop at Hacienda Mosaico with Jesse Reno. This walled compound is identified by brilliant mosaic displays on the outside and even more amazing creations in the tropical garden courtyard.

We spent the better part of four hours applying acrylic paint onto large pieces of gessoed canvas....with our hands! It is not an easy transition from brush to hand application! It feels like a total loss of control, which is Jesse's goal with his process of applying layer over layer of colour and texture.

I am hopeful that these three preliminary "messterpieces" will evolve into something!

New Year's eve in PV

A delicious dinner at our neighbour's followed by a brilliant display of fireworks. Cisco, the tabby kitten, provided a moment of drama by attempting to swim in the neighbour's infinity pool! Leaping out, spewing chlorinated water, he was quickly swaddled and dried in a towel! My guess is that he won't be trying that again soon!