<![CDATA[robin timms artworks

<![CDATA[robin timms artworks - travel : SMeA]]>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:19:25 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Artist Residency in San Miguel en Allende - Some departing comments, images and name dropping]]>Sat, 03 Feb 2018 16:16:13 GMThttps://www.robintimms.com/travel--smea/artist-residency-in-san-miguel-en-allende-some-departing-comments-images-and-name-dropping

Annual Garden Sale- SMA - colourful inspiration for any artist

I am trying to figure out how to repack ? The proverbial problem. This one is a little more challenging - can I bring back my colour studies? my play on large acrylic paper? my canvases? What do I do with that huge jar of very expensive Golden gesso I bought and hardly used?

These thoughts were with me at the beginning of my artist retreat here . Some had told me that shipping FedEx or DHL was certainly a possibility . I'm told that hardly anything goes through the mail here . So, when I headed for the art supply store [ El Pato] on my second day here, I chose as wisely as I could - I bought large sheets of acrylic paper to paint on [ but small enough to roll up and possibly fit into my suitcase... or at least carry rolled up]. I bought 4 canvases - 24 x 24 the biggest ... small for me but I thought shippable in the worst case scenario. I bought a limited number of Golden paints in small tubes . [ Again, I did not bring acrylics with me..... too many concerns about possible freezing on the airline, providing safety specs for customs, etc]..... I brought some very small tubes of acrylics, some watercolours and pens and inks for experimenting . It was all good.

This is what I have done in order to depart. I had coffee with Ian and his wife Mary Ann and donated my gesso, and the canvas frames and one canvas not completed to his art practice. [ He generously gave me a whole stack of his beautiful art cards to take home with me. An excellent exchange].

I took my completed canvases off their frames and rolled them inside my completed acrylic paper studies. One roll covered in the plastic sheet the paper came in and tied together. I can now pack or carry . Workable.

As much as I would have liked to buy some things here, I did not. I bought art cards from artists who inspired me or bulletins about their work for follow up online. I wrote in my art journal about what inspired me, their work processes, their art journeys to San Miguel . I took photos where I could . Hopefully, this will be enough to allow me to repack my suitcase.... and pack a couple of extra things - 2 small books in Spanish I hope to be able to read one day , a CD of popular Mexican music ... and my clothes [ always take up more space going home than coming].

There are so many unique images I have captured in my memory and on my camera while I have been here. Memories that I hope will inspire my art going forward. The image here is one that explains to women that this is the women's washroom . Now why couldn't we create imaginative ways to bring a smile to people's faces in the ordinary and everyday things that we experience ?

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed meeting Mexican people from all parts of Mexico and from all backgrounds. They have inspired me to continue to study Spanish . They are generous, kind, full of love, and so giving to help someone in any situation when it is obvious that that person doesn't know what to do or doesn't understand something. [ That person would be me].

The day I happened on to the Annual Garden Show, I swear it was the coldest day captured on record while I was here. I persevered to bundle up and go into town to stay warm and discovered this amazing garden show. Not many people were braving the weather the morning I was there so I got to practice my Spanish with many of the gardeners and helpers.

The picture above depicts some of the fresh herbs available. Do you see the one in the middle ? - " Vaporrub"...... yes, a kind of mint to be used as a chest rub for colds.

This is Señor Alphonso, working hard at the garden show. [ HIs job was to carry plants out for customers in the wheelbarrow but the morning was slow. ] He offered to give me a lift in his wheelbarrow , but I did not want to disturb his siesta.

One of the joys of SMA is that every day is a day of discovery. I would like to take this feeling back home with me . Above is an artist's casa with these magnificent wooden sculptures adorning the upper levels.

I loved all of the beautiful handcrafted art creations in rugs and ponchos displayed in the local artisan markets off the main tourist strips. I would have liked to have some of these in my little old cottage but again, getting them home a challenge. Maybe next time.

THE VELVET GIRL GALLERY - Meeting Sarah Zambiasi

Sarah's gallery is located in the Mercado de Artesanias at Hildalgo and Relox streets. Sarah is originally from Australia bought has come to Mexico via Italy I believe.... imagine an Aussie accent with a slight Italian Mexican twinge...... interesting to say the least.

