tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91920973083572705682023-11-16T01:21:01.804-06:00ALOTaboutLIGHTI am a professional artist living full time in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Light and color excite me to a degree which has at times almost given me to wonder about my condition. However, people do seem to respond positively to the results, so I find myself allowed to go on feeding my habit with an endless feast of tints and tones. Artist heaven, you may ask? - well, there is THE WALL of course. But I try to see through, as best I can.- I guess we all do.Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-86604267018087626392015-05-05T15:12:00.001-05:002015-05-05T15:33:33.013-05:00AFTER A VERY LONG REST...<div style="text-align: center;">
After a very long rest I have decided to keep my blog more or less alive. A few months back I ran into a spate of posting glitches, and as I neared the point of tearing out hair, I figured it just wasn't worth the anguish. Well "a change is as good as a rest" and at about the same time a lot of change began to stir up my life:</div>
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First of all, last summer I started feeling a bit ill – aches and pains, bad sinus headaches with a bit of trouble walking thrown in. It got worse over a period of months and I started seeing doctors. We went out to the coast a couple of times, and I felt a lot better with the added heat and humidity. Still not 100%, but better. We decided to rent a very nice, well lit studio overlooking Jaltemba Bay, on the coast north of Puerto Vallarta. That was a good decision. We are now happily ensconced and painting high above the ocean, but that is getting ahead of the tale a bit...</div>
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Back in San Miguel de Allende about the beginning of February, I felt (wrongly as it turned out) that I was about as miserable as I could get. The doctors all were thinking allergies and putting me on elimination diets of one kind or other. I lost about 12 pounds and by the beginning of March the situation was getting pretty serious. By the first of April I was suffering pain from just about every joint in my body and I could hardly stand to put my weight on my feet. I was shuffling around like a sick man in his 90's! </div>
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And that was just about the time we were totally immersed in the process of moving to our new studio on the coast. The first part of April was a living hell for me. But at the same time, a fellow San Miguel artist (Karen Lee) told Donna about the clever doctor in Mexico city who had diagnosed her illness, when many others had totally misinterpreted her symptoms. It turned out she has an autoimmune disease, and this guy saved her when she was fading fast. She introduced me to him and, though retired, he offered to give me a consultation. And what a consult it was! 3 hours of examination and probing questions. He entered it all into his computer and came up with a preliminary diagnosis which has, in the last week been positively confirmed:</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Wegener's disease.</span></div>
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Yes, the wegeners (another autoimmune sucker) have got me, but it's a bad news/good news thing. Where people used to contract this very rare illness (20 new cases each year in all of Mexico) and just keep going down hill, they now have an arsenal of meds to fight back with, and a disciplined diet to go along. As it turned out, we happen to be vegans already, and that was exactly the direction the specialist was pointing us in. I started popping the pills in our hotel room in Mexico city and was incredulous when about 8 hours later the pain began to slightly subside. I thought "placebo effect", but much to my surprise it just kept receding. At the point of this writing I'm about totally free from pain – just a little numbness left in my feet. There are only 4 specialists in the entire U.S.A. that focus on this disease. I've been referred to the only one in Mexico, and I'll be seeing him on the 12th. of this month. Both doctors have been surprised by my rapid turn around. They expect a full recovery...over time.</div>
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So now I'm feeling a bit "reborn" here on the "Riviera Nayarit". I can hardly believe what has gone down in the last 6 months! I'm painting again!! – I had thought that was history. Happy, hardly describes the state we are in. I'll post a photo or two today, but fully intend to get some new paintings onto the blog as they roll off the press. They might be San Miguel subjects over the summer (we have a show there in August), but thereafter they might start taking on a more tropical flavour. </div>
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LOOKING WEST AT SUNSET</div>
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LAST LIGHT ON JALTEMBA BAY</div>
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LOCAL ISLAND SIGHTSEEING BOAT</div>
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THAT CLEAR PACIFIC OCEAN WATER IS AS WARM AS IT LOOKS!</div>
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Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-89711325579984376022015-02-01T11:36:00.000-06:002015-02-01T11:36:40.434-06:00Plaza Civica Painting: "After Comida"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"After Comida" 18x14 ins. oil on panel<br />
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This one was started last Tuesday afternoon in one of SMA's main downtown plaza's. There was a mix-up with the students and half of them didn't show up. We did have Al Skarr who is a very good painter in his own right, so we had a great time, anyway! Lots of appreciative Mexicans monitoring our progress through the late afternoon. Lots of kids leaning across our palettes to get a better look. I always just cringe when they do this, thinking about how their mothers are going to howl when they see all that fresh paint on there crisp, clean clothes. We try our best to let them know we're only concerned about the oil paint, and the effect it's going to have on mama –they back off for a few seconds, but then they're right back for another look! They are the sweetest, well mannered, respectful children imaginable. And they sometimes have surprisingly subtle questions about what we're doing, and why. I must add, it is sometimes a bit of a challenge to give them the attention they deserve when you're very, very deep in concentration. But we try our best, even though it's a supreme challenge a veces en Espanol. Our Spanish doesn't really encompass...subtle.<br />
This painting started it's life being broadly painted, but ended up, after several days as a complex thing. Donna posted it to the "Plein Air Painters" FB site and I was afraid it was going to give all the pros a headache. Judging from their response though, lots of them seem to like it, so I guess the week was well spent after all.<br />
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Wyliss Heaton is flying into S.M today, and is going to join us for plein air Tuesday afternoon at 1:30, on Garita (above Barranca) near where the old fountain is. So, if you want to paint with a real master (or two), and you happen to be in town, you're welcome to join us. Students welcome –as always. (more info on Donna Dickson's blog)<br />
Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-17793514945691323792015-01-12T21:00:00.001-06:002015-01-12T21:00:14.779-06:00Al Lado del Jardin<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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Started this sitting on the west wall of the Jardin Principal for a couple of hours. I'm pretty happy with it, although the camera has kind of enhanced the yellows beyond what they are in the painting, so I'm cringing a bit as I look now at the photo. Oh well, you get the idea...</div>
Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-48819436005812786682014-12-18T16:45:00.002-06:002014-12-18T19:27:35.880-06:00Colouring on Montes de Oca<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Calle Montes de Oca"</div>
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12 x 16 ins. oil on panel</div>
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I started this one in the street and finished up in the studio today. I've been sacrificing gospel true value relations for greater colour saturation, lately. I like the direction and wish I'd gone that way about 30 years ago! But I suppose I had to do the other thing first - right to the end of the line. I had a very strong, you could say "scientific" desire to understand the phenom of seeing, right from when I was a young child. This is fun though. And it's tricky, because you can lose control of the light pretty fast, if you're not really, really careful. You've got to still understand, and be very aware of the interaction of the actual tonal values in the scene...and then do some serious tweaking. </div>
Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-64954753319157457132014-12-11T17:04:00.000-06:002014-12-11T19:25:48.824-06:00Colour on calle Recreo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Colour on calle Recreo"</div>
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12 x 16 ins. oil on panel<br />
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There are lots of colourful little scenes like this one in San Miguel de Allende. The trick is to find a safe spot to paint them from! The sidewalk here was about 2 feet wide with lots of pedestrian traffic, and cars parked on the narrow street beside it. I didn't want to block the busy sidewalk so I located on the street, at the edge of the sidewalk, after a car miraculously pulled out. So, I painted happily for a couple of hours, feeling a little guilty that I was taking up about a fifth of a potential parking spot, struggled a bit with those exact tints; at first erring a little on the saturation as opposed to glare side, - all in all having a very enjoyable afternoon. No one seemed to find me "in their way". In fact most seemed very appreciative, indeed. Just when I'd gotten well used to the idea, this Mexican lady pulled up in her rather nice car, to a dead stop in front of me, put it in park, and started haranguing me at the top of her lungs. It normally takes a lot to get a Mexican upset. This one must have been having a muy malo dia. She repeated half a dozen times over, that the spot I had my easel on was for coches solamente and I had no business being there. I tried to be nice, but as the traffic backed up behind her we were facing an increasingly serious traffic jamb. I finally dismissed her with a "get moving" in Espanol and she just about went ballistic - I thought she was going to exit the car and come after me swinging. The long lineup was honking by this time, so I guess she finally thought a retreat was in order and with some final cussing hanging in the air, wisely fled the scene. I started cleaning up just about then -the spell having been more or less broken.<br />
As I say, there are lots of great pictures to be made, but it's hard to find a good vantage point from which to paint on the street. Dan Rueffert used to park his half ton truck on the street, and paint from the box on the back...not a bad idea. If I was not moving to the coast soon, I would give that solution the consideration it deserves. Of course, that way you'd be taking up a FULL parking spot - ah...the guilt!</div>
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Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-30375084865653367982014-12-04T16:54:00.000-06:002014-12-04T16:54:27.642-06:00HIGH PRESSURE EN CALLE ALDAMA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Calle Aldama"</div>
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14 x 18 ins.</div>
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I don't like painting under pressure. I don't like deadlines, don't like competitions – don't even like commissions much. All the same, there was lots of pressure on calle Aldama Monday afternoon! It was a combined plein air session/photo shoot and the subject was not our choice for a quick study. Galleries West magazine is doing a piece on Canadian artists in San Miguel de Allende, and their excellent photographer, Bob Barros, liked the above scene; as he said, "it tells the whole story, perfectly". He was right, of course, but we were hoping for something a little less challenging... the pressure and all, you understand. On top of it all, we were kindly asked to do larger "canvases" as they would show better in the pics. – maybe 16 x 20 in. We knew we were in trouble as soon as we heard the plan! </div>
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So, we arrived an hour early and desperately tried to get as accurate a sketch as we could, down, before the shoot would begin at 3 pm. This was "trial by fire" in the worst sense, but to our surprise, once we got into it, it was at least half fun and we were pretty much lost in our work when the crew arrived. I don't have any pics yet of the paintings in process, unfortunately. What you see above is not the state it was in when the shoot finally ended after dark! There was no way I could handle all that information in 3 hours. As the afternoon wore on, the light kept getting better and better and I couldn't resist chasing that around...natch! I think Donna ( her painting below ) did much better at simplifying her composition, right from the start, and holding to that. Anyway, we were both quite exhausted when we finally stumbled to the car and stowed our gear, well after dark.<br />
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Donna Dickson </div>
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12 x 16 ins.</div>
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Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-19073563326165595902014-11-27T19:31:00.000-06:002014-11-27T19:36:05.729-06:00New painting – still warm...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeEf3z8qYKaqqqMezsmAKy-AhvUE9mZtf-d3uBitwWTbWNgIWW9LgM7xxN8fWII_sVHpQf7MUGwJZohBdSuF1mBoPE7HVVjqmnC4WBy_1qVLA3Ma9nDK-aydUaClJRNtgwfoSgln5EoH5/s1600/SHOT+BUT+NOT+FORGOTTEN+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeEf3z8qYKaqqqMezsmAKy-AhvUE9mZtf-d3uBitwWTbWNgIWW9LgM7xxN8fWII_sVHpQf7MUGwJZohBdSuF1mBoPE7HVVjqmnC4WBy_1qVLA3Ma9nDK-aydUaClJRNtgwfoSgln5EoH5/s1600/SHOT+BUT+NOT+FORGOTTEN+small.jpg" height="320" width="266" /></a></div>
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SHOT, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN</div>
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24 x 20 ins.</div>
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oil on canvas</div>
