The Lovely Masked Water-Tyrant

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Ecuador art, Masked Water Tyrant, One Bird At A Time, poza honda ecuador, Watercolor of birds

Masked Water-Tyrant – Fluvicola nengeta

“I never for a day gave up listening to the songs of our birds, or watching their peculiar habits, or delineating them in the best way I could. ” John James Audubon

Poza Honda Ecuador – These highly-active and perpetually-happy Masked Water-Tyrants served as good-will ambassadors in every location I’ve lived in Ecuador.  Attired year ’round in crisp white and black/brown, they chirp, chatter, dance and build nests – always near the water.   At Casa Loca along Rio Jama, they foraged along the mud flats at low tide;  in Mindo they nested in locations just above the water, and now at Poza Honda they thrive in an ever-changing playground of water hyacinths.

While I worked on the Common Tody Flycatcher study, the Water-Tyrants tolerated my presence;  ignoring the artist, they frolicked and provided ample poses for my growing collection of photos.      Painting these birds would be challenging yet rewarding.

Masked Water Tyrants – Watercolor in progress by Lisa Brunetti

Working at night from reference photos, I also worked during the day by the water’s edge.    The bi-polar moods of the weather often sent me scampering up the hill to protect the painting!

Just as I began the watercolor wash, the skies began to baptize the painting!

Within a week, water levels leaped to maximum levels, which brought those handsome birds (and the invasive water hyacinths) closer and closer to the human’s turf.  They provided a grand assortment of poses – as if to benefit no one except the human that studied them! 

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Timeout for Art – ES Coffee Timeout Project

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ESCoffee, Group Projects, Painting projects, teamwork, Timeout for Art

“ES Coffee – Be Part of It!”

Old logo waxing out – New Logo of red coffee cherry waning in…

“It is much more rewarding to get to the top of the mountain and share your experience with others than to show up by yourself, exhausted.” ― -Shandel Slaten

After a three-day search, American Airlines located my missing luggage on Tuesday, and I found myself with a free afternoon in Guayaquil (Ecuador). A quick check with Miguel Rendon of EScoffee confirmed that he was in town, so I popped in to say, “Hi” and talk about coffee and art.

Little did we know that an impromptu art session was in our future! After a quick dash to the local art store, Miguel and I returned with acrylic paints, brushes and two painter’s pallets. Half an hour later, the entire staff took a Timeout for Art!

Walk First, Then Hop & Skip & Jump!

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art projects on vacatoin, Canoa Ecuador, Group Painting Projects, John and Mary McDonald, Lisa Brunetti art, Painting projects, Timeout for Art

John, Mary and I worked on the drawing while having dinner at the Surf Shack in Canoa Ecuador!

Traveling one hour down the coastal road to Canoa Ecuador, I met my friends John and Mary  who had traveled about the same distance from the other direction.  John and Mary and I were celebrating their anniversary as well as birthdays.   We had planned to squeeze in a few drawing sessions, but they weren’t expecting a painting session!

Following up on last night’s post, I am pleased to present this photo update!

“You Can Do This!’

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art instruction, i can do this painting workshops, Lisa Brunetti art, self confidence through painting, wp daily prompt Learning

Lise, visiting from France, paused while working on her first Ï Can Do This” painting!

Lise’s Hands – Costa Rica – “I Can Do This” Painting Workshop

This week’s WP Daily Prompts seem to be tailored for me!   “Tell us a moment or an incident that you treasure  — not necessarily because it brought you happiness, but because it taught you something about yourself.

Photographers, artists, poets: show us LEARNING.”

The Artist’s Eye – A WP Daily Prompt

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acrylic paintings, group art projects, How to brighten a laundry room, I can do this painting projects, Paintings of sunflowers, WordPress Daily Prompt Art

A two-panel work of art, this painting was designed to accommodate a center light fixture.

Sarah Dettman’s friends and family helped with this Sunflower painting to help brighten a community laundry room.   It’s my pleasure to present it to all of you  out there in WordPress world!

Helping Hands

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Acrylic Painting, Creative Group Projects, Daily Post, Daily Prompt: Helping Hands, i can do this painting workshops, Images of Hands, Lisa Brunetti art

Today’s Daily Prompt states:  
Tell us about the most surprising helping hand you’ve ever received.
Photographers, show us HANDS.

Hands?  Do I ever have an assortment of images of hands!

Enjoy!

Buen Viaje, Barbara!