I wanted to name drop Sarah and her art in my last post from SMA- fittingly one of my last artists to have an in-depth conversation with about her art which celebrate the " Divine Feminine" through form and symbols, Sarah spent a number of years painting with Toller Cranston, a very good friend, and her work captured my attention immediately because I saw Toller Cranston-like symbols and form but with a definitely unique Sarah twist. I loved her small works on show at her gallery .

But check her out : thevelevetgirlgallery@yahoo.com or at

flickr.com/photos/zambiasi_artwork or just google her name for shows and commentary over the years.

SMA being designated a World Heritage Site has brought with it both rewards and downsides. The front page of the newspaper headlines " Tourism in San Miguel: Good or Bad?" Its a bit of the every popular city drama unfolding- wealth coming in , building casas in the millions of dollars, bringing money and jobs, but also problems for local people who can't find affordable housing or a place to park to go to work. I have always been a kind of adventurer and one of the things I found myself wanting to do in SMA was to peer in behind the many closed doors..... as the actual living spaces in SMA go well behind and beyond the doors to them. Glimpses behind the doors, open for a brief moment or two, reveal many stories of the activities of SMA....

what's behind a door?

private residence behind a door

I hope you have enjoyed my artist residency blog in SMA ..... and I hope I have inspired you in some small way to seek out your own adventure and inspiration in your life. Hasta Luego.

ancient beauty

]]><![CDATA[Finding Artistic Inspiration in San Miguel en Alende]]>Thu, 01 Feb 2018 16:25:07 GMThttps://www.robintimms.com/travel--smea/finding-artistic-inspiration-in-san-miguel-en-alende

Beatriz Castaneda galeria

I thought that I would find new artistic inspiration within myself simply by escaping rainy January in Vancouver. A time to think about my art journey and where I want to go next in my art. I certainly tried playing with some tools and ideas while I was here. I learned some things all on my own.

I wasn't at all sure what I would find in the art world in San Miguel. Until yesterday, I can tell you now that I had been a bit disappointed. So much art. So many artists. Many , many galleries. But to be honest, I saw a lot of gimmicky art work . There are a lot of designers and interior decorators here because the very wealthy are here, are coming here, are building here ... and of course, they want art on their walls.... and a lot of the "art" I was seeing seemed to be just for that purpose - matching colours to designer fabrics,,,, and so on. Interesting maybe, but not necessarily inspiring . Art marketing to the very wealthy to be sure. And some of that art is simply "awful". Really, really awful.

There are those " high end" galleries that aren't really interested in talking to anyone walking in off the street. I went into a gallery yesterday to see some Andy Warhol stuff.... okay so I saw it. The other artists were in that " are you kidding me" category with prices in pesos that I could not translate into Canadian dollars, the numbers were so large.

Sometimes, I realize now, one finds inspiration in seeing the art itself. [ Good , bad and indifferent]. But sometimes, as I discovered yesterday, inspiration comes from individuals that you meet , if only for a brief encounter. So, in sharing this blog with you today , I have captured a number of images and I will talk about a few people, who really inspired me . And that makes my artist retreat and residency all worthwhile. I am looking forward to coming home to my studio [ and yes, maybe a little rain too].

First, I gratefully acknowledge the Beatriz_ Castaneda Gallery for allowing me to take pictures of her work to share with you . You can follow her on Facebook at BeatrizCastanedaGaleria. Her gallery is at the Fabrica La Aurora in SMA.

Her work includes acrylics , some very transparent and some inks, as well as sometimes using a very small amount of gold leaf I am told to aid in creating that glow in her work that can only really be appreciated in person. She paints on large canvases, and I fell in love with her greys in all her work. Magnificient colours, beauty and energy in line and a kind of simplicity in structure and composition that I will strive for until my dying day. Here a few more :

The Fabrica La Aurora holds a special place in SMA. I went back to take some more time to absorb the many galleries and art spaces. The walk to the Fabrica takes you through artist venues as well and it seems to be the area where up and coming artists are trying to find affordable living and work spaces.

One of the young artists I met at the Fabrica almost made me cry. I don't think he realized it. Or perhaps he did . His name is Mario Oliva and as I passed his open door to his studio, I stopped dead in my tracks as there on his back wall, behind the easel he was painting on, was a very large painting that had to done by the late Toller Cranston.

For most Canadians, Toller Cranston is known as a World figure skating champion and Olympian . For some of us, he will be remembered first as a creative soul and artist as well as perhaps a flamboyant one. Toller Cranston loved SMA where he lived and worked for 23 years. And so many who knew Toller in SMA loved him for his artistic genius and creativity, his friendship and his giving personality .