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I've done this subject a few times over the years, but never in this way. I was in search of a nice scene to paint plein air, and happened upon these two who had already found their quarry. For once I had remembered my camera and took a few shots of them shooting the old, rusty gas pump, a dearly beloved relic in a town renown for it's abundance of significant, historical landmarks. That pump used to service the whole town when there were only a few dozen coches. In it's afterlife, it's now being "photographed to death" like everything else in this unique little jewel of antiquity. </div>
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Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-17515456962469332652014-11-13T12:46:00.001-06:002014-12-04T15:06:31.320-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDV4-wKairkpuIa_hXOg-eXvNSD6mKCOA2D80NEmdPwD0n0dD9T__-zng7Vk6pXV_qDhu01KtGYvojaZfaDnua7wDLDWT95K_APnOij9NOVjmI9Z4h8BeslPrgoflUFNRkwA30ippILgR/s1600/UNDER+THE+QUEBRADA+BRIDGE+24x36+ins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDV4-wKairkpuIa_hXOg-eXvNSD6mKCOA2D80NEmdPwD0n0dD9T__-zng7Vk6pXV_qDhu01KtGYvojaZfaDnua7wDLDWT95K_APnOij9NOVjmI9Z4h8BeslPrgoflUFNRkwA30ippILgR/s1600/UNDER+THE+QUEBRADA+BRIDGE+24x36+ins.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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"Under the Quebrada Bridge" 24 x 36 ins. oil</div>
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Since my trouble started with allergies, I've been experimenting with removing all use of solvents when painting in the studio. I used to be overly reliant on odorless turps. I think I've finally got some control over the situation and will again be doing larger work. We are also going to move to the coast at Rincon de Guayabitos (north of Puerto Vallarta) mid April. The air is a lot cleaner there with higher humidity, which I think may help my condition. We've been over there twice in the last month looking for rentals, and I've felt a lot better while there, feeling worse on my return to S.M. It's going to be quite an "uprooting" as we're pretty ensconced here in San Miguel, but we've found a perfect studio location overlooking the bay, beach and islands, high above Guayabitos on a headland - a very awe-inspiring perch! We love painting the sea, boats, clouds, mountains, etc., - this place has it all. Our plan is to return to S.M. in the summer months when it's hottest on the coast and more humid here. That way Donna can keep more in touch with her local students.They weren't too happy to hear she was leaving but they will always be welcome at our new location.We'll have to see how it goes...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCAklrC03_qhD3LiQDnRwKe4M2H1fY8EVTQezfP69Gp0FbO9eMU92UB1xG5Ti07utc6yiEiGpq9m1x9iwH1iHoy03r7ihglSdsNVizSb5T76ILBvg6lKyT2KKH0r5riysA8arPYYgXvQ4/s1600/DONNA+PAINTING+AT+TEN+TEN+PIE+12x16ins+FOR+BLOG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCAklrC03_qhD3LiQDnRwKe4M2H1fY8EVTQezfP69Gp0FbO9eMU92UB1xG5Ti07utc6yiEiGpq9m1x9iwH1iHoy03r7ihglSdsNVizSb5T76ILBvg6lKyT2KKH0r5riysA8arPYYgXvQ4/s320/DONNA+PAINTING+AT+TEN+TEN+PIE+12x16ins+FOR+BLOG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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"Donna Painting at ten ten pie" 9 x 12 ins. oil</div>
Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-87675804223321776592014-09-15T19:20:00.000-05:002014-09-16T07:44:25.414-05:00Long Time No BlogI haven't submitted anything to this blog in a long time - it's high time I explained what's going on:<br />
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Since about the beginning of the year I've not been feeling all that well. In the late spring it got worse and by early summer I was a bit of a mess. I finally went to a specialist and discovered that: 1 I'm allergic to Solvents; 2 I'm allergic to Mesquite trees; 3 I'm allergic to Jacaranda trees; and a few other minor things.<br />
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So, this being the case, I've reluctantly dropped oil painting; at least in-studio oil painting. I'm currently thinking about taking up watercolour again (it's been about 30 years), and am actively experimenting with acrylics. I still plan to paint plein air but I'll have to select locations that are out of range of some of these deadly trees! A few months ago I was painting with a group down by the lake here in San Miguel. We selected a place under the shade of some broad mesquites. After a couple of hours I had a severe headache, trouble breathing, and ear drums popping and fluttering for no reason at all. I could hardly speak. That was the episode that drove me to the Doc. I tried it again a week or so later, but still was too close to the infernal arboles. I'll have to be especially careful when they're in flower.<br />
I'm on anti-histamine injections (self administered - ugh) and the doctor promises I will be all better some day. I have no idea where this came from because I seemed to be fine with the said flora in the past. Anyway, that's how it is, and I will post something, most likely water based, in the near future.<br />
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For the present, here's something interesting:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1AA7wpn2L8N43RFWZI0FFXywwLJ1CC-_XFckSzsD_9OrursH3gQM4UbT_UUePVSZalClgMo9vaWEFyqhUhLq8rezNaur8hDIqjiF4dODABjywYpkAtCw_KFVcs2mcTi0DiDZSHx0NZgMd/s1600/OLD+SWISS+MOUNTAIN+SCENE+for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1AA7wpn2L8N43RFWZI0FFXywwLJ1CC-_XFckSzsD_9OrursH3gQM4UbT_UUePVSZalClgMo9vaWEFyqhUhLq8rezNaur8hDIqjiF4dODABjywYpkAtCw_KFVcs2mcTi0DiDZSHx0NZgMd/s1600/OLD+SWISS+MOUNTAIN+SCENE+for+blog.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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"Title Lost to All Concerned"</div>
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A Mr. Frost sent me this photo of a painting signed (a little clumsily) Tom Dickson. He's been trying to track down the history of the oil painting and the arteest responsible. He knew it had been in the family for at least 40 years but had not a lot of knowledge about it's history, other than his father had purchased it, way back when.</div>
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What happened was this: I was about 13 years old as I recall and my father and I had both put paintings in an amateur exhibition, in downtown Toronto. A mister Frost was interested in the one of mine and commissioned me to do another, " JUST LIKE IT. " I think it was the 2nd commission of my life, and I was already wary of commissions. Even so, I imprudently, decided to exercise a little artistic license - I drastically changed to another scene - it was still very Swiss (the calendar I had used as inspiration for both pieces was cover to cover yodeling Swiss) mountains, mist, bright sunshine and all, but it bore little resemblance to the composition that had inspired my collector to place the order. It took some time to complete. It was more challenging than the other - probably about 4 times as difficult - but finally, one night it was ready, dry and varnished, and we, (dad and I), went on delivery. Mr. Frost wasn't happy. He didn't like it! I couldn't blame him - it wasn't what he had ordered. I was embarrassed and disposed to leave with the painting when Mr. Frost relented and with obvious reluctance handed over the fifty bucks. We parted on none too friendly terms. I was the least agitated. My father was a guy who required a lot to get him upset, so I was surprised to see how annoyed he was. I think dad may have been under the delusion that I deserved more credit than I did. He was an amateur painter himself and seemed to think everything I painted was wonderful. I appreciated his support (still do) but I could certainly empathize with the collector, burned over the lost 50, and who knows how many weeks wasted in anticipation. Dad didn't want to see my feelings hurt after putting so much effort into the thing. I, on the other hand, knew I'd stepped over the line and wasn't surprised at some dissatisfaction in the air. I learned a lot about commissions that night.</div>
