Mexico

One inch color study of the Maldives.

This past September, my sister got married in Saltillo, Mexico.  Unfortunately, I had no time to stop and paint there.  But I was really happy to see lots of family and it was also Jenny and Santi's first time in Mexico.  This is a small color study of one of their honeymoon pictures in the Maldives.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption - Oaxaca, Mex. - Gouache

Shortly after my older sister's wedding in Saltillo, we found ourselves in Oaxaca, Mexico for one of my other sister's weeding.  This time allowed for some art making.  This the church where the wedding ceremony happened.

Gouache

View from a hotel rooftop.

Side door into the cathedral - watercolor

I was sitting down early in the morning with this little sketch and was approached by two people with guitars in hand, strumming along.  They proceeded to share their sketchbook pages and I mine.  They gave me a cd of theirs and went on their way.  After finishing the sketch I found them in a little coffee shop, where they proceeded to play me a little tune.  I was blown away.  Turns out they are from the west coast and had just played their last gig on a Mexican tour.  Check em out: http://www.nathanandjessie.com

Pen and watercolor

We rented in a car in order to get out of Oaxaca City and found the changing nature around incredible.  From ancient Aztec ruins (Monte Alban and Yagul), cacti, sulfuric waterfalls (Hierve el Agua), to cold, misty mountain forests with piney trees and large agaves.  Such contrast.

Hill Country, TX

In May of 2015, after searching San Antonio, Austin and everything in between we found this home on a hill in New Braunfels.  I really can't express the change or experience the move afforded us as a family.  But having a canyon to hike to one of the best city parks (Landa Park) was truly a welcoming change of routine to big city life.  A magical place where lots of good things happened.

New Place, watercolor and pen.

House in the woods in New Braunfels, TX.  Time to slow things down.

Back yard #1 - Gouache 

In May during all the rain.  Luckily we were on high ground.

Back yard #2... - Gouache

Think this was in the heat of the summer.

Backyard #3

Deer sketches.

Yup we had deer.  Lots of them.

Local Hike - Pen and watercolor

Comal River #1- Gouache

Enjoying the perk of being able to hike down to the river.

Comal #2  - Gouache with Instagram Filter

Follow me on IG: Fishyburns

View from Market Street House, Fayetteville, TX - Gouache

Somewhere between NB and Houston is Fayetteville.  I include this here as part of my Texas landscape works.  My sister's inlaws are Fayetteville staples.  If you are ever in the area and need a place to stay, I highly recommend staying in one of their beautiful stays: http://blackbirdfarmtexas.com

Spain, Italy, and Siths

In my previous post I mentioned I was off to Europe.  I share with you my art experiences on that trip in February or March, or quite possibly both months.

Gouache

Arriving jetlagged to our hotel in a little town in Spain, I forced myself to go outside in the cold sunless afternoon, (with a hot coffee that went cold in minutes) and did my best to paint this lady statue before the cold got the best of me.  

Santa Maria della Salute.  Ink and watercolor.

I was traveling with my father, and we had some days to kill over the weekend, so we went to Venice.   So romantic, haha.  This place made me miss Jenny a lot.  Such a honeymooner's paradise.  Anyway, this was our view out of our hotel room.  What a surprise.

Just had to get out and paint one of these Venetian Canal bridges.

La Charmeuse de serpents. Henri Rousseau - 1907 (Trans. The Snake Charmer)

While in Venice it was cold and rainy.  I dragged my father to an exhibit about the influence Henri Rousseau had on various artists that went on to be pioneers of major art history movements, such as Frida Kahlo, Pablo Picasso, etc.  The exhibit also had works of mentioned artists.  But it was this large feature painting by Rousseau that wow'ed me the most.

oil on canvas

Later in the year, I just had take a crack at Rousseau's "simplified" style.  Too much fun.  This is the only picture I got of it while in progress, before it got put in storage.  Another tidbit about Rousseau's art, most depict a very green, lush jungle scene.  Rousseau never visited these places, and stayed in France most of his life, painting these landscapes from stories he read about explorers visiting Mexico.  Orale!

Le charmeur du côté obscur - Gouache on paper (Trans. The Charmer of the Dark Side)

Santi is a big Star Wars fan.  He asked for Darth Vader and the background just happened.