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concrete floor designs, I can do this painting workshop, jama ecuador, Life in rural Ecuador, manabi ecuador, Painting concrete floor, what to do with an ugly concrete floor

Sunset Rio Jama

Approaching the midnight hour, I’m wading through photos from the past three weeks of Barb’s visit.  At times this rural life on Ecuador’s Pacific coast seems like a blend between outdoor survival school and an arts camp!   Barb  learned how to blend washes of transparent color on a painting, how to combine colors, create tromp l’oeil/fool-the-eye effects and how to use geometry to transfer a sketch to a larger surface.

Night heron with fish!

She’s learned that the river birds chatter throughout the night, that mosquitoes will find you, (so will curious snakes and frogs!) and that the equatorial sun bites fast!  In addition to shelling fresh peas from the garden, Barbara also experienced a unique vegetable that the locals call ‘achojcha.’

Achojcha and Lima beans bask in the equatorial sunshine.

Barb now understands that perfection in art often robs a painting of its freshness and spontaneity.  She also understands the need for breaks from intense painting sessions.   A few days ago we took a break and watched my friends harvest a shrimp pond near the Riverhouse.

A Hummingbird for a Hummingbird!

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acrylic paintings, art by Lisa Brunetti, Hand-painted concrete floors, I Can Do This

Searching for good squeeze bottles for the paint, we found botttles that came with free drinks!

(Ecuador)

The last few days were busy ones as Barb and I worked on several projects.  Barbara is a spark plug of energy, and I dubbed her Hummingbird years ago!  She zips back and forth, requires many little feedings, recharges her batteries and continues to flit from task to task!    Although she might crash late at night, she’s cheerfully awake at dawn and resumes her high-energy embrace of each day!

Guess what we’ve been painting?

While working on the bodega floor, I suggested that we halt work and switch to a painting for her home in the Republic of Panama.   No subject could trump the hummingbird theme, so after looking at many images, we combined several to create a hybrid hummingbird!

Esta Casa Es Loca!

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Acrylic Painting, Children's Art, Group Painting Projects, Hostal Palo Santo Jama Ecuador, I Can Do This Workshop, Lisa Brunetti art, Lodging Jama Ecuador, Spirals

Manabi Ecuador

Last weekend, my friends from the port city of Manta visited this rural farming area of Jama for the first time. Taking a day off from responsibilities, I joined them at Hostal Palo Santo, where we rented three cabanas and enjoyed a leisurely visit in the serene garden setting. With wide-eyed wonder, young Nicolas and Natalia tested the see-saw, touched their toes to the sky from the swing set and befriended a young kitten/gatito.

Natalia: Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice!
Nicolas: Snips and Snails and Kitty Cat Tails!

I suggested that we drive to my house to watch the sunset, and the seven of us drove the five kilometers for a comfortable end-of-day visit.   We weren’t prepared for Nicolas’ reaction!   From the moment he entered the house, he uttered this sentence of disbelief:

Here We Go Round In Circles!

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acrylic paintings, I Can Do This, Lisa Brunetti art, Slow Internet, Thank YOu

Here We Go Round In Circles

Many of you enjoyed the post, “I Is For Iglesia,” and especially enjoyed the view from the lighthouse window.  Here is another view (Above) from the lighthouse which reflects the recent vortex of energy that swirls around and around my life!    Whenever a strong burst of creative energy ‘hits,’ I often say to myself and those close to me, ‘Uh-oh… bad weather’s on its way.’

“If Fish Could Fly” Receives an Injection of Energy!

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Acrylic Painting, Gonzalo de la Fuente Manta Ecuador, I can do this painting projects, Lisa Brunetti art, Painting with Children, Window Treatments

Gonzalo and Nicolas absorb the visual whimsy of the riverhouse!

The riverhouse received an injection of energy this weekend! Gonzalo de la Fuente and his beautiful family crammed many memories into their short break from the port city of Manta Ecuador.  Gonzalo is quite the Renaissance Man, and his graphic arts skills keep his dance card full.  I am grateful for his tireles help whenever I need posters, invitations, a press release, catalog, book marks, business cards –  he transforms and improves the concepts.   Although I often visit Gonzalo and his family on their turf,  this was their first trip to the Jama area. These photos reflect one of many great memories from their two-day visit.

Enjoy!

Z

Sneak Peek – If Fish Could Fly

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acrylic paintings, Bright Happy Paintings!, If Fish Could Fly, Window Security

Marie’s inner child takes flight while working on this painting!

