Postcards from Puerto Vallarta

BRAISE AND BABIES

OFF TO THE ART SUPPLY TO BUY TINY BRUSHES

It looks as though the last two hours I spent in Picassa trying to crop this photo didn't work.  Oh to have the old days when my assistant corrected all of my mistakes.  So here I sit, all alone, with nothing to protect me from the world...following in the footsteps of my muse.  I am finally sitting in the zone thanks to Kristi's wonderful photography - this painting will be fun.

FAVORITE PHOTO'S

 

Meeting Max and Jackie on the path after school. This was my routine in the afternoon, they were always so happy to see me as they came around the corner.  2003 in Les Arcs.

A NEW DAY

            

This moment (above) is one of the greatest of my life - I was just standing out in front of our condo on the Marina greeting everyone who passed by singing in a still, soft voice "I AM FREE".  I was finally free from taking my chemo in a pill ( 5 years to this happy day).  I called the pill "Rat Poison" because for the past five years it was killing me softly.  My hair had turned totally platium grey.

A few days ago I trimmed off some of my hair....later when I looked in the mirror I noticed that my hair was now heavily streaked with dark hair - I cut off some more hair - my goodness my hair has dark brown streaks  all over.  I guess my hair is telling me I am strong again, I AM ALIVE.

XOXO - JULES

P.S. This photo was taken (and this moment was last October - 2008)

LOST AGAIN

 

I have decided make a few changes - thought the little rock house was too small so I made it into a two-story tower with steps leading up to the kitchen door.  Then I thought, why not have a deck outside to look at the lavender field, added some stairs to get up to the kitchen.   Now everything is out of proportion - #$@!... But I like the feeling of the composition better, although now the lavender fields look like 10 ft. high lavender bushes.  The cyprus needs to come down to the ground and not hang in midair. 

I guess it would help if I planned ahead, but this is alot more fun.  I think I will scrap this and go downtown and buy a BIG CANVAS and start over.

I walked Breezy around the Marina this morning for an hour,  met two tourists from Phoenix.  Hopefully business here in Puerto Vallarta is on the comeback.  Kristi I am sending them over to your blog - "Tonja" went to A.S.U. - she's about your age.  I checked out a couple of Art Galleries to see if

my Sailor Sam and Braize painting would fit in...one gallery was so-ooo conservative I didn't even bring up the subject. 

This seems kind of like a disjointed - off balance post - alot like my painting....I didn't sleep all night worrying about John - he will be 67 on Saturday and he is not too happy about his life right now.  I on the other hand feel great about my age - bring on 63! 

XOXO

JULES

FREEDOM - PAINTING ON A MAGAZINE COVER

 

I always come to this mountain - the same mountain on every painting - and now I am there with Brais' painting.  I need a break.  Yesterday I ripped a high quality cover off of one of my magazines and proceeded to paint on its surface.  Why ? - Because there is some kind of magic to the quality of the cover when I cover them with oil paint...the surface seems to reflect the oil much stronger than a regular canvas - I don't understand why but I always get a "HIGH'  when I paint on this surface.  This little painting which I may finish up tomorrow is really a tribute to last weeks photo of the little rock house Kristi photographed. 

 

I can't believe it took me 15 minutes to download this last photo, I need help with this computer. Now I am going to download how I would like this little treasure to be displayed once it is finished.  I am able to buy these beautiful silver frames here in Mexico.  I love the size of the frame I keep Kristi's photo in and that's the size I want this little painting to have.  I think it will look so great on a crendenza (sp?) and that is really how I would like to sell some paintings.  I think I can buy this frame for about $30 and ship the painting in the frame.  If I asked $100 for the painting - then the frame and shipping -

what do you think - would this be a fair price...?

BRAISE LOVES HER HAT

 

I have changed the color of the couch again - from cranberry to blue - can't decide which to keep.

 

I think the painting is about half done, I will spend most of my time now adjusting color and bringing out the pallent knife to put on thick layers of paint.  Because I am working with oil paint I will be spending extra days waiting for each layer to dry.  Did anyone notice in the original photo how Kristi or Jean-Marc had made a dog tag out of a piece of cardboard paper.  Check the original photo.

PAINTING A 3x4 FT. PAINTING WITH A HALF INCH PAINTBRUSH

 

I must be nuts painting with a brush this small, I didn't even notice I was using this little half inch brush until this  morning.  I also use my favorite pallet knife, that seems to be all I need to create.

I just got off the phone with Kristi (FRENCH-WORD-A-DAY) - she thinks I need to put this painting up for sale right now, right here....so here goes.  Please let me know if you would like to bid on BRAISE &

SAM....BIDDING STARTS AT $500. PLUS SHIPPING AND HANDLING.  I'll find out what this cost is next week, Kristi told me to just get on the bus and find a packing and shipping place to find the price.  You can follow along with me on this adventure if you like, I don't know how long this painting is going to

take to finish - this will be my fourth day of work.  As you can see from the past photo's I'm having trouble with Braise's mouth - I guess it would help if I would look at the photo once in a while.  Of course I have never painted a dog before but the excitment and energy I received from the story of their romp in Marseille just 'dogged' me into a painting.  Kristi if you get a chance maybe you can post

the link to your story here in my comments box.  If you haven't already read this love story you are in for a great experience. 

Kristi - HONEY - if you find the time could you please put my email address to contact me on the side bar of my blog.  Isn't this what kids are for??? 

To all of my new friends here please send me a note to let me know who you are in the comments box,

THIS WILL GIVE ME THE ENERGY TO CARRY ON - I HAVE BEEN STUMBLING ALONG BUT MAYBE NOW I AM READY TO STAY THE COURSE.

XOXO

JULES

I'M HAPPY AND THANKFUL TO BE PAINTING AGAIN - T.Y.G.

 

Breezy is happy I am painting again too.  The sun is shining again after a big thunderstorm here in the jungle of Mexico.  We are at the beginning of the "Monsoon Season" here in Puerto Vallarta, one of my

favorite times of the year.  I spend my mornings in my little studio on the terrace looking over the garden and pool.

JOHN bringing me roses and a beautiful cake this past Valentines Day.  Our terrace above his head.

BRAISE PAINTING 3RD DAY