Personal Art Blog

Sharing the lessons I teach at the Artist Guild and the personal discoveries in my art.

Monday, September 7, 2015

Balcony in Guadalajara, Mexico


Balcony in Guadalajara.
9x8 in watercolor on Yupo
study

Artist Note.
Carol Marine came up with
a neat subject for this week's
 Daily Paintworks Challenge.

I have loads of balcony photos
from all my travels. This one 
from the gorgeous old city 
of Guadalajara, in Mexico's
interior. In this area they 
all had small clothes lines,
sometimes four to a balcony.
This was 20 years ago...
I wonder if they still
hang it outside or 
if they have dryers
now their electricity has
improved.



30 comments:

  1. I love this image, there is such a lot of atmosphere ! In many cities in Italy they hang their clothes out like this for everybody to see , specially in Napoli :-)

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  2. Hi Jane - I think the clothes add so much for an artist to paint but we have areas here where it is not allowed. Usually higher end condos etc.
    When I was in India they had the saris hanging...now thats a sight to see.
    You did an outstanding job with "High Profile" oh my - the lavendarish pink next to the green really grabbed me! Brilliant painting.

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  3. I love the sunny look to this, and I can almost feel the warm breeze that is moving the clothing. I'm always attracted to paintings with laundry hanging. It gives a glimpse into the daily lives of people. We so rarely see that here in NY. Great job.

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    Replies
    1. Glad you like it.
      I almost changed the color of the walls because it was a smoky yellow - I guess aged.yellow is not a color which appeals to me. The laundry was the draw for me - just like you I like what laundry symbolizes.
      I like your new post. Your drawing classes are interesting for me to follow.

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  4. Wow Julie. The texture, the color................it all just flows. Ths is a beautiful painting. It is also a very happy one!

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    Replies
    1. What a lovely comment - thanks Helen. I am always camera happy at views like this. Looking forward to seeing what you do in class this week.


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  5. Bonjour chère Julie,

    Je me réjouis que vous passiez du bon temps en peignant en compagnie de cette grande artiste.
    Je suis sous le charme de cette belle aquarelle que vous nous montrez.
    J'aime son atmosphère avec ce balcon et le linge qui vole au vent.
    J'aime l'Italie pour cela aussi car très souvent, on peut remarquer le linge qui sèche de cette manière. J'avais remarqué cela à Naples... et lorsque la cuisine d'été n'était pas encore terminée, j'étendais mon linge de cette façon à cette endroit. Je l'avais nommé "Napoli" en référence. Aujourd'hui, la cuisine d'été s'appelle toujours "Napoli"... sourire !
    J'aime beaucoup l'harmonie des couleurs et cette belle composition. Vous êtes talentueuse ma chère ! Bravo ! Continuez à nous séduire avec vos oeuvres merveilleuses.

    Gros bisous ♡

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    Replies
    1. Hello dear Julie, I welcome you to have a good time by painting in the company of this great artist. I am in love with this beautiful watercolor you show us. I like the atmosphere with this balcony and linen that flies wind. I love Italy for that too because very often, one can notice the laundry drying in this manner. I noticed this when in Naples ... and the summer kitchen was not over yet, I stretched my laundry this way to this place. I had named "Napoli" by reference. Today, the summer kitchen is always called "Napoli" ... smile! I love the harmony of colors and this beautiful composition. You are talented, my dear! Congratulations! Continue to seduce us with your wonderful works. Kisses ♡

      Thank you Martine for the wonderful comment. Nice to hear you have plenty of hanging laundry over in Naples.I enjoyed the story!

      Your drawing ( not named yet) for your new painting shows a lot of impact and a fun character.


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  6. Very beautiful Julie, I find this scene common in Indian apartments.The yellow brought so much of light and sunshine!

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    Replies
    1. I agree - only the saris are so bright and beautiful all flowing out in the
      breeze. We have nothing as gorgeous here.
      I was amazed to see how similar your beautiful new landsape painting is to our terrain here in New Mexico - even to the same cacti. Driving to Puttaparthi from
      Bangalore, I was very excited to see such a familiar landscape to New
      Mexico. I thought it was very beautiful.

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  7. How fun! Love the colors in the laundry. I understand about the smokey yellow not being your first choice.

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    Replies
    1. Glad you understand. A nice peachy color would have been better for my taste buds but i wouldn't have learned so much. Your classes so interesting. Clouds and trees in charcoal/pastels. neat!

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  8. Julie this looks more like a painting than just a study. I have only seen photos of clothes hanging from a balcony. What a delightful scene. Secretly I hope they do still hang their laundry out. Something wonderful about this task. I know I enjoy it. Have a super day.

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    Replies
    1. I know if their electricity keeps cutting off they will still be hanging it out. They went through a rash of people with long poles swiping the clothes and I remember that raised quite a ruckus.
      Love your butterflies. I love the whole symbolism of the butterfly. thanks for a lovely painting on your post.

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  9. great colour and texture to the walls :)

    even with a dryer sometime its nice to hang clothes out :)

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    Replies
    1. I hate towels hung outside unless I want to exfoliate. The sheets smell nice though.
      Thanks for the comment. Hope you are still improving daily, my dear. Pretty traumatic what you have been through.

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    2. when I hang towels out to dry, once they are dry I put them in the dryer for 10 minutes to soften them up :p
      thank you :) slowly improving :)

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    3. What a great tip...dumbo here never thought of that! Thanks, Jennifer

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  10. You amaze me with your style on yupo, so fresh and painterly!

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    Replies
    1. Big complement from someone who is a master of watercolor - Thank YOU Kim. Still pretty insecure about Yupo. never does what it is supposed to!
      I was inspired by your beautiful waterlily to try a single bloom. ha! talk about difficult.

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  11. Replies
    1. Well Myra - WELCOME and lets make it a big fat welcome, too.
      Thanks for thinking it is beautiful. I checked your post of the three magnificently painted women and saw you were bummed. Wish I could do my art as well as you when I am bummed. You are amazing!

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  12. Stunning painting! I love the two ladies, you really tell a story here.

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    1. Thanks you so much Celia - I treasure the two women enjoying the time on the balcony. It was because of them I took the photo,
      Hope you are painting even though you have not posted...

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  13. Replies
    1. Thanks, Lorraine. In some ways Yupo is similar to your hot press - what you are working on at the moment. Love your bird.

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  14. Delightful, Julie! Yupo seems to give paintings such a lively, festive look! All of the pools of paint and the sediment settling just add another active element to the subject.

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    1. I agree about the way paint lies on the Yupo adds to the surface interest. Never the same way twice though so the usual tricks can't be relied on.
      Adds to the fun and the frustration. Thanks for the visit, Carol.

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  15. This is just stunning, Julie! I like the water lilies below too, but this one? Something different going on here that is just fabulous! Maybe it is the Yupo effect again. Something I just cannot seem to attain. I love it!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Sherry - thanks for the great comment on my Yupo work.
      Love the new photos you have on your blog. You look extra lovely with your hair up and a few tendrils loose. Happy for you.

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I love that you are taking the time to comment and thank you for it. I am sure other readers will enjoy them too. If you cannot comment through this format then email me at juliefordoliver@gmail.com
Cheers,
Julie