First, enjoy this video of Toller's house - described as magical and a place that many artists who knew Toller came to paint and be mentored by Toller.....

https://vimeo.com/andrearaiz/toller

Mario Oliva is one of those artists who had a close personal relationship with Toller, was mentored by Toller in his own painting journey and who misses his friend every day. There is a complicated story about what happened to Toller's house and assets and art after he died suddenly , but according to Mario, Mario is able to share and sell some of Toller's work - which is displayed in his gallery as well as another location in downtown SMA.

It was really a joy to listen to Mario talk about Toller Cranston and what Toller meant to him and to SMA. And to see some of these artworks up close and personal was truly an inspiration to me about following one's dream and painting for the love of painting . Yes, being inspired by another painter and his dreams is a gift.

Also check out the Memorial video made by Chuck Rubin at https://youtu.be/T_6JdqHhkHo

Artworks by Richard Trumbull - Zoho Gallery

There is a beauty in simplicity of composition, pattern and colour magic in these works by Richard Trumbull.... couldn't learn much about him on my visit but will try to track him down with some on-line research when I get home.

]]><![CDATA[The Colours of San Miguel en Allende]]>Mon, 29 Jan 2018 17:07:01 GMThttps://www.robintimms.com/travel--smea/the-colours-of-san-miguel-en-allende

Hola from San Miguel en Allende on Monday morning. I am in the home stretch - my artist residency is coming to a close and I am trying to assess all the things I will take away from this experience . I think it will take some time back home in the studio to see what I have absorbed creatively.

I have begun some small colour studies of SMeA in the last couple of days. I wanted to wait to absorb the emotional feelings of this special place before I tried sketching and doing some small studies. It is one thing to draw and paint something realistically to capture a moment or a photograph but for me, it is important to express the emotion of a place or experience.

So, you can see that the painting up above is very wonky, haphazard, and expressively eclectic. This is SMeA..... nothing is even , or straight, or perfectly perfect... on the contrary , it is a kind of magical kingdom of colour and architectural expression of the most unique kind. Every door and wall and rooftop has a story to tell, or a story to imagine .... and so, the stories can be never-ending .

I did a number of colour studies every day while I was here . These are for Irina , who , with her husband Michael are owners of this property. She is going to paint a scene using these colours which she loves so I mixed up the colours and recipes for mixing the colours.

When I create a colour in a particular painting that I love, I put a sample with the recipe into my art book under the painting label, & sketches so I can always refer back to it ..... it has become a habit for me and also a kind of diary in colour of each painting that I have done.

I know for my friends in Vancouver January has been rain drenched so I thought I would post this photo from yesterday afternoon as the rain clouds began to form over the mountains for the first time since I arrived. I felt as if I was back on the prairies as the thunder rolled in. The forecast for the next two days is to be the coldest since I have arrived and then the sun is supposed to come back in all of its glory .

True to form, the rain is here this morning and a cold fog has settled into the land ..... Time to research some of the artists I have met while here and perhaps share some of their art and stories with you . Happy Monday.

]]><![CDATA[Sunday with a Vermillion Flycatcher]]>Sun, 28 Jan 2018 17:40:50 GMThttps://www.robintimms.com/travel--smea/sunday-with-a-vermillion-flycatcher

Colours of Mexico - Glass works at the Galleria

I am painting at the moment , after washing a few things in the out of doors washing machine, and hanging my clothes on the out of doors clothes line .....

It is Sunday and so quiet that all I hear are the birds chirping, the donkey next door, a few rooster calls and the wind through the mountains. That is pretty quiet .

Here's a fact to think about - Did you know that there is not one set of traffic lights in SMeA. There are major highways coming in to town and through town to other parts of Mexico, and there are some 400 taxis in the town itself , before talking about local cars or tourists with cars. But there is not one traffic light .... So, just think how polite all the taxi drivers and others are , to navigate these narrow and winding streets.... and its true , so polite ....

I tried to upload an image of the birds that roost in the tree in front of the studio but I seem to be having technical difficulties.... so please google images of the " Vermillion Flycatcher".... [ don't you even love the name].... and you will see the glorious brilliance of the birds keeping me company as I paint ....

Happy Sunday everyone .

