Remembering the Light

The extraordinary light, the beautiful mountains, the perfect weather, the warmth of the people, the colorful culture, the delicious foods and spices, the exciting music and smells made the visit to San Miguel a multi-sensational experience. My stay at Casa Luna with the Main Line Art Center (www.mainlineart.org) group led by Francine Shore set the scene for a transformation so that I came back from Mexico an artist ready to pursue my dream and become a professional artist.

I look forward to revisiting San Miguel and staying at Casa Luna again, tracing my steps and finding new places, always expanding my horizons and open to new experiences.Here is a good resource to learn more about San Miguel www.sanmiguelmagazine.com

From the top: Remember the Light, mixed media; Casa Luna Evening, monotype; Remember the Days, mixed media

Perfect Climate in San Miguel

San Miguel has a delightful spring-like climate all year. The average day is brisk in the morning, with warm and sunny afternoons, and cool nights. At 6400 feet, both the humidity and the temperature is kept down and the air is clean and refreshing. Many tourist from North America come to San Miguel in the winter, where they can enjoy nice days in the 70s instead of the snow and the cold. But the winter nights still afford time in front of the fireplaces in the many bars, cafes, and bistros in town, and most find a sweater still necessary when the sun goes down.

The rains arrive after the hot dry month of May when San Miguel goes through a transformation into an oasis paradise. The rains continue, usually a brief shower in the late afternoon, until the month of September. Every day seems like a little slice of heaven on earth. The temperatures range from 70's to 80's year-round. For more information about San Miguel, visit
http://portalsanmiguel.com

The sun became an important image for me in Mexico. I used it in the monotype series I made when I returned. From the top: Night Fiesta, El Sol, Mexican Morning and Daybreak are colorful, vibrant, and express my love of Mexico and my time there.

Mexican Monotypes

I came home from San Miguel D' Allende changed forever. I left a hobbyist and came home an artist, ready to devote myself completely to my art. I cleared out a room and created a studio. I worked passionately for hours and hours on creating new work. I took workshops and classes, fine-tuning my techniques. I also learned about other printmaking techniques and materials. I wanted to become greener, using less toxic materials. I discovered Akua Kolors which are soy-based and much better for my skin than using oil-based inks which require toxic materials for cleaning, yet I could achieve the sheen I wanted when using them.

I went to a 4-day workshop created by Ileen Henderson of New Hope for Art http://www.newhopeforart.com, led by Susan Rostow who created Akua Kolors which I still prefer and use most often. http://www.waterbasedinks.com

These monotypes are from a series I made at the workshop. From the top: Moonlit Horizon, Mexican Sunset, Mountain Moon.

Reinventing Myself

Since the 1930's, expatriates have come to San Miguel to reinvent themselves. 70% of the foreigners living there are Americans, most retired. It is also know for its world-renowned community of artists, many of whom, while garnering international acclaim, have chosen to live and exhibit there in the numerous art galleries here. The extraordinary natural beauty, pleasant climate, warm people and dramatic sunsets make it an unforgettable artistic escape.

I created art everyday, walked the lovely streets, absorbed the charm and beauty of the landscape and Mexican culture, and thought about what I wanted to do with myself and my art. What was holding me back from being an artist? FEAR!! Fear of failure. Fear of ridicule. I decide I would follow my heart and my dreams and do what I had wanted to do but was afraid to do in high school. I was ready to accept public criticism and not fall apart over it. When we all presented our work at the end of the week, I presented mine and said that 11 artists came to Mexico but 12 artists were leaving!

Once I got home, I cleared out a room for my studio and got to work 24/6 (I observe the Sabbath) making up for lost time, I suppose. Here are some of the first works I did when I came home from Mexico.

From the top: Mexico Remembered 1, mixed media; Mexico Remembered 2, mixed media; Joyous Sunshine of San Miguel, mixed media, Art Group in San Miguel, photograph

Doorways

I was spending the days with 11 other women all of whom called themselves artists. I was the only one who did not think of myself an artist. I considered myself artistic. I knew I was way better than average, but I never labeled myself an artist. I had one show in 1995 at the Temple University Alumni Center through a contact from Rita Lourie Galena and got good feedback from it, but it was an isolated and fun incident.

I walked around the town taking pictures and making prints in the studio I established in the bathroom at Casa Luna. We went on day trips a few days, shopping trips now and again and out for dinner and margueritas. The week was going by quickly.

Across the courtyard from me, one of the rooms had not be redone yet. The doorway (top photo) was still unfinished and raw. Most doorways in Casa Luna and in the town were works of art. I took many pictures of them. Here are several. Little did I know that a new door was opening for me into a new career and lifestyle.

Colores de Mexico

San Miguel is the seat of the of the municipality of Allende in Guanajuato which is the heartland of Mexico- geographically and historically. This is where men fought and died to create the United States of Mexico. San Miguel is a key tourist attraction of the area.

Everyday we either walked around San Miguel or took a van ride into the countryside to visit an interesting places not too far away. The rich colors of what I saw stayed in my mind's eye and influenced my work in my Casa Luna "studio" and when I got home.

Doing artwork everyday and being in an art community made me rethink what I was doing with my life and the direction I was taking. I found I really enjoyed what I was doing and wondered what was holding me back from staying focused on art more at home.

I started soul searching and reviewing life choices.

From the top: San Miguel in My Mind, mixed media (done at home;) Fiesta, monotype; Wall in Guanajuato, photo; San Miguel Doorway, photo

Casa Luna

Casa Luna, the red weathered 300 year old villa right in the heart of San Miguel, has been lovingly restored by Diane Kushner who makes you feel right at home in this colonial bed and breakfast where every room is a work of art. The gardens and courtyard are an intergral part of the buildings in Mexican architecture. I loved the integration of inside/outside here. For more information, visit www.casaluna.com

The colors and light of the surroundings exploded in my senses priming me for exploration. Using color, pastels, drawing, sketch pads because of their transportability, I was able to free myself of old barriers and create new textures and visions. Using rice paper and hand printing instead of BFK Rives and the traditional press, I experimented and achieved a different outcome from the usual. The colors were muted, but the process was immediate and spontaneous.

Many changes were taking place inside my head in Mexico. I could feel something going on....

Photographs from top: Casa Luna Wall, Casa Luna Roof, Casa Luna Fountain, Casa Luna Courtyard