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Years passed. Years and years ... about 54, if I'm not too far off the mark. I never give much thought as to what has become of most of what I painted in my teens, but this one would surface in my consciousness from time to time. A business deal gone sour - emotions had run high that dark night. I had assumed for most of those 54 years that the disappointing work had ended up in an attic, closet, municipal waste dump, or something. I often wondered whether the painting was half decently executed and had any merit aside from the bad fit at "point of sale". </div>
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Well, you can imagine my relief when after all this time, the current Mr. Frost informed me that the painting resides on the "best wall" in their dining room. "All's well that ends well". Now, I can sleep easy.</div>
Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-13789337580298308002014-03-20T17:01:00.002-06:002014-03-20T17:11:49.083-06:00Tuesday Morning at the Ramirez Market<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64PdnGiqFvQHBLpA9YWrn4sqNIgW_f-6zYKmRWvApPfY2KyvWHscFxMhzuWnvhNxXBk0xx_0jUmJEM9yica9zXvrp0XZ4zXjnIlCTnCNYvVfR-qrAuT475nQXNZwEXhpF8RK-SoCOBCQl/s1600/ENTRADA+RAMIREZ+MARKET+9x12+in+Mar+2014+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64PdnGiqFvQHBLpA9YWrn4sqNIgW_f-6zYKmRWvApPfY2KyvWHscFxMhzuWnvhNxXBk0xx_0jUmJEM9yica9zXvrp0XZ4zXjnIlCTnCNYvVfR-qrAuT475nQXNZwEXhpF8RK-SoCOBCQl/s1600/ENTRADA+RAMIREZ+MARKET+9x12+in+Mar+2014+blog.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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"Entrada, Ramirez Market"</div>
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9x12 in. oil on panel</div>
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I did this Tuesday morning but just added the people today from memory. I always plan to jot in some folks on location but I almost never get around to it. I spent the whole morning trying to "set the scene" for the people. This time I thought I had it just the way I wanted but it was long past early morning when I started it and I was pretty exhausted. So I left the figures for today and actually very much enjoyed dropping them into the scene. I like the final result a lot - those barrels really are that bright "pea green". It was a great morning at the market with almost perfect weather for painting. We'll have to go back and do it again soon. </div>
Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-81015795901475707932014-03-08T15:06:00.001-06:002014-03-08T16:00:52.633-06:00Plaza Reforma, Guanajuato<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgUwAm6qvleIM3xEY-x1lZ4_UtoLv0aVishDq8HsUiURFA2e5Q8zqSP0J6xYBIwOFbi_UUycd_aH5530OGiVv0q7AljXtwL8bFXK1rIemo3YoTn9ECkPtsIUnztveTN7B1-CP40hdy-hf/s1600/PLAZA+REFORMA+GUANAJUATO+12x16+Feb+2014+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgUwAm6qvleIM3xEY-x1lZ4_UtoLv0aVishDq8HsUiURFA2e5Q8zqSP0J6xYBIwOFbi_UUycd_aH5530OGiVv0q7AljXtwL8bFXK1rIemo3YoTn9ECkPtsIUnztveTN7B1-CP40hdy-hf/s1600/PLAZA+REFORMA+GUANAJUATO+12x16+Feb+2014+blog.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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"Plaza Reforma"</div>
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12x16 ins. oil on panel<br />
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This one was started on Thursday during our workshop outing to the city of Guanajuato. I didn't get a lot done that first go because I spent much of the morning driving around and around the underground roadway system of this fair city. I had planned to park the car in the lot we always park in but to my great surprise they had torn the street up and I had no choice but to go underground. I wouldn't say I was exactly "panicked" but It took me half the morning to figure a way out of that pickle.I finally arrived in the plaza to find most hadn't chosen their subject yet anyway.<br />
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There were lots of people coming and going but I decided the scene had enough in it without the introduction of Homo Sapiens. I would however, like to know who it is that lurks behind those fancy windows on the second floor. I simplified the display of potted plants and bird cages to a considerable degree and still ................. I'm sure you get the idea. Elena (not visible low and hidden behind the hedge on the right) zoomed in and did a beautiful study of those windows and their ornamentation. There are a million scenes to paint in Guanajuato and we plan to devote a week to the project when Donna's classes slow up a bit. We usually go to the beach in April to relax but this time we'll tour the country and paint - can't wait!<br />
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And I just remembered that I worked on this one too last week but forgot to take it's photo. So, here it is. I added a few figures and did a little touch up work here and there. This one was also posted in it's raw form March 1st.<br />
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"Church Yard" 9x12 in. oil on panel</div>
Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-52744096008347530692014-03-06T18:15:00.000-06:002014-03-06T18:15:32.045-06:00Fountain in the Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguti5n4Q7SygdcFzhjNCqXg5tzz8Eiol-22iAFpICC6gmcQI2t6EY60xNOBPHkKv8U7tmjZmSZmo6xTDj3jojYCEhoHLCGlyRMhyphenhyphenup5H777C8qDIrUajHzbaavs_bdI_Qo0MLxKlaDT86d/s1600/FOUNTAIN+IN+THE+PARK+9x12+in.+Feb+2014+small+for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguti5n4Q7SygdcFzhjNCqXg5tzz8Eiol-22iAFpICC6gmcQI2t6EY60xNOBPHkKv8U7tmjZmSZmo6xTDj3jojYCEhoHLCGlyRMhyphenhyphenup5H777C8qDIrUajHzbaavs_bdI_Qo0MLxKlaDT86d/s1600/FOUNTAIN+IN+THE+PARK+9x12+in.+Feb+2014+small+for+blog.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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"Fountain in the Park"</div>
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9x12 in. oil on panel</div>
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I demoed this for one of the students last week on an optional painting afternoon in the Jardin Principal. It was a lot rougher originally so I worked it over some today. I thought it deserved more careful consideration and now I'm pretty happy with it. I kind of wish it was much bigger and I would people it but for a small painting I had better let it go. Even so, I don't think I'm going to achieve the 112 finished paintings quota again this month .................................or any time soon and yes, you're right -I'm not even going to try.</div>
Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-75261166823727254872014-03-03T19:28:00.001-06:002014-03-03T19:28:24.241-06:00Morning Shoeshine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Bhj0klGe3LSP97ZTDL92KUqs2V2tdIydnJ1ZKPk2QthF5PBKlG6YHnUAKdyKrNILxSdreZd5THkH__Vg-UD-XdN1Gri_VC4uU6lK87Djym7M1r-uV0_M4B8CFciXdyQywCr5tVqufeiE/s1600/MORNING+SHOESHINE+Mar+3++2014+10x10+in+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Bhj0klGe3LSP97ZTDL92KUqs2V2tdIydnJ1ZKPk2QthF5PBKlG6YHnUAKdyKrNILxSdreZd5THkH__Vg-UD-XdN1Gri_VC4uU6lK87Djym7M1r-uV0_M4B8CFciXdyQywCr5tVqufeiE/s1600/MORNING+SHOESHINE+Mar+3++2014+10x10+in+small.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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"Morning Shoeshine"</div>
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We went out with the Monday Plein Air Group this morning and settled on the north west corner of the Jardin Principal. I knew the shoe shine guy would appear at some point so I parked near where he works and started setting the scene for his arrival. He came but didn't have a single customer for the first hour or so. I was expecting some cowboy to arrive and was waiting impatiently for him when of a sudden this young kid in a yellow shirt climbs up on the shoeshine chair! Well, no cowboy hat to paint today, I thought ........but interesting nonetheless - so I squeezed out a fresh yellow gob of paint and went to work. I didn't quite resolve all the figures in the background but I decided to leave it as is - nice and fresh. </div>
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And below: John and I painting this morning on the northwest corner of the Jardin - centro San Miguel. I'm surprised there aren't a lot of onlookers in this photo that Donna took because every time I looked around there were at least 3 people watching intently and lots of people coming and going up and down the steps. The lady that takes your blood pressure sat down beside me for about an hour and managed to haul in a few customers from her perch on the jardin wall. She and her clients were very nice and smiley - she suggested we paint over in the city of Guanajuato some time as it's muy bonito. It was a great morning. The temperature was just right and lots of shade from the laurels to keep us out of that strong Mexican sun.</div>
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Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-18389774864491965872014-03-01T19:11:00.001-06:002014-03-01T19:12:40.726-06:00February Workshop Notes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepUcRZnICvBfqpBi_rzvyh6vcANE5CzlEO-Aw1gtIHShrcqOFRDBzS-B1GDdaeY-TyQZcuUNsF8Fjdi3zrr6E2WOksPGieN2EoRUTs0105LUCg9omWuJRbIaOfJ64W00_RnPPmIOjd-IC/s1600/2014+FEB+GROUP+WORKSHOP+small+file.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepUcRZnICvBfqpBi_rzvyh6vcANE5CzlEO-Aw1gtIHShrcqOFRDBzS-B1GDdaeY-TyQZcuUNsF8Fjdi3zrr6E2WOksPGieN2EoRUTs0105LUCg9omWuJRbIaOfJ64W00_RnPPmIOjd-IC/s1600/2014+FEB+GROUP+WORKSHOP+small+file.jpg" height="233" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Workshop Attendees</div>
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Back: Tom Otro, Elena, Donna, Suzi, Heather, Patty, Jacky, Tom D.</div>
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Front: Agneta, Mimi, Yvonne, Sandy, Joel</div>
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We had another great group this year! We had a good time, perfect warm weather and some even swear they learned something. We covered Color and Perspective on the first day and then put it all to practice during the week. We did a trip to nearby Guanajuato on Thursday which everyone seemed to enjoy. Some have suggested doing a week there next year -we just may do that!</div>
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All my paintings below are unfinished - done in about 2 hours for demonstration purposes.</div>
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I think I'll work on some of them in the coming week and post again when done.</div>
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9x12 in. Jardin fountain scene </div>
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9x12 in. Churchyard demo</div>
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12x16 in. Group Demo. at the "Parroquia" church</div>
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12 x16 in. Plaza Reforma, demo Guanajuato</div>
Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-49587477511495262422014-01-30T18:03:00.000-06:002014-01-30T18:03:31.850-06:00Una Tarde Tranquilo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Una Tarde Tranquilo"</div>
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12x16 ins. oil on panel</div>
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This was started in the Jardin (just across from our gallery) on Monday afternoon about Siesta time. I had the color and design worked out that afternoon but in my opinion the scene deserved a lot more "finish", so I worked on it during this week. It was quite a challenge from start to finish but I enjoyed the task immensely. Luc joined me on the park bench I'd already laid claim to and we had a great time discussing everything from general ethics to the federal reserve. I find it more than a little distracting to deal with heavy issues like that when doing plein air but in this case I'd already made a lot of decisions before he arrived so it sort of worked .....in a way. All in all it was a memorable afternoon. We had a lot of grinning people watching us as the work progressed. They probably thought we were making "artist talk" - I can't help but wonder if they'd still be grinning if they knew what we were talking about. </div>
Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-32306239077263105592014-01-22T19:40:00.000-06:002014-01-22T19:40:11.706-06:00Monday Morning in the Jardin<br />
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"Early Monday Morning"</div>
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9x12 oil</div>
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It's always nice and quiet in the Jardin Principal on a Monday morning. Donna's group picked a very nice scene out on the perimeter but there was no shade and it seemed like if I joined them it would create a bit of a bottleneck between a set of benches and the Jardin wall. So I chose a nice spot in the shade and really enjoyed putting this one together.<br />
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Yes, it was fun but as you can see in this photo taken by Sylvia Brenner, I was more than a bit chilly. The students out in the sun were all melting and here I was working on a case of mild hypothermia. This has happened every plein air session this month. I try to find a place in the shade which is fine strategy for 10 months of the year but in winter if a breeze comes up you can end up miserably cold. This year it has been especially cool here in S. Miguel. It still struggles up into the 20's (celcius) every afternoon but goes to near freezing over night. However, Spring is about 4 weeks away and I guess we'll soon be complaining about the heat! ................... at least our paint won't be going stiff on the palette - hate that!!</div>
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Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-57212381359007570512014-01-16T17:44:00.002-06:002014-01-16T17:44:30.457-06:002 nu 4 u<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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SHADY NOOK</div>
