Last Sketches from Mexico

Here is the last posting for my trip to Patcuaro, Mexico. We took a boat ride to Isle Janitzio. Instead of a sketchwalk we did a sketch boat ride. This page is things I saw from the boat. It was a lovely sunny day and a great place to sketch.
Bits and pieces of a day in Patzcuaro. The big copper pot was actually on the side of the street and was full of carnitas in the making. The inside was a beautiful copper and the outside was charred black, it was the best pot, seasoned to perfection. The little couple were leaving with their purchase of flowers.
Cheryl and I were lucky to come across some traditional dancing at the town auditorium one night. There were wonderful murals filling all the walls and so the next day we went back and sat in the cool building and sketched some of the wonderful images.
These two lovely ladies graced the reception desk at our posada. I couldn't leave without them in my sketchbook This was a fabulous trip with a wonderful group of new friends. We had many great experiences and fun times. Great meals, cervezas, taquilla, taxi rides, shopping, exploring, creating, laughing and sharing. Thanks to you all, you added greatly to my trip. Mari and Deek, you are the best!

Robert Bateman 6" x 9" Sketchbook
Pen and Watercolor and a little Pastel

Dia de Muertos

While in Patzcuaro, we were able to experience The Day of the Dead. This is a joyous celebration of relatives and ancestors. The street outside our posada (hotel) was where the flower market was set up for 4 days. This truck was over flowing with brilliant purple cockscomb flowers. The flowers just kept coming and coming by the truckloads.
The colors, perfume and amount of flowers was amazing and incredible. I couldn't believe they could all possibly sell but they did. It was overwhelming to think of sketching such a sight, so I fine tuned my eye and zeroed in on smaller aspects of the market.
We visited the panteon (cemetery) in Patzcuaro and boy was it a sight to see! There so much activity as people cleaned and decorated the graves. There was family, music, flowers and laughter. It was beautiful, heart warming and something to remember. This page has bits from 7 different graves.
The next day we visited Tzin Tzun Tzan and the panteon there. There was more activity and candles from the night before. Being overwhelmed again, I concentrated on smaller parts of grave sights and came up with this page. I feel privileged to have been there. Thanks Mari for the opportunity.

Robert Bateman 6" x 9" Sketchbook
Pen and Watercolor

Patzcuaro, Mexico

Just returned from a great trip to Patzcuaro, Mexico. It is in the state of Michoacan. It was another fun filled, wonderful trip with Mari Le Glatin Keis We stayed one night in Morelia and were greeted with music and fireworks, which are put on in the central plaza every Sat. night.

This is my first page done while strolling through the streets of Patzcuaro. Our posada was just across from one of the five or so churches in the town. It had the most interesting, seemingly random bells through out the day. Most times between 24 and 36 bongs!

Lunches we were on our own and we found a great place at La Casita de Rosi. I ate there 5 or 6 times and it was great. A 3 course meal plus dessert for 60 pesos. ($6) Muy rico! I managed to sketch there as well. Rosi was so sweet and liked to practice her English.

A sketch of marigolds with some petals glued right to the page and a colorful clothesline.

We took a boat ride on the Lago de Patzcuaro. We stopped at a small island for a short time and Olive and I stayed on the boat and sketched the shore line.

More to come.

Robert Bateman 6' x 9" Sketchbook

Pen and Watercolor