SAN MIGUEL de ALLENDE, MEXICO
Friday, March 15 travel day, workshop starts Saturday, March 16th at noon. Workshop ends Friday night, March 22nd in the evening.
photos courtesy of Mary Quiros
Magical San Miguel is rich in culture, heritage and history and it was declared a National Monument, preserving the historical nature of the town, making it free to traffic lights & neon signs. It lies in the highlands of central Mexico in the state of Guanajuato-a vast plateau of fertile soil and rolling hills. It is one of Mexico’s prettiest colonial town with cobblestone streets, 16th & 17th century architecture, pastel colors and beautiful old churches. A ring of foothills in the distance provide an ideal backdrop for some of the best sunsets you will see anywhere. THE WORKSHOP IS A GO! ENJOY THE SPRING FUN!


MULITPLE PACKAGES – SEE LISTINGS *double occupancy/single available
LAND OR LAND + AIR OR MAKE OWN TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
AMERICAN AIRLINES – OFFICIAL WORKSHOP CARRIER



GROUP LAND PACKAGES INCLUDE:
1. 7 days of morning, afternoon & sunset painting sessions!
2. All group lodging for 7 nights: very nice central classical colonial 3* hotel
w/continental breakfast, or 4* B & B up from the center w/full breakfast
3. Three group dinners, one opening group lunch, & 5 PM drinks & snacks @ discussion time prior to all group or individual dinners.
4.Workshop fee, personal & group instruction & critiques.
5.All group taxes, tips, museum entrance fees, personal assistance & more!

PRICING CHOICES: AIR PACKAGE $647- direct- UPDATED PRICING MAY REDUCE THE COST OF THE AIR PACKAGE -TBA*inquire for extra nights

3* HOTEL
$ 906 LAND- double occupancy (Saturday, March 16 – Saturday, March 23, 2002)
$1,053 LAND- single occupancy (Saturday, March 16 – Saturday, March 23, 2002)
$1,586 LAND – AIR DFW PACKAGE (Friday, March 15 – Saturday, March 23, 2002)
Double-Extra night + American Airlines workshop airline DFW direct
$1,754 LAND – AIR DFW PACKAGE (Friday, March 15 – Saturday, March 23, 2002)
Single-Extra night + American Airlines workshop airline DFW direct
4* B & B
$1,200 LAND- double occupancy (Saturday, March 16 – Saturday, March 23, 2002)
$1,568 LAND- single occupancy (Saturday, March 16 – Saturday, March 23, 2002)
$1,911 LAND – AIR DFW PACKAGE (Friday, March 15 – Saturday, March 23, 2002)
Double Extra night + American Airlines workshop airline DFW direct
$2,343 LAND – AIR DFW PACKAGE (Friday, March 15 – Saturday, March 23, 2002)
Single-Extra night + American Airlines workshop airline DFW direct

TRANSPORTATION:
DRIVING-There is a group leaving on Friday morning, March 15th from Laredo, TX; driving & stopping en route overnight to paint and photograph, arriving in San Miguel, Saturday morning March 16th. Departure for Laredo is Saturday., March 23rd. Please inquire and I will put you in contact with the group. This is an 8 hour trip from Laredo and you may join the caravan and the leisurely pace & scenery.

FLYING- Rob & Millie will lead a group flying into Leon, Mexico on Friday morning, March 15th. The group air package rate on the direct American Airlines flight is $647. I need to have a deposit of $100 for the workshop by Wednesday, January 2nd in order to reserved your airline group seat & rate. We will depart at 9:34 am on flight #563 and arrive at 12:13 pm. The return will be departing Leon on Saturday, March 23rd at 2:06 pm, arriving direct into DFW at 4:25 pm. on flight #440.

WW will organize the airport pickup and 1.5 hour trip to San Miguel. The cost of the $75 private van trip will be paid by the group in each van. The shuttle to and from Leon is not covered in the workshop cost, due the to numbers in each van. There are also buses from private transfers at other times as well as taxis. However, WW will organize all of your personal transportation needs from the Leon Airport.

Participants may make their own transportation arrangements into Leon (65 miles) or Mexico City (171), where the prices may be more competitive. You may consult your own travel agent or use the internet. Leon (BJX) is served by American Airlines from Dallas and Continental from Houston along with Delta.

LODGING: Participants my select from two lodging offerings & each property will alternate as our
daily workshop base.

B & B It is an upscale 4* B & B with a commanding view of San Miguel, about 5 blocks up from the main plaza. I have rented the complete B & B, first come, first serve; double occupancy, single rates available upon request and availability; complete breafast.

HOTEL The 3* classic colonial hotel is more modest in pricing, centrally located has regional charm, filled with antiques, a helpful staff & continental breakfast.

Stays may be extended at either the hotel or B & B, for an earlier or late departure day. Please inquire about the reasonable rates for the extra days.