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9x12 in. oil</div>
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We finally had a nice fairly warm morning on Monday and 4 of us painted up on the Parroquia grounds. I've painted the church once or twice before so I turned my back on that worthy subject and found the above to be an interesting challenge. I'm not sure anybody else will like it but I do .......so there!</div>
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In the afternoon Luc, Donna and I met up again and did another one - this time on the other side of the Parroquia fence, facing the Jardin. C BELOW</div>
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LATE AFTERNOON</div>
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9x12 in. oil</div>
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All in all it was a very nice, full day of painting shared with a small but very enthusiastic group. A lot of regulars have returned for the winter lately so I expect the plein air sessions are going to get more crowded but I'm looking forward to it. It's always interesting to see what everyone else is doing. </div>
<br />Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-32444310736765514762013-12-13T16:31:00.005-06:002013-12-13T16:31:55.053-06:00Getaway to Zihuatanejo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Fishermens Beach - Zihuatanejo"</div>
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9x12 in. plein air oil on panel</div>
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Just got back from a very nice trip to Zihuats on the pacific coast, in the state of Guerrero. It was fabulously hot! I completed the one above in one go the second day we were there. I did another one the next day but the result was a bit marginal so I scraped it. I like this one a lot though. The fishermen were really friendly to us but didn't bother us too much. We had throngs of tourists and towns people watching us from behind the bench we chose to paint from............... we ignored it all rather successfully and soldiered on. We plan to return in April when most of Donnas students are gone for a longer stay - can't wait!!!</div>
Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-71075295950136316222013-12-05T16:43:00.002-06:002013-12-12T15:04:41.861-06:00Back in Back Bay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Back Bay Boats"</div>
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6 x 6 in. oil on panel<br />
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We used to live in a small fishing village south of Halifax, Nova Scotia for ten interesting years. I had a bad cold this week and couldn't get out plein air painting, so I decided to re-visit the place - if only in my mind. I used to sail on this bay all the time, so it was a lot of fun doing the painting and I always did enjoy doing boats as a subject. So much fun it was that I think I'll make it a regular habit and probably take a painting trip back there when the weather improves - from what I recall that would be about June!</div>
Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-29024496457845302082013-11-29T19:41:00.001-06:002013-12-12T15:05:00.179-06:00Cool Painting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Winter Morning , San Miguel de Allende"</div>
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9 x 12 in. oil on panel</div>
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I say "Cool" because it was a cool painting session - cool as in Cold! Donna, Luc and I met up at the plaza principal about 9 am. on a foggy morning last week. We knew it would clear during the morning so we chose a spot in what would be the shade of the historic Casa Allende. Well, it was cold to begin with in that damp fog and it was cold after the sun broke through and this chilly wind came up from calle Umaran at our backs. It was a cool morning indeed but all the onlookers (and there were plenty) were friendly and encouraging and we too got pretty excited about our paintings, nonetheless. I tried to warm up in the sun around the corner a couple of times but of course the light was changing and I was drawn each time quickly back into the fray ..................... once started you really can't stop, can you? We have decided to switch to afternoons next week. It takes all morning to warm up during December and January here in the mountains of central Mexico. Of course it becomes summer again most afternoons between noon and six. That's one of the primary reasons I moved here to paint in Mexico - sort of endless summer - a plein air painters dream. (the other major reason was color) </div>
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I completed the painting minus the people and a little detail work on site. I feel I have to give very careful consideration as to the placement of bodies in my pictures and it's enough of a challenge to hit all the hues and values correctly on location. I spend a lot of time thinking about the overall color and composition as I begin placing the first elements on the panel and I have a rough idea of where a figure or two might be helpful to the design but with the style I prefer to work in I can't see how I'll ever be able to complete a complex scene with a convincing smattering of hominids in 2 or 3 hours. But I don't fret about it much -I enjoy leisurely dropping volunteers into a scene at a later date. I like to give the characters the consideration good characters deserve. They're part B of a two part creation and possibly the hardest part. Also, I place them when part A is still a bit wet. That demands a little more decisiveness but they blend into their scene a lot better. I hope you like the result. If the air looks a little cooler than the last few dozen ones I've posted that's because it was and as I say .........we're switching to afternoons for a couple months. Stay tuned for the "Golden Hour" ..............</div>
Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-14932265725595273562013-11-23T15:15:00.003-06:002013-12-12T15:05:20.210-06:00A trip to Guanajuato<br />
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"Sunny Morning - Nov. 2013"</div>
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9 x 12 in. oil on panel<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>SOLD </b></span></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/179296" target="_blank"> </a></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Auction ends 11/27/2013 8 pm</span><br />
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"Guanajuato Centro"</div>
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12 x 16 in. oil on panel<br />
Auction ends 12/05/2013 8 pm<br />
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<a href="http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/tom--dickson/guanajuato-centro/182827" target="_blank"> </a></div>
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This
painting was begun mid July as a short demonstration of how to get off
to a bold start. - you can see that start on the July 17th blog entry. I
meant to get back to that picture and finish it but somehow didn't
until this past week. I thought I would put an hour or two into it
.................... Well, I got caught on it and ended up putting quite
a lot of effort into it. If Donna hadn't wrestled the brushes out of my
