Thinking like an artist

Well, we're in to day 3 of my "How to Think Like an Artist" workshop here at my studio in the foothills of Puerto Rico's El Yunque Caribbean National Rainforest and we're having a ball! The focus of the projects is to teach the students how to work WITH their paintings and not ON them. I also believe that creative people are problem solvers, so the projects I have developed purposely leave the students with major hurdles to overcome, using the basic elements of painting to do so. It's intense and it's hard but it definitely makes them think and they try things they never would ordinarily do in their own studios. Teaching is good for me too as it reinforces these same elements in my brain too! Sometimes I get lost!

Life is good.

Rainy days are nice too

It's been raining here in Puerto Rico a lot lately. I find that kind of nice, actually because there's nothing quite like being in the rain in the rainforest. You really come to understand the water..... millions of raindrops shooshing down on the huge hanging leaves of the forest canopy, down the trunks and in to or on to the ground..... and in to the creeks and the rivers with a WHOOSH as it tumbles down to the sea. It's both soft and LOUD at the same time.... mother nature surrounding the senses.... sounds.... your skin is moist even when not in the rain itself...touch.... everything is close, shrouded in mist....sight.... it's life at my fingertips.

Life is good.

Making art and making friends

I had the best time today! I'm now offering painting classes and projects for couples and families at my studio here in the foothills of Puerto Rico's Caribbean National Forest. I had a couple who flew over from Tortola to celebrate their wedding anniversary come up and do the "Be Me/Be We painting project. They're getting ready to have a baby in May, so there was a lot of love to celebrate with paint!

I provide all of the materials, guests just need to bring enthusiasm and good humor! Can't fail to make great things with that combination!

Morning Musings

Today just seems like a day for musings. It's still dark....I often get up before most of my neighbors' roosters! Seems appropropriate to watch the sunrise together with the hens from across the road. First the glow to the east over Fajardo and Vieques which will then become light on El Yunque and the rainforest just beyond my window. In these days of uncertainty, it is good to know that the sun always rises.

I was so excited to discover that my new website designed by Philippe-Laurent Pascal of Snowcrash Digital is now up and running! We were having domain transfer issues so it took a little while. I happened to click on a link to my site from the Puerto Rico Day Trips website and voila! Instead of my old site the new one is in place. Yay! We're still building it, with pages about my workshops and the family and corporate painting projects that I do, but for now you can see a broad selection of my work. Today my little mountain top, tomorrow the world! Visit please: monicalinville.com

Ooooo! The glow has come!

Family painting projects

As an artist who also teaches painting workshops and team building painting projectsat my studio in eastern Puerto Rico, I invited the owners of two area guest houses to come visit my studio and participate in one of the painting projects that I have tailored to families, couples and small groups coming to Puerto Rico. Not only are my projects unique ways to spend quality, creative time with loved ones, but they're wonderful activities for rainy days in the tropics or sunshiny days as well!

Ray and Gwenn came from their guest house, Coquis Hideaway and Wally and Marina came from their guest house Villa Sevilla. Both guest houses are an easy drive from my studio, and are also located up in the mountains of eastern Puerto Rico, not far from El Yunque and the Caribbean National Rainforest. They're guests are welcome at my studio to take classes, work together on group painting projects or simply enjoy the collection of original paintings and fine art prints that I have here for sale.

The picture you see here is one my friends created together from my "Be Me/Be We" project. I provide all of the materials (water media) and everyone just gets to play with paint. This activity is really just about releasing your creative spirit and doing so with family and loved ones. The result is always a fun, free, spontaneous abstract painting that I mat for you and you get to take home as a unique momento of your time spent here in the Caribbean.

It's a blast!