Watercolor Classes at the Fabrica la Aurora

My classes are designed to teach you how to paint realistically in watercolor. I have over 20 years of teaching experience in watercolor. My classes are held in my gallery (the Galeria Vandiver) in the historic Fabrica la Aurora, www.fabricalaaurora.com, here in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. The Fabrica is an old converted fabric factory that hosts many galleries and studios as well as three restaurants
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I start with the basics so don’t worry if you haven’t painted before. I have had many students that are trying art for the very first time. The beauty of this technique is that there are rules to follow and if you follow the rules, your painting will turn out great
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I provide all of the supplies you will need for the class. All you need to do is show up. The class lasts 5 days and is three hours a day (from 11:30 to 2:30). The five days can be taken together (I teach on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays) or spread out over a few weeks. We can always work something out by changing the days or times if you have to. The cost for the 5 day class is $250 US Dollars (or Mexican Peso equivalent). It is the same cost for less days because that means I have to cram more teaching in less time! You can click on the email link below or you can call me on my cell phone (415) 151-9062 or home phone (415) 121-1773 or on my US phone (Magic Jack, which is a free long distance call from within the US) (918) 856-9345.

Want to come on a different day by yourself? I also offer private classes which are held during the same hours (we can always change the time if you ask ahead of time). The cost for private classes is $50 US a day. I look forward to hearing from you!

Birds of Paradise in Progress

In this photo, you can see that all of the petals are finished.  I started the stems today but I don't have a photo of that yet.  It shouldn't take long to finish the whole painting from this point. 

The painting is oil on canvas and measures 48" x 36".  

Birds of Paradise

Here is a photo of the painting I am working on.  It is in the early stages.  I have completed the underpainting in tinted gesso and started the final painting (in this photo there are two petals done).  I basically start and finish the object, which in this case is a petal, before moving on to the next object.  When the painting is done it will be one layer of oil paint.  This can keep the painting from cracking as it ages. 

Hummingbird Series for Show

This is from a series of twelve paintings for a show at Camino Silvestre, here in San Miguel de Allende.  They also carry my jewelry designs and prints from the "sacred bird" series that can be seen on my website:  www.kelleyvandiver.com

The Lesbian Queen and the Attending Saints.

The triptych is painted in oil with gold leaf on wood panels.

Lily

This is a demonstration piece for a botanical class.  It was started last year and never finished, until now.  I couldn't access my new photos because my computer was in the shop so I finished several pieces that I had just thrown in the drawer.

  

Eye

This was a demonstration of an eye for a portrait class. 

Classes at the Fabrica la Aurora

NEW  La Aurora Art and Fitness Classes 

NEW at La Aurora…Take Art and  Fitness Classes with the outstanding Aurora Artists: CERAMICS w/ Blanca García;  COLOR MIXING and DESIGN w/ Cati Demme;  DRAWING from Observation w/ Cati Demme;  DRAWING Zen Style w/ Edgardo Kerlegand;  ENCAUSTIC workshop w/ Raé Miller;  FIGURE DRAWING w/ Peter Leventhal;  LIFE DRAWING STUDIO w/ Gerardo Ruíz;  GLASS  STUDIO (stained, and fused) w/ Saul Glass Studio;  JEWELRY (Beading) w/ Linda Vandiver;  MIXED MEDIA workshop w/ Dee Ropers;  MIXED MEDIA on CANVAS w/ Magdiel Pérez;  MULTIPLE  PAINTING MEDIA w/ Mario Oliva;  MULTIPLE  Painting MEDIA, incl DRAWING and PASTEL w/ William Martin;  OIL PAINTING w/ Rossmore;  PAINTING and DRAWING w/ James Harvey;  PRINT MAKING (all Techs) and PAINTING w /Gerardo Ruíz;  SCULPTURE w/ Terra Mizwa; TAI CHI ( for Beginners) w/ Cati Demme; YOGA  (Hatha) w/ Adriana Tapias;  WATERCOLOR ( Expressive) w/ Edina Sagert; WATERCOLOR and OIL( Realistic) w/ Kelley Vandiver…FOR DETAILS WRITE: auroraclasses@hotmail.com  ( in SUBJECT write the name of the Artist who teaches the course you are interested in and they will respond to your e-mail. For GENERAL INFORMATION  write GEN INFO in SUBJECT.)... See you there! --- 

Cati and Kelley

 

Corazon

"The Adoration of the Blessed Savior"

Oil on wood panel.  10" x 8".
Copyright 2011, Kelley Vandiver

Blue and White Peony

Oil on canvas.  36" x 36".   Copyright 2011, Kelley Vandiver

Eward Swift - "Daughter of the Doctor and the Saint"

I saw the final design for the book cover this past week.  Zonagraphica (http://www.thegraphicspot.net/), did the book and cover design.  Ernesto took new photos of my paintings and worked his magic.  I tried to recreate it from memory.  It was wonderful and unexpected.  I know that Edward liked it.  Here is what I remember.  The original cover, I am sure, will be much better.....

Edward's Book Cover

I am finally getting around to posting part one of Edward Swift's book cover.  The bird is to be flying through a jungle (photo of the jungle to follow shortly).

"Home" Music / Sandrine Piau - Cum dederit

This is the most exquisite song from the movie, "Home".

Cum dederit dilectis suis somnum
Ecce haereditas Domini
Filii merces
Fructus ventris


When He/She has given sleep to Her/His beloved:
Behold, the inheritance of the Lord is children-
The reward,  the womb's fruit.

The Place Where Diet Meets Spirit

I have had heartburn for most of my adult life.  Even water could give me heartburn.  A few years ago I was diagnosed with gastro-esophageal reflux. That's just a really fancy name for frequent heartburn.  With the stress in my life, at the moment, it has been pretty bad.  I have come to understand that pain is simply a message.  It is a guide, showing us the way to our real issues.   


