The Baja paintings 1997-2003

Painted en plein air in San Jose Del Cabo, Baja California Sur.

Painted en plein air in La Paz, Baja California Sur.

Painted en plein air just below Loreto in Juncalito, Baja California Sur.

Painted en plein air in Santa Rosalia, Baja California Sur.

Snorkel, sketch, shorkel, sketch--is how I managed the underwater "plein air" San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur.

Painted en plein air in San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur.

Painted en plein air in San Quentin, Baja California.

Painted en plein air in San Ignacio, Baja California Sur.

Painted en plein air in Santa Rosalia, Baja California Sur.

For seven years my husband and I traveled  in Baja California  painting up and down the penninsula for 3-6 months a year.  Landscapes were pristine, open expanses and even small colonial towns in the mountians seemed deserted of anything buillt after the 1800s.  Maru Ortega (pictured right), my long time agent in La Paz,  arranged  two State-sponsored exhibitions, Acuarelas en la Ruta de las Misiones in San Ignacio and Loreto, and a One Woman show at  la Galeria Carlos Olachea, La Paz, B.C.S. 

Painted from sketches in San Ignacio, Baja California Sur. The painting stayed there, too

Equipment was worth hauling down, for comfortable plein air painting. A large drying rack was constructed in the rv to protect oils.

Painted in studio from sketches done at San Jose del Cabo snorkel spot.

Painted en plein air in San Borja, up in the mountains above Bahia Los Angeles, Baja California Sur. This was the study for the oil painting.

Plein air study for the larger oil, painted in La Paz at the favorite taco stand.

Sketching the shore north of La Paz on it's cape, Baja California Sur. This was my paradise. A tropical desert, infinite views.

In the mountains not too far off the main road, lies the mining town of Il Triunfo.

There was a powdery road leading up to this town in the mountains. Because of the dangerous driving, there was no development in the town.

In San Luis Ganzaga there was no electricity or running water. Daily the women would gather sticks for their outdoor brick ovens to cook on and gather jugs of water from the reservior. I was astounded by their happiness. 

There was no development as far as the eye can see. The village, a view behind this painting, was sparce...a small settlement, some restaurants under palapas.

Studio work of the hub of B.C.S, tropical climate. At night it looked festive.

This was  the prelude to the final large Puerto de Ilusion. 

Most of these images are en plein air. It was  invigorating to get to know the landscape in this intimate way.

The Jesuit Museum in Mexico City comissioned 5 paitings of the first missions built in Baja. This was 10 miles from San Javier, deep in the mountains. It was dismantled by treasure hunters after the Jesuits abandoned it.