hand I'd probably still be working on it! At any rate - I guess it's
complete now. It certainly is a very active picture. Well, I wanted it
to be pretty active as central Guanajuato is an active place. What you
see here, is about the spot you emerge at street level, after trying to
navigate their totally confusing, ancient underground roadway system in
the dark. The feeling is always one of shock - you're suddenly hit by
this blinding light and sea of moving people. It's almost always hot,
hot, Hot. The main part of the city is built in a canyon bottom and
there is really only one main drag. It's a very interesting place - the
capital of the state of Guanajuato. It was a very wealthy city back in
Colonial times due to gold and silver in the surrounding hills. There
are lots of large old domed churches, winding back streets and peaceful
squares to paint. Most of the residential part of the city is built on
the steep canyon walls and beyond, up and down the slopes of the
surrounding hills. Most people have access to their casa via very narrow
foot paths, of the switchback variety. If they have a car at all, it's
parked somewhere far, far away. Needless to say, they all have strong
legs! It's only about 50 miles from here but it has a totally different
feel to the place.<br />
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I hope you like the picture. I tried
to get that hot, afternoon feeling into it. I left out most of the
people that are usually bustling through. </div>
Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-26426657860123517822013-11-20T14:09:00.001-06:002013-12-12T15:05:56.394-06:00Sunny Morning on Montes de Oca<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmrKN1sBlL-U7RulB84BxHJSVJNz9L_Hwlo5ZjHUVRf5oJXS8ti9Cfw7iLgP12k_DVjV0k41UDQD-efdMrXVtxx7SWXHiXzYR8zM-W8s80Ngrfhf9lnSGCOVMMNy-LmCuR70zilI8M1NI/s1600/Luke+risking+it+all+for+art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmrKN1sBlL-U7RulB84BxHJSVJNz9L_Hwlo5ZjHUVRf5oJXS8ti9Cfw7iLgP12k_DVjV0k41UDQD-efdMrXVtxx7SWXHiXzYR8zM-W8s80Ngrfhf9lnSGCOVMMNy-LmCuR70zilI8M1NI/s320/Luke+risking+it+all+for+art.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Luke thought the view was better from the middle of the street! Here he is "risking it all for art".</div>
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He had some close calls but Luke is a dedicated plein airist and it seems to have been worth 2 hours of facing down the muzzle of death. Neither the many cars that crept slowly by scraping their fenders against those buildings on the right, nor the passing burro trains did any lasting damage at all. He ended up with a great painting! When we left he was priming up another panel - this time a little closer to the wall, enjoying a vastly greater margin of safety. What surprised me was that only one or two dudes seemed to be the least bit upset with the situation. Sure, the ricos may have lost a little magnesium here and there. It was admittedly hard on a lot of tires!!! - I didn't much like that chafing/squeely rubber sound ............ , a lot of "commute time" was lost.</div>
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Maybe I'm just overly sensitive and shy. I don't even like being in the "limelight" much. Luke is a Waldorf school graduate and those people really know how to release the right side of a persons brain. Though only centimeters were between him and a trip to the morgue, he paid absolutely zip attention to all that passing metal.</div>
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A DISCLAIMER</div>
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<b>Do not even think about trying this.</b> To survive in the middle of the calles of San Miguel for more than a few moments requires a superhuman degree of luck and optimism - don't say I didn't warn you.</div>
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Below is the one I did from safely against that orange wall on the left. </div>
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"Sunny Morning - Nov. 2013"</div>
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9 x 12 in. oil on panel</div>
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<b>SOLD</b></div>
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Luke was beside and behind me a couple of meters. The rest of Donna's students were at the top of the street - a good hike up the hill. One of them had one of 3 legs of her easel fall off when she tried to set it up for the first time. I lent her mine while I went dashing around town for a replacement - which I found but then it was missing a critical adjustment knob. These were brand new "in the box" easels so I was more than a bit annoyed ............... however ................. I took it home and fired a screw into the hole where the missing screw should have been, ran back down the hill and got a nice, very late start. So, needless to say, you are seeing a goodly amount of studio work in the one above. I like the result though - the color was all pegged pretty much in the calle, in the first hour. Maybe I'll do a larger version at some point, with some of those little burritos in it!</div>
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Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-70364126670458120782013-11-16T21:30:00.003-06:002013-11-20T08:05:19.706-06:00On the Block!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zHsJGSSep51j5lyBztqBuUT-1JNoyyBOPH55poM41ERo48xqUDwqrOFz3j-1NoVnEKxVNrO8ytlJOjAxare_QNJPtaoML4GUIwixj3N2_MsJIXhD9vnytScBmd1aEIvt6UsMG3opQUdw/s1600/DPW++MEXICAN+FISHERMEN+auction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zHsJGSSep51j5lyBztqBuUT-1JNoyyBOPH55poM41ERo48xqUDwqrOFz3j-1NoVnEKxVNrO8ytlJOjAxare_QNJPtaoML4GUIwixj3N2_MsJIXhD9vnytScBmd1aEIvt6UsMG3opQUdw/s320/DPW++MEXICAN+FISHERMEN+auction.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">update:</span></span><b><span style="font-size: large;"> sold </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">(Tuesday Nov 19)</span></span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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"Mexican Fishermen"</div>
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12 x 16 in. oil on panel</div>
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Just to let people know - this painting is currently on auction at Daily Paint Works and has just under 3 days left in the bidding. It's the first time I've placed a painting up for auction anywhere but I like DPW and their auctions are quite active. There has been one bid of $300. U.S. on the painting thus far. For this first go I set a pretty low threshold to "test the waters". It's worth a lot more than that, so if you'd like the chance of getting one of my originals at perhaps a rock bottom price - now is your chance!</div>
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By the way: for all you San Miguel plein air painters - we'll be up on Montes de Oca Monday morning 9:30 - see you there if you can make it.</div>
Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-79485462554143088092013-11-14T20:20:00.000-06:002013-11-14T20:20:10.812-06:00Manana en San Mguel de Allende<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytnti2U3iQLG2wf87c6wAB2u9VN_Ybi0dv2pxirheMxl7sQdQhCOaBEplVDk7H79mw27dbdbPkNObhHZrqNn0nrAly9VVMvau0EWUv6bZg-Ov6C31nQUX-p24i_cHd7ci0G6oceFZ_h6n/s1600/DPW++26+MANANA+EN+S+MIGUEL+9x12+TOM+DICKSON.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytnti2U3iQLG2wf87c6wAB2u9VN_Ybi0dv2pxirheMxl7sQdQhCOaBEplVDk7H79mw27dbdbPkNObhHZrqNn0nrAly9VVMvau0EWUv6bZg-Ov6C31nQUX-p24i_cHd7ci0G6oceFZ_h6n/s320/DPW++26+MANANA+EN+S+MIGUEL+9x12+TOM+DICKSON.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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"Manana en San Miguel"</div>