My diet has been sporadically good but mostly horrible.  I won't go into too many specifics but I found that I would eat whatever was easiest.  I loved French toast with sliced mangoes and sometimes would eat that every day for a week.  There is a Pollo Feliz (the happy chicken) restaurant just down the street and I would often run down and buy a giant cheese quesadilla or a grilled chicken.  The problem isn't necessarily the food itself, it's how I felt about the food.  It took reading John Robbins' new book, The Food Revolution: How Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life and Our World, before I realized that I was holding two opposing beliefs in my mind/heart.

As I practice Buddhism, I am watching my speech and actions.  I am more aware than ever of a gentleness toward all animals.  How can I deeply love a dog and at the same time eat a cow?  How can I love to paint birds and still run down to Pollo Feliz for some chicken?  How many times have I painted chickens and admired their beauty?  I think this was driving me crazy!  No wonder I had heartburn.  


(slightly off the topic but still a funny story) My friend Joyce Peace, and I, were at Virginia Harrison's house for a party/art event and Virginia's chickens were running around the yard looking very shiny and healthy and photogenic.  So, Joyce grabbed her camera and ran out to take some photos.  When she came back in she was rubbing her leg and making a funny face.  I asked her what had happened and she showed me her photos.  We scrolled through the shots...chicken, another chicken, another chicken, then rooster, rooster, and then sky.  I asked her why she took a photo of the sky and she said that that was when the rooster had pecked her in the groin!  


I also just finished reading the book, The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health,

which was even more startling than John Robbins' book.  It contains proof that diet is linked to several of the worlds major crisis at the moment.  One of my favorite facts from the book is that with the water used to raise just ONE pound of beef, you could take a 7 minutes shower every day for 6 months!  Astounding!  The amount of water used by cows was provided by the California Cattle Association (to the best of my memory).  You know what?  I am thinking that the above fact might have come from John Robbins' book.  Hey, I read them both last week and they are very similar in some ways.  Maybe some kind person that has read them will straighted me out?


So, no more meat (no chicken or pork or cows or fish...nothing that had parents).  No more dairy (I love cows and if you knew how they milk cows and what was in milk you wouldn't drink it either).  No more eggs.  No more sugar.  


I need to add, at this point, that this isn't just about being kind to animals but being kind...to myself!  Being a human is special and I need to love and nurture myself and show myself kindness.  Eating well is self-love.

The Daughter of the Doctor and the Saint

I am starting the cover for Edward Swift's new book, "The Daughter of the Doctor and the Saint".  My proposal was to do it in two parts.  The concept was to paint a hacienda courtyard overgrown with plants and to have grave stones scattered around in the plants.  However, after much thought, we decided that grave stones might jinx the project.  People might think it was a horror novel...which it isn't!  So, we got rid of the grave stones.  We then added a bird because they are prominent in the story.  Actually, I added a macaw.  Edward pointed out that there are NO macaws in the book.  So, being the kind soul that he is, he added one for me!  Hey, I love macaws.


I am painting the macaw separately so that it can be resized in photoshop to fit the cover at a later date.  We think the book will be 5.5" x 8.5" but who knows for sure?  The jungle will just be flipped for the back cover.  This is very exciting!  Here is the drawing of the macaw that I just finished.  Will start the painting tomorrow.

Astrocartography and Traveling With Pomegranates

Earlier this year, I had a great conversation with an astrologer.  The conversation centered around astrocartography, which is the study of the affects of the planets on specific locations on the planet.  I am not really sure how scientific it is but it's cool.  After studying the map for a long time, it became clear that there were several areas on the planet that would be ideal for me to live.  Number one is Havana, Cuba.  Sorry, that's not really an option.  Number two is Athens, Greece.  Now, that is more to my liking.  At this moment, with the economy the way it is, that probably won't happen either.  However, the astrologer pointed out that instead of moving, I might just surround myself with things that were Greek.  I might decorate with some Greek items or explore Greek mythology in my artwork.  Now, that I can definitely do.  


One of the other things I did was to read the fantastic book by Sue Monk Kidd and her daughter about the many trips to Greece that they took together,  Traveling with Pomegranates: A Mother-Daughter Story  What a fantastic book!  Sue would write a chapter and then Ann (her daughter).  You get to see how they uncover and share several meaningful secrets and develop a deeper bond between themselves, and all of this happening at various sites in Greece.  You also get to take part in Sue's writing of her bestseller, "The Secret Life of Bees", from the beginning.  It was so much fun to read about her insecurities and eventual success with the book.  Both books are highly recommended!


   

I can't believe that I finally got these side by side.  I call these "Eyes of God".  I have to take them in to the framer because the frames don't fit so they are going to have to re-do them.  I am getting ready to start the book cover for Edward Swift's new book.  

Cool New Frame

I was walking down Relox (a street here in San Miguel) and found this frame in the new frame shop.  It was so cool that I had to get it.  Now, I have to paint something to fit!

The New Painting, Almost Done

I still need to add some details to both paintings before they are done.  I picked up the finished frames and they are beautiful.  Which reminds me, I really need to order some more of the John Howard Sanden portrait paints.  They are pre-mixed into flesh tones.  They are also very opaque.  Perfect for painting portraits.

New Website

My website has been redesigned and is now up and running.  I have added a photo page (that I am still working on and will add to as I go along).  I have also added an online store for my prints and jewelry and soon...t-shirts!   You can check it out by going to www.kelleyvandiver.com.  


The banner (above) is from my new Etsy store.  My problem with Etsy is how to fulfill the orders from Mexico in a timely manner.  I am still trying to figure that out.  I don't want to have negative feedback because I know that it can take a couple of weeks for mail to arrive from Mexico.