This petite sun room sports a large window that overlooks the river.   A custom-hinged panel secures the window when I am away, and it easily opens to reveal the colorful “I Can Do This” painting that Hank and Marie and I painted in November.  (See Creative Alternatives for Home Security.)

End-of-day Calm (Yes, that’s a swing in the foreground!)

When the panel is closed, the birds on the river have a lovely work of art that smiles at them.  Today a hummingbird flew through the open window to critique the paintings!

Mano de la Paz Finds A New Home

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Acrylic Painting, El Matal Ecuador, Jama Coaque, Jama Coaque Art, Lisa Brunetti Paintings, Mano de la Paz Painting, museo bahia de caraquez, The Mola Series

Pottery Shards

The mystery painting that held my attention for many weeks finally reached its new home!  Patricia Adams Farmer gave readers a sneak peek in her amazing feature, “The Totalmente Zen Art of Lisa Brunetti”  Thanks again, Patricia, and thanks to all of you who visited her column and left such thoughtful comments.

Detail Mano Swirl – collection of Museo Bahia de Caraquez – 2012

New clients from the Jama area especially liked my graphic six-foot tall painting, Mano Swirl,  that belongs to the Museo Bahia de Caraquez (Ecuador) and depicts a pre-Columbian relic from the area.   Anyone who walks the beaches of the Jama area, will come away with pottery fragments from the Jama Coaque culture.

Museo Bahia de Caraquez (Ecuador) – Jama Coaque Culture

Detail/Artifact/Jama Coaque Culture – Museo Bahia de Caraquez

The  Jama Coaque Indians left behind a legacy of amazing artifacts. The  hand and the swirl patterns are often associated with their culture.

Sellos were most likely used for rolling designs on textiles and skin.

The inspiration for the current painting came from a small  “sello” artifact from the Casa del Alabado Museum collection in Quito Ecuador.   The Indians most likely used sellos to stamp patterns onto bodies and textiles.    We decided to go with a scientific likeness for this  “Jama Coaque” painting.

Jama Coaque SelloCasa Alabado/Quito Ecuador

I often placed the painting on the floor and my computer on the painting for easy reference of the museum image.

Using watercolor techniques with acrylic paints, I slowly added layers of color and shadow.  

Words Sometime Fail Me

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ceibo trees, Jama Coaque Art, Jama Coaque Sellos Manos, Jesus Jazz & buddhism, Lisa Brunetti art, Patricia Adams Farmer, Rain Jama Ecuador January 2013

How Does One Spell Mud?!!!!  When walking to town in THIS, I briefly wondered if I was on the right track!

After six months of extreme dry weather, typical of this dry rain-forest climate, the clouds turned on their taps and kicked off the new year with slow gentle rain.   And more rain.  And more rain.   And more rain.

Friends from Colorado are in town to check on their home that’s under construction in the area.   I’ve upgraded from a life ankle deep in mud on the river to a short stay at a cute hostal while they are here.    (The photo above shows the road between my house and town.)   All’s fine here, though the internet has been painfully slow.  I have had problems sending emails, commenting on other posts or replying to WordPress comments.

INSPIRATION: Portrait of an Artist

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Andes, Cuenca Tourist Police, Ecuador, Guaranda, i can do this painting workshops, memyblog, Portrait of an Artist, WordPress Daily Post INSPIRATION

Happily Immersed in the Andean city of Guaranda Ecuador, Lisa Brunetti critiques just-shot images of red-caped Indians. (Photo by Marie Groff)

WordPress hurled a curve ball today!   Thankfully the challenge works well with my life as an artist, naturalist and blogger.  Finding images for this challenge was an easy task!

“We want to know what inspires you. For this special mid-week photo challenge, we want to see portraits of you doing something that inspires you to blog  …  Show us photos of yourself doing things that inspire you to blog. Have a cooking blog? Let’s see you in the kitchen. Run a fitness blog? We want to see you in action. ” 

The above instructions used the words “portraits, photos’ and “doing THINGS,” so I jumped in with both feet and retrieved images that reflect those requests!

“Red Capes” in progress; Watercolor by Lisa Brunetti

What inspires me?  What doesn’t inspire me?!  The byline on my main blog states, “An Artist’s Eyes Never Rest.”  

Creative Alternatives for Home Security

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acrylic paintings, how to secure a large window, I can do this painting projects, Island Traveler weekly image of life CREATIVE

Some photo challenges seem to be tailored for my interests.   The Island Traveler asked for interpretations for the word Create.  No pondering was necessary for this challenge, as my friends Hank and Marie had just helped transform a problem area of the river house into a creativity chamber!