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9 x 12 in. oil on panel</div>
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$ 350. U.S.</div>
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I started this on Monday with Donna's plein air painting group in the Plaza Civica across from the Oratorio. Since then, every time I've walked by it I couldn't help but diddle with it until now it doesn't exhibit much of it's fresh plein air beginnings. I'm hoping it still has some vestige of the spontaneity it had in the beginning. It was a fun picture to work on and I guess that's why I couldn't stop working on it. I finally decided to STOP! this afternoon as it was starting to ask for a high degree of "finish" and I would rather reserve that for a larger version of the same scene. If I had persisted with this one I would have figured everything was solved and there would be no point in doing the theme over. I will set this aside and not look at it for awhile - when I do I'll decide if it wants to grow. </div>
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By the way - some purists feel that a painting worthy of the term "plein air" must be executed, start to finish in one sitting. It's a matter of definition, I suppose. I almost always start small to medium size oil paintings on location. I finish them there, maybe about a third of the time. The others get varying degrees of "overtime" back in the studio - sometimes just a touch here and there and other times, here and there and everywhere. The important thing to me is that the work has been launched with excitement -the inspiration derived from being in direct contact with ones subject. As you work on the painting during those first hours, all the surrounding sights and sounds sink into your psyche and if that panel asks for more attention later, back in the studio, you find that any additional work you do on it takes you right back to the location again.In this state of mind you can continue the act of creation with what I would call the "right artistic attitude" and the piece will almost automatically retain a lot of freshness.</div>
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I have to say I like the spontaneous look of a painting done quickly and accurately. Less is definitely more. In the hands of the vary best plein air painters the results can be sublime. But even they don't get "five star" results every time. I think good advice to anybody journeying along this plein air route would be not to worry too much about purity of process. There are purists and there are purists. I might not measure up to one persons definition because I just can't let a little painting go without further investigation but take note of this;</div>
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I have painted with pros that rely on smart phone screens and special apps to help them compose and find colors ........................ well folks - most of the time I don't even pull out a view finder when starting a picture and I certainly have no need for color suggesting apps. So, what does that make me? - I guess I'm a purist too, right? I can't help but smile when I see the "shortcuts" people try to take. Shortcuts have no place in lovemaking.</div>
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Final word, - about the only thing I really find obnoxious, even fraudulent are the printer people that pass dem photos through, dob a lick or two and claim them as originals. Oh, and come to think of it - how about those Chinese sending me emails that quote me a price for doing my future paintings for me??? Hey! - easy street here I come .........................</div>
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Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192097308357270568.post-84550270299780387992013-10-20T19:01:00.002-05:002013-11-10T14:22:50.027-06:00A Nice Morning on Cuesta de Loreto.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXbHGzzbPw93KQOPrTR3dAs0gBwDde_jfRRjTlqWAFyv92mpH0FXHGHGiVM16Qa8o7LcuUUbmX2bihijHxX8uwn0vwvL01ANQOL_9TeYfPaQKLP7fghFTafZT0M61erq20X-s-3yBo7ta/s1600/CUESTA+DE+LORETO+2+Oct+2013+9x12+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXbHGzzbPw93KQOPrTR3dAs0gBwDde_jfRRjTlqWAFyv92mpH0FXHGHGiVM16Qa8o7LcuUUbmX2bihijHxX8uwn0vwvL01ANQOL_9TeYfPaQKLP7fghFTafZT0M61erq20X-s-3yBo7ta/s320/CUESTA+DE+LORETO+2+Oct+2013+9x12+blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>SOLD</b></span></span></span></div>
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Cuesta de Loreto 9 x 12 in. oil on panel<br />
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(* UPDATE: This painting just won 1st. prize on Daily Paintworks for October!)</div>
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This was done yesterday on Cuesta de Loreto a few hundred feet from our door on "calle sin nombre" which goes off about where this road leaves the picture on the left. Donna Lee and Elaine West painted in the same location and we all came up with good but very different results. I'm posting Donna's below and I will include Elaine's later if I can get her to send me a photo of it. Elaine lives on a houseboat near San Francisco and is a very good plein air painter - we always enjoy her company when she's in San Miguel. I haven't got out to do plein air for a while as I've been doing a lot of color experimentation in the studio lately. It's been interesting (even a lot of fun) but after yesterday I would say that the experience of painting on the street (so far) remains the best. I think it's a good idea to try different things though. It's not all that surprising when something you've discovered doing one approach pops up as a nice inclusion in the other - I think there's a little of that in the example above.<br />
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And here's Donna Lee's below ..................<br />
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untitled 9x12 in. oil on panel Donna Dickson</div>
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There is some great and complicated drawing in this one and considering she spent just over 2 hours on it I find this painting really impressive. Cuesta Loreto really is that steep and Donna has the whole feeling of it just as it is. I love the feeling of height and distance overlooking the town, between the two buildings near center. Five BIG stars Donna !! ............. a very cool piece of plein air work.<br />
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(untitled so far) 9x12 oil on panel Elaine West</div>
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Another great example of p/a work. Elaine found a rare flat spot in the shade and out of the traffic to work on this one. The guy with the rolled up straw rugs on his bike just happened to come by and made a perfect inclusion for the piece. I love the strong design and those saturated hues. Bravo Elaine !</div>
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Tom Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09043462979123024542noreply@blogger.com4