On the road to León
Posted: February 19, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized 29 CommentsOn the 90-minute van ride from San Miguel de Allende to the airport in León, you pass through some beautiful landscapes. Big skies, distant blue mountains and wide plateaux covered in cacti and yellowed scrub vegetation, for the most part. Occasionally the van slows down and you realize you are passing through a town. From the van window you catch a glimpse of typical Mexican street life. There’s no chance to stop for photos in this van full of anxious travellers, but I snap iPhone pics from the window. Most of them are trash, but a few are good enough to merit a second look and perhaps end up as reference for a painting.
This big tree — likely an Acacia, from my research — was a lucky capture with the phone. So much life in the shade of that tree, including a shoe kiosk and a family settling down for lunch. And almost as if they knew I would be passing — a yellow wheelbarrow. Painted on a half sheet of Arches 140 lb rough paper.
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
Gorgeous!
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Many thanks Chris!
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You have no fear putting on the shadows of the tree branches!!! I just cannot a good result. Need more practice. Brilliant color!!!
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I guess you’re right. It was a bit daunting to put in the shadows because I had spent so much time on the tree, but I just mixed up lots of shadow colour and then dove right in.
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Love the shadow of that huge tree and the colors of the town. Funny to have you find a wheelbarrow down there too!
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Thanks so much Joan.
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So enjoy the tree with wild flowing branches that almost fill the page. Great sprawling shadows, colors, umbrellas, and family having lunch. It’s a winner! Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks Bernadette. This scene really was all about that tree. It painted it first, with more patience than I usually have, but I really loved doing all those branches. It was like meditation.
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Spectacular! Love the tree and the umbrellas!
Rita
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Thanks Rita!
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Awesome
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Always nice to hear from you Tim. Thanks so much!
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I can feel the atmosphere of this scene – wonderfully conveyed, and with only an iPhone photo for reference!
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thanks Alison!
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Those shadows and the colourful umbrellas are amazing!
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Thanks so much!
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I can only agree that those shadows are great. (trite word but it says it all) BTW, I recently learned that San Miguel de Allende is one of the safest places to visit in Mexico so I apologize if I was worried. I have lived too long in a border state.
This is one of my favorite of your paintings on your trip.Just lovely.
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Thanks Judy. We felt completely safe in San Miguel.
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What a wonderful, atmospheric painting, Shari! I could almost imagine myself under that tree!
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thanks so much Marina.
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The shadows make the painting come alive! I love it.
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Thanks Pam!
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Lovely, so much energy and I love the shadows.
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Thanks very much Liz.
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Very interesting street scene.
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Amazing 👌
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thanks!
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You really captured rural Mexico in this one. The tree, the light, the spaciousness but especially the shadow!
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Thanks so much Jann!
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