]]><![CDATA[The Old, The Very Old & the Beauty in it all]]>Sat, 27 Jan 2018 16:46:35 GMThttps://www.robintimms.com/travel--smea/the-old-the-very-old-the-beauty-in-it-all

I would award this door one of the oldest I have seen so far and one of the most beautiful . It is complete with a see- through hole in the lower left.

Yesterday, January 26th , I went into SMeA to meet up with Ian Carter [ an artist I met through the Canadian Federation of Artists] and his wife MaryAnn , who live in SMeA for a period of time every year . It was nice to meet up for lunch and talk about their art experiences as well as other great attributes about living here - cultural events - music, spanish lessons, the people ...the history and so on. For any of you that are "foodies", this is an exceptional town for experiencing amazing food and if you are so inclined, you can take cooking lessons too.

I try to take in 5 or 6 art galleries every time I wander into town. There is so much to see and so little time. I like to talk to the artists about their work- many run their own galleries or share gallery space with other artists . More on some of these artists later.

Many artists who live here try to make some additional money by giving art classes and workshops and so for those of you interested in such an experience , there are many to choose from here.

I always take my camera when I wander through town , trying to find side streets that I haven't yet been down . Here are some images from yesterday's wander.

Senior chair mender .....many labours are carried out through transactions right on the street ...

As the weekend approaches, the town gets busier - many artisans and craftspeople from the countryside come into the centro to sell their wares

I discovered the avenue where the Plaza de Toros is located - bull fighting still plays out here and this poster advertises the latest bullfight. I do not know whether the practice is still to kill the bulls - perhaps a google of this question may be in order.

What is clear is that bullfighters still command fame and status as the avenue is lined with dramatic posters of the bullfighters themselves-

One of the posters of a bullfighter - very large and dramatic

One of the many side streets to wander down - I cannot tell you what surprises one can find just by wandering .

I especially love the abstract beauty of the walls like these ones.

I am learning to walk with my head down as all smart locales do This practice ensures you will not fall into a crevice in
the sidewalk or fall off a broken sidewalk. Es muy dangeroso . But at the same time, there is art and artistry on every rooftop or building corner as seen in the images below. Looking up can be quite breathtaking.

One also sees the old and the newer ... such as the counterpoint - the old lamp and the electrical wiring...

When you least expect it , something pops out of the middle of a wall or a doorway

I will leave you with this image of a T-shirt for sale in town.... Don't you think there could be as many sales in Canada as in Mexico?

]]><![CDATA[Mexican Sombreros, Toy Horses & Street Vendors]]>Wed, 24 Jan 2018 17:48:42 GMThttps://www.robintimms.com/travel--smea/mexican-sombreros-toy-horses-street-vendors

Today is a very lazy day. Perhaps this is part of the artistic process when one retreats to another country and is taking in sights and sounds and conversations from everywhere.

So here is a mish mash of some of these things over the past several days . For the cowboys out there, or maybe just lovers of westerns , the Galeria I introduced you to in my last blog provides an education in many aspects of Mexican & Spanish history . In one area of the Galeria are a collection of some of the most beautiful " sombreros" ever. From the pictures you cannot gage their actual size, but let me assure you they are very large , and to see someone dressed and wearing one of these seems to be a very romantic concept to me . Here are a few more -

In Canadian cities we are accustomed to seeing street vendors selling a wide variety of foods . In and around the small villages and towns in this area of Mexico, street vendors tend to be of two kinds . The first is one that is set up at the side of a road or intersection - often close to where the local buses drop off and pick up people on their daily commutes. These vendors have a kind of outdoor tent/tarp to protect buyers from the elements . A portable bench or tables hold a variety of pots with cooked food, beans , and mixtures that go into tortillas - either corn or wheat. Corn is the most popular. There are also a whole range of pepper sauces ....... I suppose these are the equivalent to our ketchup and mustard and relish add-ons - although I am guessing the Mexican varieties are far more healthy and tasty in any one of a number of ways . People come for breakfast before work, or lunch or they pick up for their way home for dinner.

The second kind of street vendor is even more interesting to me . These vendors push large wheelbarrows through the street and around various venues - especially schools I noticed and some even cater to the school kids coming out for lunch .

These wheelbarrows hold a wide variety of cooked vegetables, beans, and sauces and some fruits in large heavy plastic containers so the buyer can pick and choose . Often a mix of vegetables goes into a smaller hand-sized plastic bag, sauces are added and the buyer walks away with a large spoon or fork to eat lunch . This vendor arrangement reminded me of my time in Thailand , where many Thai people would similarly purchase their meals. Often they would shop for hot meals from favourite vendors, tie up the plastic bags to hang on their bicycles for their trip home.