NON-PARTICIPANT FEE/SPOUSE: Less $100

NOT INCLUDED: Meals not included in group workshop costs as designated (4 dinners, 6 daily personal lunch snacks; art supplies; personal items, laundry; passport or birth certificate with raised seal needed for entrance and proof of identity.

DAILY SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHT OPTIONS: Churches-la Parraoquia, Iglesia de San Francisco, Oratorio de San Felipe Neri, Iglesia de la Concepcion; central Mercado; morning washing scenes; Bellas Artes; El Jardin & botanical garden; local colorful street scenes; sunsets and more!

DAILY ROUTINE: There will be a daily gathering of the group for a discussion of discovery, information, demonstration in the morning at our designated daily site in San Miguel. We have a general list of painting sites and we will eventually use them all as well as other discovered sites. Rob will paint for the group at least once a day, usually first thing in the morning. All of the painting sites are within walking distance of the old city and our lodging bases, and of course, plenty of shopping and art galleries along the way!

There are no expectations in terms of the numbers of works one is expected to complete, nor the size of the work. Rob Erdle will make his personal rounds for discussion in a general area and he will be demonstrating on half as well as full sheets of three-hundred pound papers. There will be at least on or more evening sunset session from the area of our B & B. Some members last year worked before breakfast and photographed to get an early start before our group meeting time of 9:00 AM.

There is a break during the lunch hour in the general district of each painting site with personal time and each day will end around 4:00 PM at the latest. This gives personal down time to browse, relax and think about the 5:00 PM gathering at the designated base for a discussion, drinks & snacks. There will be personal assistance for special requests in terms of sights, restaurants & shops. This will be the first workshop Rob has hosted in Mexico, thanks to advice years ago by Gracie Holcomb in the first workshop in 1984 and most recently, by Mary Quiros with her group in Laredo.

WORKSHOP DEMANDS: San Miguel is at 6,000 feet above sea level, so the air and altitude is refreshing with pleasant days in March at around 75 degrees. This is a warning that be will be walking to our painting sites, however, there are local taxis at a reasonable cost at your own expense. This distance with your gear will range from a couple of blocks to several blocks, some with a slight incline…I know some of you have heard this phrase before!

FOOD: Wonderful local dishes, breakfasts are covered along with an opening lunch and three dinners, along with daily 5:00 PM drinks and snacks. A recommendation is to buy your drinking water.

INSTRUCTOR & WORKSHOP LEADER: Rob Erdle, Regents Professor, will be the instructor and his wife Millie Giles, will assist. Both teach the watercolor classes at the University of North Texas School of Visual Arts in Denton and both hold MFA Degrees with a concentration in watercolor. Both are members of the Watercolor USA Honor Society and have participated in the important annual exhibition, WATERCOLOR USA. Rob has had over 30 solo exhibitions and his watercolors have been shown in most major watercolor competitions and is represented in Dallas by Valley House Gallery and the Cole Pratt Gallery in New Orleans. This past fall he returned to China for his sixth painting and teaching visit after the international release of a new book about his work. His work was the subject of the first solo watercolor invitational for the Shanghai State Art Museum in 1995 since the Turner Retrospective in 1960. His 2001 Solo Exhibitions included: San Antonio for March Watercolor Month; School of the Ozarks, Missouri in October and Cole Pratt, LTD-New Oleans in November-see website coleprattgallery.com. Rob conducts lectures and workshops around the world and he has served as a juror for some of the most important watercolor shows, including Watercolor USA; National Watercolor Society; Pittsburgh Aqueous Open & Arizona Aqueous. Rob and Millie are also past directors of the Chautauqua National Exhibition of American Art at the New York Chautauqua Institute, where he also served as Director of the Summer School for the Arts.

ELIGBILITY: Open to all watercolorists; beginning, advanced as well as professionals. All levels have enjoyed the opportunities, inspiration, discussions and personal feedback. Other artists, photographers, writers and spouses have participated in the workshop as all excursions are filled by intrigue. All efforts will be made to assist the non-watercolorists with other adventures!

SUPPPIES: Upon receipt of a deposit, a copy of a personal packing and supply list will be sent out to each participant. The number of painting sites will assist with size and number of watercolor papers one could accomplish. A diary or sketchbook is also a popular item for those who work well with this process as a memory devise. A type of carrying case - book bag or backpack is suggested to carry personal items, camera, and watercolor supplies. Daily demonstrations will be on half-sheets, carried over in a suitcase and carried between two sheets of Foamcore. Most participants work on smaller sheets or in watercolor books or blocks. Paints may be carried in a small portable palette or in a container for specific color use. Two brushes are all that are needed. The idea to travel light as possible as we relive the 19th century notion of an outdoor recorder of ideas and new images.

CLOTHING: A recommended general list will be sent upon receipt of the deposit. General art gear is certainly in order. It could be cool in the mornings or evenings, a sweater or jacket might be in order. One may want to change clothing in the evenings for dinner and evening strolling, otherwise, casual dress is most acceptable with the international atmosphere of San Miguel.