Art Blog

Without access to the internet in Cuba, these pictures had to wait until I got back home.  Here is a little sample of some of the work I did while in Cuba.  Over all this excursion produced some nice work by all the members in our group.  In Havana we started off at Hotel Seville, with a stunning classical spanish colonial style courtyard lobby, perfect for our morning meetings and early evening cocktail hour.  With two of our guests arriving a day late due to a missed connection in Toronto and two other guests without their luggage ( thanks Air Canada) our first couple of days were a bit broken up but we managed to keep a stiff upper lip and find ways to enjoy the excitement of Havana.

This little pen and watercolour study I managed to complete toward the end our our two weeks.  First I inked in the drawing in pen made some colour notes and painted it back in the comfort of our Hotel Lobby.  Mostly because i was in full on sun, out of water and dead thirsty for a Mohito.  I liked the feeling of this active neighborhood behind the Capitolo Building in Old Havana.

Coffee painting in Trinidad

This is definitely one of my favourite pieces of our trip, partially because of the memory of painting it was so wonderful.  Sitting outside our regular cafe in Trinidad close by Plaza Major, I spotted this character posing for tourists photos on the casa step just beyond our table.  Once again I started with a very quick pen drawing thinking I might not have very much time, but our elderly model was perfectly content to just enjoy the moment listening to our friend Israel serenade us on his guitar with both traditional latin music, as well as his unique version of some of my favourite beetles tunes … in Spanish of course!  When the drawing was complete and Israel still full of music, smiles and good humour I found myself completing this piece using the dregs from my cappuccino… mmmm I love this one - nice memory with my friends Belinda and Helen.

Cerca Barrio Chino, Havana

This quick little painting was done from the comfort of our little perch on the deck of our China town restaurant … yes thats right China Town in Havana.  This is a little noodle shack just opposite China town and I think I manages to capture the street atmosphere with this brightly painted wall and Cubans enjoying a quick bite.  I love the red wall in this!

social networking in Trinidad

This street scene I painted from across the street in the comfort of an enclosed restaurant patio with only my new friend .. a Trinidadian Artist who was fascinated by my painting kit and full of questions about my life as an instructor, shop owner and artist in Canada.  He was so careful not to interrupt me while I painted but with each break for a sip of beer he blurted out yet another question.  A lovely guy actually and I enjoyed several beer with him after my painting and joked and laughed the afternoon away.  Another great memory attached to painting on location.  NO wonder I love this life!

Dominos in Trinidad

Another street drawing in Trinidad, this drawing was made after a wonderful lunch at the home of our lovely friend Marisol - Marisol made a wonderful lunch of fish, shrimp, rice and salad with sweet potato to die for ….mmmmm!  Anyone wanting to go to Trinidad staying at Marisol’s Casa paticular is a must.  Feeling completely content and buzzing just a little from the lunch wine I stumbled ( literally) across this scene which I just had to stop and draw … It is not the best photo of my drawing but I love the poses of this impromptu Domino game … actually I think this is my favourite piece from the whole trip because it captured the moment and mood of the afternoon.

Havana, Taverna

This drawing was a very quick drawing of all the action at the beer taverna in havana where we spent our last group dinner.  There was such a great atmosphere with live music, dancing and lots and lots of beer and great friends.

Cathedral Square, Havana

This drawing was my first of the trip .. a little stiff but there are elements I like about it … the crooked tour not being one of them.  Oh well - I still like the solid structures as a backdrop to the organic shapes of the figures and the parasols.

A great morning ... Thanks :)

I’m hoping to put some more photos and some of our groups painting up in the next few days.  But I think these will give you an idea about why we love painting and traveling to all the exotic countries we do.