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Life in general Outdoors/Landscape Sketchbook Pages

You Can’t Always Get What You Want…

Puerto Vallarta 2

PV-1

Ink & watercolor in small Moleskine watercolor notebook
(To enlarge, click images, select All Sizes)

I’m back from Puerto Vallarta and trying to return to regular life. I did these little sketches at the pool and on the beach in the afternoons after the workshop. The reason for the title of this post is that while I didn’t really get what I wanted, I did learn some important things at the workshop that I needed to know. What I didn’t get was much time painting outdoors or many sketches of charming Mexican vistas and people.

I was suprised to learn that breakfast was at 7:30 a.m. each day; that the workshop was to take place inside a classroom from 9-2 every day (with no lunch break); and that we were to work on one painting the whole week, using a black and white photo of a person supplied by the teacher combined with photos we took on a trip to town after class the second day. We were suposed to use the teacher’s special techniques using salt to make texture and designing with patterned backgrounds.

The first day was all lecture and I learned some very valuable things from it. On the second day I started on the assignment. By the end of the day I realized it wasn’t what I wanted to be doing so abandoned it, spending class time alternately watching the teacher demonstrate and occasionally ditching to go outside to sketch on my own.

As a bit of a recluse, constantly being with 20-40 people was exhausting. There was another workshop going on at the same time, a Photoshop for Artists class that had even longer days inside a darkened classroom, and we ate most meals together.) Most of the participants were seasoned travelers on the “workshop circuit” that I hadn’t even known existed prior to this. They are apparently quite financial comfortable and able to go to painting workshops all over the world on a regular basis.

Puerto Vallarta was shockingly different than what I’d seen last time I was there 30 years ago, with horrible traffic, a Sam’s Club, Walmart, Starbucks, Hooters, Office Depot, Carls Junior, Hard Rock Cafe, sprawling hotels with more under construction everywhere, and giant supermarkets — everything for the huge population of gringos visiting or living there. The only thing that remained the same was the people. The Mexican people are the warmest, most beautiful, kindest people.

Two highlights of the trip were being able to speak Spanish well enough to have conversations with local people and swimming in the warm ocean on my last day–my only day without scheduled activities.

Tomorrow I’ll post some of what I learned in the workshop that was valuable to me.

18 replies on “You Can’t Always Get What You Want…”

WELCOME HOME, WE MISSED YOU!!!

So sorry to hear about your disappointment but it was good to get out of your normal routine and I know that you personally made the best of it. So happy you met other nice people.

Love your little poorside sketches.

So anxious to hear all your wisdom.

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So sorry your workshop was a bit of a bust! I’m surprised that they had you in lovely Mexico and then kept you indoors the whole time. YUK! Still, I’m looking forward to hearing what you learned!

And can you just imagine being able to just spend your life taking workshops all over the world? How wonderful that would be!

?If I commented twice, I’m sorry! I lost the first one after the first sentence….

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That is awful! What were they thinking? I think of workshops as generally not being for serious artists ( I don’t mean to offend anyone.) I’ve taken a couple of watercolor ones, just because I didn’t learn watercolor in art school and the workshops were a waste of time, truth be told. If you know the work of the artist in question and are seeking technical help directly relating to his or her own work, that’s one thing. But otherwise…. . The sketches you managed to fit in are charming, though. And welcome back.

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Oh dear, I hope I didn’t make it sound like it was a terrible trip. The instructor really is a good teacher who shared her knowledge generously with us. But there was definitely a mis-match between what I expected from the workshop and what was offered. I think what I did learn though is going to make a big difference in my painting, so it was worth it!

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Welcome back, Jana!

It does seem odd to have folks go all the way to Mexico just to be inside a classrom! I’m glad you went your own way as needed.

