deMeng de los Muertos
La Capital Mexico City
“A Fistful
of Journals”
October 28 –
November 3, 2013
Remember last year when the Mayan
calendar predicted the end of the world? Well it didn’t…but then again…maybe it did…that is, if
you look at ending as a time for
change and transition. So assuming
you believe this paradigm, 2013 is a time for new beginnings and that is
exactly what is happening with my annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
workshop in Mexico. My
organizer, Colleen and I decided it was time to shake things up in both
location and format.
This workshop will be very
different than other workshops I've done. Students will not need to bring
a suitcase full of rusty things to take the class.... believe it or not, all
you will need is some basic art supplies..."The Five P's"(pencil,
pastel, paint, paste and photos) from there we will visit a variety of
wondrously strange places in the Mexican capital where we can sit, work
and be inspired. I will be giving instruction on journaling techniques,
sketching, painting, etc. I will also be showing students some nifty
effects using mobile phone/ ipad or small cameras. Every night we
will end with a show-and-tell of our art-ventures...perhaps while enjoying a
margarita, cerveza, or Aztec hot chocolate.
A
few things to expect:
- Sketching: I’ll be sharing a variety of sketching
tips for those so inclined to take to pencil and paper
- Painting: I’ll be sharing a variety of painting
techniques that are specifically appropriate for journaling.
- Collage: Specifically I’ll be showing folks how
to use this medium in conjunction with paint, pencil and pen.
- Bookbinding: My wife Andrea will show folks some
basic bookbinding techniques for those who want to work on sheets of paper that
could later be bound into a book.
- Smartphone Photography: I’ll be sharing a few techniques using
various apps to create some nifty photos using your smartphone. We are looking into the
possibility of bringing a portable printer, so that photos taken on the trip
could be printed out and used as collage elements.
- Ephemera Collecting: One of the great things about
journaling is the incorporation of paper memorabilia. Mexico City has plenty of this.
- Hanging out and taking it all
in: The best part about this
workshop is that we won’t be rushing.
We will be able to spend some time enjoying a variety of locations with
journal at hand.
What
you’ll need to bring:
- A sketchbook or journal or paper - whatever size you’re most
comfortable with.
- Pencils, erasures, pens –
- Acrylic Paint – not too much…small tubes or bottles that can
get thrown into a travel bag. Definitely
bring a small tube of white (or titan buff) and black. Maybe a few other colors. I’ll be bringing Quinacridone Nickel
Azo Gold, Anthroquinone Blue, and Quincridone Red (these would give most of the
color spectrum). It’s up to you.
- Optional
- Smartphone, camera, or ipad, if you have one, for photos-
I’ll recommend some good apps to download before we go.
- A few bookbinding supplies if you want to learn and use some
of these techniques. Nothing major
and I’ll give you more specifics, as we get closer to the event.
Bonus
Dealio –
Free
Online Workshop Mixed-Up Media Journal Cover Workshop
Just prior to the Mexico City trip I’ll be running an online
workshop on how to modify a sketchbook cover using assemblage. This is optional for those who want to
show up with a modified journal justwaiting to be filled up.
The online component will be open to the public but those
signed up for Mexico City will get it for free…woo hoo!
Itinerary
Monday Oct. 28: Arrival day - Time to get settled in the
hotel and get ready for an adventure in one of the most populous cities in the
world.
Tuesday Oct. 29:
Introduction to Mexico City - We will start in the Zocolo (main
square) visiting the Templo Mayor (Aztec archaeological site), the murals of
the “big three” Rivera, Orozco, and Siqueros, the Bellas Artes opera house and
art museum, the Municipal palace murals, the Department of Education murals, El
Colegio San Ildefonso murals and so much more. There will be time for sketching
and photographing as we go.
Welcome dinner to end an art packed day.
Wednesday Oct. 30: We will travel by van to the Xochimilco floating
gardens and visit one of Michael’s favorite spots “the muy creepy” Island of
the Dolls. We will also visit the Museum home of Dolores Olmedo Patino. She was a patron of Diego Rivera and
has a large collection of paintings by Diego and Frida Kahlo.
Thursday Oct. 31: We will start at the Merced market, home to
supplies for religious festivals and curanderos (healers), followed by an
excursion to Coyoacan (once a suburb of Mexico City and now a small
neighborhood) to visit the home of Frida Kahlo and La Casa Azul. It has a beautiful town square and many
sketching spots and photo ops.
Friday November 1: Van excursion to Teotihuacan, the pyramid of the
Sun and Moon. It is an enormous
archaeological site with lots of opportunities for sketching and
photography. We will see the
shrine of Guadalupe and in the evening we will visit the Luchador (masked
wrestling).
Saturday November 2: Free day
– Possibilities include Chapultepec park which is home to the Museum of
Anthropology, the Rufino Tamayo Museum, the Modern Art Museum, the Castle of
Maximilian and more. One could
spend the whole day here. There is
also shopping and more sketching.
In the evening we will gather together for a farewell dinner.
Sunday November 3: Time to fly home
This workshop includes:
Hotel stay for 6 nights
and lunch daily
Welcome Dinner
Farewell Dinner
Excursions and tours
Workshop price:
$1595 for double occupancy
$1795 for single occupancy
Deposit to confirm
reservation: $250 Balance due
September 15, 2013
Cancellation Policy:
Full refund minus $50 administration fee, prior to August
15, 2013
$250 deposit will be forfeited for cancellation after August
15, 2013
No refunds (unless we are able to fill your space) after
October 1, 2013
Ready to sign up?
Contact Colleen Darling
805-448-1509