A wheelbarrow vendor getting ready for the children coming out of school

Corn on the cob with beans and spices seemed to be a favourite. Notice the vendor is wearing a T-shirt with an American flag. The view of America right now is certainly not what it once was.

The villages around San Miquel en Allende vary greatly in size and in other aspects. The small villages close to where I am staying are quaint, with small houses, many made of brick , some with gardens and chickens and a way of life that seemingly has been going on for centuries. The roads are cobblestone , and often you would not know the villages even existed tucked in behind the hills , unless someone told you how to get there or you managed to spot a church cross or steeple which is often on the highest point in the village. A number of people around this area work for a company known as Via Organica, a large land owner and shaper of the land - one family I am told that piloted farms growing organic produce, crops, feed for animals and animals - sheep, goats, cattle - producing organic milk and cheese, etc. The locals around here have nothing but sincere compliments for this particular business entrepreneur ..... with stores and markets and restaurants sprouting up everywhere touting the Organic label and giving a lot of local farmers and food producers a higher than average income [ so I am told].

These are street vendors trying to earn a living from selling various handcrafted art and other moments from the visit to the famous church in Atotonilco

I am always surprised at what I will find just around the next corner

Some of the wooden carvings you will see in street markets.

A very old wooden play horse- a child would climb in to and hold the sides of the box .

The colours of Mexico in glass sculpture

]]><![CDATA[A Travel Back in Time -Atotonilco & Cultural Mexico]]>Tue, 23 Jan 2018 14:47:07 GMThttps://www.robintimms.com/travel--smea/a-travel-back-in-time-atotonilco-cultural-mexico

Masks of Gold - Galeria Atotonilco

Yesterday , January 22, was a special day filled with country walking, a visit to the small village of Atotonilco with a population under 600 people but which has a special place in Mexico and Mexican history.

I must say that the main street of the village made me feel a little like I was on a movie set for a Western - Mexico style. I loved meeting the people [ shy], the children coming out from school for bagged lunch purchased from street vendors on the street [ more on that later]; [ the children less shy]; a visit to the World Heritage site on the corner of Main Street , best known as the Church of Atotonilco but described as the Sistine Chapel of Mexico and lastly a visit to the Galeria which houses ancient and newer examples of art collected from all the different cultural indigenous peoples of Mexico . A lovely young woman told me many things about the various cultures, the art , and stories behind the art.

Along the way [ walking ], I managed to make a wrong turn and amble into a very private residence property [ hidden behind a tall stone wall, it was quite spectacular and I found myself ambling along taking pictures of art and sculpture and natural beauty of the landscape until I arrived on the doorstep of a large Mexican casa where I found myself realizing I was trespassing and trying to apologize profusely. Luckily, the handsome gentleman spoke a rather perfect English , laughed merrily and gave me further directions. Having come back to the entrance another lovely woman also interrogated me [ kindly] and pointed me back in the right direction.... so much wealth and so many in the country with so few opportunities....

The Church of Atotonilco

When you find yourself in such a sanctuary [ the main area of the church called the Sanctuary of Jesus Nazareno de Atotonilco] with ancient chants vibrating and echoing up through
the space, you know there are stories here that swirl through the centuries. You must google this World Heritage Building to read of its stories, and its significance in the ultimate independence of Mexico . But , whether you are religious, spiritual or just human, this place will quieten you and draw you in . Here are just a few images to give you an idea .

I actually took this image upside down on one of the ceilings

Galeria - Masks of Diablo & other scary creatures

Given our visit to the famous church in this village, I thought I would first share with you some of the masks and images created by many different Mexican indigenous cultures throughout Mexico . Many of these are ancient , but what I always find of interest is how every culture in the world has created masks as part of its culture, its ceremonies, its belief systems and in telling stories to their children to teach moral values and other important lessons on how to live. I guess you could say I have always been attracted to these masks, their people and their stories wherever I have travelled in the world.

In Mexican cultures " Diablo" the devil or other underworld creatures seem to have played a prominent role.

Here are a few of these images which the Galeria so kindly allowed me to take and share with you.

