Tag: Ajijic

Ajijic

Man with Panama Hat

Michele B. Naquaiya
I noticed this gentleman in downtown Ajijic, Mexico.  I took his picture early last summer and he struck me as being very distinguished.  He looked serious.  His camera had a very long lens and a sun visor.  He looked at ease and he was definitely not your average person in the square.  I kept looking for a dog but he did not have one.

I did not forget him so six months later, I am painting him.  So what is it about him that makes him so intriguing?  I am guessing that he has a history and it is not Mexico.  I think he has traveled and I think he has seen a lot of the world.  Why do certain images stick in our brain.  I hope he is ok and doing well.

The thing about this watercolor is this…it was painted as a tonal value piece.  Three shades of light, medium and dark painted in paynes grey.  The paper was Fabriano Uno paper, the old version that had little or no sizing on it.  I soaked the paper well and adhered it to a board.  I started by using wet into wet and because the paper was stretched. it was pretty near impossible to get a hard edge.  So I went with it.  Later I learned that stretched paper cannot hold a hard edge, and you do not lose color the way you do with painting on sized paper.  I did not know that.  So everything will have a soft edge. Originally, the pencil drawing on the sheet had detail in his face, in his shoes and his camera bag.  All was lost. But I don’t consider this a bad thing because I learned from it.

When the painting was dry after a whole day, I gently laid layers of transparent colors on certain areas, such as the background foliage, the people and the tiled shiny wall.  Listo.  Reproductions are here:

panama-hat-web

Ajijic, people

Ajijic’s People: Dave the sculptor and part-time Orange Juice Guy

Michele B. Naquaiya

orange-juice-web

I know it’s just not me, but I believe there are people here in Ajijic who definitely make a difference.  They  make an impact on our daily lives.  Being a newbie here, I can only comment on some of the ones who have impressed me enough to photograph and paint them.  I like to call them “people landmarks” because when you talk about them to friends, they respond with  “Oh yeah, I know him, or I’ve seen her.”  Usually they are vendors who have a following and a great variety of merchandise they collect and sell, or they are artisans themselves.  

They usually claim a street corner or familiar area where they’ve built their reputation.  I know that my “orange juice guy” can be found in front of Guadalajara Pharmacy on the Carretera.

Dave is an artist–a sculptor. He wears more than one hat which many of us have to do,  I’ve bought juice from him before and it is really good juice.  He’s one of several people I have enjoyed photographing and painting in watercolor.  He has a very friendly nature.  He always has a big smile and love for conversation and a little pleasant joking.  He takes great pride in what he does.  He is always cutting, cleaning, organizing his booth and presenting his beautiful juice with an air of confidence and generosity.  How could you not buy juice from him?

He certainly loves this juicer.  I do too.  It’s one of those tools that is really well built and functions without electricity or batteries.  It’s durable, honest and trustworthy. It’s like his good oranges and clean knives and counter.  I have never seen such a super sized juicer and watching him operate it is a pleasure.  I can only imagine how excited he must have been when he bought it.

He plays it like a violinist plays his violin. Buen provecho. 

buy prints here

 

Ajijic, flora and fauna

Ajijic Plaza Umbrellas

Michele B. Naquaiya

AjijicPlaza copy-web.jpgThis is a small scene in the downtown Centro Plaza in Ajijic, Mexico. It’s a relaxed and sometimes very busy place.  Weekends find artisans selling their wares, musicians playing their instruments in festive songs. Generally it’s a busy but festive place. You can get and ice cream and sit on a bench and people watch or meet friends for lunch at nearby restaurants.  Food carts await and taxis sit at their stations ready to bring you anywhere you want to go.

The atmosphere is always friendly and there’s always the sound of laughter of happy children running in and out of the gazebo.  It’s a wonderful place to share with friends.  Flower are always blooming Ajijic Plaza umbrellas  against a clear blue sky.