Love the sketches…

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Jana, I love the poolside sketches! They really give a feel of the place as I remember it a million years ago.(thanks for not putting in the ugly bits!) I’m very disappointed to hear that it has changed so much, although not very surprised. I went there many times while I was in college and just loved it – there were always donkeys wandering down the main street and we would be awakened by roosters! As long as you avoided the big hotels out of town it was perfect. Glad to hear the people are still as warm and friendly as I remember them!
Too bad about the workshop, but you did the right thing not wasting your time and just taking what was useful to you.

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Wonderful, lively poolside sketches! I can’t wait to see what new knowledge you share with us in your upcoming art. I’m so glad you were able to get what you needed from the workshop and “skip out” on the parts you didn’t. There’s a Rose Edin workshop coming up at Yosemite in May that I looked at, but alas it’s a bit $$$, there will probably be some professional workshop groupies attending — what a life! I never knew there were such creatures!!

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I understand the disappointment of making big plans and feeling let down. It stinks. However, I really like these paintings. They are so vibrant and have a different feel from your others…I think it is the use of yellow. Anyway, makes me think of Mexico.

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It was so interesting to read your experience. I totally understand how being with so many people is difficult, I think you were brave to take the trip on! Maybe it’s me but I would have been more surprised if this trip had been as idyllic as it promised – sadly so much of the world is becoming simply a place to shop and eat fast food. The sketches are lovely and I love the story of the waiter, I do hope he and his son enjoy using their new paints!

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Oh my. Welcome home! But ugh, I don’t think I would have cared AT ALL for the workshop setup, either. Ditching sounds like the healthiest thing you could do!!

Sorry about all the changes in the town, too…I hope you were compensated by all the other things…

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Hi Jana,
good to see you bck! I’ve been checking in on your blog waiting for your return – it seemed like a lot longer than a week! ‘As a bit of a recluse’ myself I would have found that difficult. Sometimes, don’t you find, you NEED to be on your own? I know you did another post recently talking about that subject – time alone. I think I would have felt exhausted too with all those people around and too would have been looking to sneak off. Aah well, you got something from the trip – these sketches are really wonderful. Great colour and lots of character! Welcome home!

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My first time on a blog, and I’m headed to my first outdoor workshop soon. I would appreciate getting some feedback to a couple of questions. Am excited to have found this forum for learning!

1-I read about your palette selections, but I am considering getting one that holds full/half pans, and I did not hear about any like that. Since I’m not sure what will be my final selection of colors as I become more experienced, and since each instructor suggests different colors, I thought that it might be good to have the ability to add and remove pans of the colors for each situation so I don’t have to dump what would be in the wells of a plastic palette. It wouldn’t be bad to throw out one color, but in order to keep them in order, I’d have to dump ever color with any changes to my selections. But I’m not sure if it would be hard to get the paint out of the pans, since they have four vertical sides. I would like this to be my all the time palette, as the big one I use is often too big to fit in a class, AND I’m getting in the habit of mixing too much on the palette and not mixing on the paper. A smaller mixing area would force me to stay fresh! Anyone have experience with this?

Also, does anyone know how that palette/water holder on the Valpod easel stays on, and doesn’t tip? I just bought a W&N Bristol Watercolor easel (haven’t used it yet), and deciding whether to keep it and try to make this holder, or return it and get this one if you liked it . The one that I bought was inexpensive, light, folds compactly, and tilts to any angle. It’s new (their other one can’t adjust to flat) to the company and was a little tough to find in a store (I’m cheap and hate to pay shipping).

Thanks for any help. I really don’t like to buy lots of gadgets, so I want to get my equipment right the first time.

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Hi Jana,
My first time on a blog — wondering how the Valpod easel is working for you. It looks like it is designed for standing use only – I like to stand or sit — but I like the adjustable angle , large shelf and water/brush holders. I live in Southern Calif and am trying to keep a sketchbook and do small plein air sketches using w/c blocks. Also wondered if you have been able to attach an umbrella to the tripod — Thanks, Debbie

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