These are all made of wood , although some of the horns may be from animals

Later , I will share some more of the fascinating discoveries regarding Mexico and its ancient and magnificent culture ... right now the sun is shining and its time to do some drawing. Hasta Luego

]]><![CDATA[A Country Walk , Saturday at the Movies & Pizza]]>Sun, 21 Jan 2018 21:31:03 GMThttps://www.robintimms.com/travel--smea/a-country-walk-saturday-at-the-movies-pizza

Saturday morning was spectacular. So Bob [ Roberto ] suggested he show me one of his favourite walks through the countryside close to the ranch leading up to a quaint village and a favourite eating place. This is the cobbled road taking us through the countryside .

Another view of the country road

This looks like a happy school in the countryside

" un burro" with a happy smile and very soft ears

We waved to a cowboy [ un vaquero] out tending sheep [ see him on the bottom right] including babies only days old . He waved us down to talk to him. Between the two of us we managed to have a conversation in Spanish with this local who really seemed to want to get to know us . We learned about the land around us, the farms, and even agreed on a few political issues of the day ....[ Canada and Mexico to stick together against Trump.....] It was a really enjoyable encounter .

This small church on the hill allows the locals to go early in the morning for prayers. Many go a few miles further up the road to Jalpa to a much bigger , older church for big celebrations . The Christmas decorations still float in the breeze.

" un magnifico gallo" - a magnificent rooster....strutting his stuff

Sorry you can't see the sheep babies up close.... so tiny and so cute .... needing to be protected at the moment from the local coyotes ....

Afternoon at the movies :

After the walk , we headed into SMeA for the 3pm movie at the teatro - seating around 60 people ..... old-fashioned cushion seats and a fake fireplace..... for 150 pesos one received a free drink [ I had white wine] and hot popcorn was handed out along the rows while the movie was in progress....it was fantastic .... what did we see ? Would you believe we watched " Ladybird" getting all the buzz right now ....

After the movie we went into the adjoining outdoor restaurant where we had pizza cooked in an outdoor wood-fired pizza oven , and some Mexican coffee[ I'm totally addicted]....

I couldn't have asked for a better Saturday .....

Hasta Luego ...

]]><![CDATA[Out of the ordinary - Playtime]]>Sat, 20 Jan 2018 01:00:53 GMThttps://www.robintimms.com/travel--smea/out-of-the-ordinary-playtime

Title : Inspiration

Every artist internally acknowledges certain particular things he/she struggles with , or at the very least , wants to improve upon . Over time, there are also certain things that every artist owns .... tucks into their tool bag and pulls out to make them happy.

For me, as a colourist , and one who knows that every day and every painting brings new adventure in colour, one little thing that always makes me happy is to add a colour discord to my canvas ..... [ look it up if you care to know ].... but in this colour study that colour or group of colours hovers around the Quin magenta tree placed in the foreground.... it just makes me happy and inspires me to paint on....

Then there are the colour studies I am doing here that simply take me out on a proverbial limb and that I continue to play with until the limb breaks ..... so inspired by the fun and humour in so many artist's palettes and artwork here in SMeA..... here is a colour study in the abstract viewed from each plane......

Title : Winky & Friends # 1 , 2 , 3 & 4 [ i.e. 4 views]

#2

# 3

# 4

The whole point about " retreating" as an artist is to " let go".......and have some fun .... Hasta luego

]]><![CDATA[Meditation for the Soul]]>Fri, 19 Jan 2018 01:11:23 GMThttps://www.robintimms.com/travel--smea/meditation-for-the-soulSometimes an artist residency is really an artist retreat... a place to escape to.... a place where you sit in the sun at 5 pm and listen to bird songs you have never ever heard before and you look at mountains with the sun setting that you have only seen for a few days.... and you close your eyes and you hear ..... quiet.... silence....... calm...... a hush over the world...... and your creative soul begins to ask yourself questions .... and you have the time to stop to listen .... because you have disconnected from all the hype and personal promotions, and instagrams boasting of an artist's latest show or accomplishment or award or whatever it is that is pushing us into some kind of weird virtual world where every artist appears to be a success ..... an artist retreat is a magnificent reward .... it makes you happy just being alive .... and not having to think about anything but the sweetness of the air ... and all the things that make being alive a reward in themselves .... perfection ...... a kind of creative fulfillment in itself..... and for just a moment ... all is right with the world .

Simple Lines ..... Towards the mountains at sunset... Jalpa , Mexico

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