Moving the kitchen to the far side of the room last month allowed space for a petite sunroom.  The stunning view became the focal point, but the new “picture” window presented a security problem.  How could the window be protected from break-ins?

A creative answer materialized just in time for Hank and Marie, who were on their final week of vacation,  to help with a new “I Can Do This” painting project!     Are you curious to see what we did?

M for Mola! Story Challenge – Letter M

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Frizztext Story Challenge M, Kuna Indians, M for Mola, Mola, Panama, The Mola Series

Mola Textiles made by the Kuna Indians of Panama

Frizztext/Flickr Comments asked this week, “ Hi Bloggers! Do you have to share a story or a short reflection tagged with the letter “M”?”

I chuckled at the thought of presenting M for Mola!  Are you ready for more molas?!!!

The Kuna Indians of Panama inspired this past year’s Mola Series of Paintings.

Weekly Image of Life: Summertime Blast

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Manabi Museums, Museo Bahia De Caraquez Ecuador, Museo Cancebi Ecuador, Museo Portoviejo Ecuador, The Mola Series, Weekly Image of Life: Summertime Blast

Lovely Gabby, of Museo Cancebi/Manta, Ecuador adds her special touch to the group “I CAN DO THIS” painting.

This Man’s Journey’s theme for the week is Summertime Blast.  Through a beautifully-narrated photo post, he shares the high points of his family’s summertime memories.   Because I live on the equator, the past three months did not represent long days of summer vacation time, but exhibiting in three museums provided a blast of memories…

Monkey see, monkey do, I see a monkey just like YOU! (Museo Bahia de Caraquez)

Each museum offered different experiences, and visitors quickly transformed into new and dear friends.

Many tour groups visited Museo Cancebi in Manta

Senorita Valdivia watercolor in progress for Museo Bahia de Caraquez(Above:  Museo Portoviejo)

Museo Cancebi/Manta, Ecuador – Francess and Angel take a time out for painting HAPPY SHOES!

A Lifetime of Memories – Bonding through Paint

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art workshops, group art paintings, i can do this painting workshops, WEEKLY iMAGE OF LIFE: a Lifetime of Memories

We Did This!

This Man’s Journey shares his love and devotion for his family through sensitive writings.   In this week’s Image of Life post –  A Lifetime of Memories,  he shares stories about his family’s recent trip to Florida. I  had never heard of Legoland, but thanks to his post, I took a brief journey there through the magic of cyberspace!

Memories;  my friend Maruja and I have been painting this week.  I told her that years later she would look at her painting and recall details and events that happened while we were working on that art:

Counting Blessings

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art therapy, Lisa Brunetti, Museo Portoviejo, working with troubled teens

On Wednesday, a group of teen/preteen girls visited the museum;  Jacqueline, the director of the museum, warned me that the girls were ‘troubled,’ and she was unsure what to expect.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Friendship

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Friendship, It Started with one Light Pole, PHOTO CHALLENGES, Travel Latin America

Coming out of my painting fog, I am attempting to reclaim my normal routine, which is never normal or routine!   Anyone new to the blogging world realizes the vast options that are patiently waiting to be explored.  One must first explore the shallows before plunging into the ocean!  This morning I kicked off my swimmies and explored a few blogs.

Every so often a “Weekly Photo Challenge” crossed my field of vision, though I never paused long enough to research what that challenge was about.  This morning – my first day back to normal after taking down the show yesterday – the OH MY!-light bulb instantly cleared the painting fog from my eyes!

Each week Word Press throws a new theme to those who are interested in participating in that challenge!    Friendship?  This past month so many dear friends have stepped forward to help ‘before, during and after’ my exhibition.  Wow, do I ever have material to contribute to the Friendship theme!

Since I’m about to dash to nearby El Matal’s Phase Two chapter of  It Started with One Light Pole, I will post images that have been patiently awaiting my attention in a folder marked, “One Friend” – inspired by Keb Mo’s song by the same title.   After this weekend’s painting marathon at El Matal, I hope to emerge with several posts;  one of the competition and another to thank my dear friends who offered tireless support during The Mola Series exposition.

I leave you with images from Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Ecuador that best reflect this week’s photo challenge of friendship!

‘I CAN DO THIS!” Painting Workshops

Tags

acrlic, i can do this painting workshops, kuna mola, watercolor

This gallery contains 28 photos.

So many times people have watched me work or have looked at a painting and said wistfully, “I wish I …

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