SAN MIGUEL de ALLENDE, MEXICO
Friday, March 14 - Saturday, March 22, 2003
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 of 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 towns with cobblestone streets, 16th & 17th century textured architecture, vivid colors and beautiful old churches. A ring of foothills in the distance provide an ideal backdrop for some of the best sunsets from the villas above the city. THE WORKSHOP WILL MAKE WITH THE PRE-ADVANCED BOOKINGS! SPACE AVAILABLE!

TWO HILLTOP 4 STAR LODGING CHOICES

TOTAL GROUND PRICE INCLUDES THE ROOM

NON-PARTICIPANT FEE/SPOUSE: LESS $100


GROUP LAND PACKAGES INCLUDE:
1. 7 days of morning, afternoon & sunset painting sessions!
2. All group lodging for 8 nights w/full breakfast, full service 4 star B&B or 4 star Villas, full service - 2 pools, 5 acres of private grounds
3. Three group lunches, extended snacks and drinks at the daily 6PM gathering to discuss the daily work, apint and one demo.
4.Workshop fee, personal & group instruction & critiques.
5. Group transportation in San Miguel and day fieldtrip to Dolores Hidalgo
6.All group taxes, tips, museum entrance fees, personal assistance & more!

GROUP AIR PACKAGE:

1. $554 AA - direct DFW
2. $508 CO -1 Stop DFW
3. $567 AA - 1 Stop AUSTIN
4. $517 CO - 1 Stop AUSTIN

PLEASE INQUIRE ABOUT OTHER WW RATES FROM YOUR DEPARTURE CITY.

GROUND WORKSHOP + LODGING PACKAGE:

LODGING: Upscale San Miguel for the ultimate cultural experience while in Mexico. Rob has selected the best for the price in San Miguel Participants may select from two lodging offerings with beautiful views from above San Miguel. Each site is a wonderful site to paint and relax with quiet gardens and delightful staffs and owners. Massages can be arranged. If driving, parking is available at both places. The Villas will serve as the major base with an arena-like discussion area and space for all participants, with the group visiting the B & B one evening.

4* B & B - Go to the website to select a bedroom: www.casapuestadelsol.com

The B & B used last year has a commanding view of San Miguel, about 5 blocks up from the main plaza, walk or taxis to a beautiful walled garden setting & full breakfasts of choice.

  1. $1,330 Single Blue Room - Queen bed
    $990 Couple, PP Blue Room - Queen bed
  2. $1,434 Single Cupid Room - King bed
    $1,042 Couple, PP Cupid Room - Queen bed

  3. $1,042 PP, Southwest Room - Twin beds

  4. $1,730 Single Stained Glass Room - King bed-single
    $1,190 Couple, PP Stained Glass Room - King bed-couple
    $1,190 PP Stained Glass Room - Twin beds

  5. $1,236 PP (3 people) Garden Suite - 2 Bedrooms one with King and
    one with 2 Queens; 2 Baths, private patio and kitchenette. Inquire about price for 4 persons.

4* VILLA - Go to the website to view the bedrooms: www.villa-xichu.com

Four villas with two pools and a jacuzzi, buffet breakfasts, personal chef available for a villa and/or cooking lessons by arrangement within the beautiful and extensive grounds above the city.

*The listed price is per person per bed. The price per person for the workshop can be reduced by couples in one room as well as a living room being used for sleeping. An extra bed can be brought into each villa bedroom as some are large suites. These arrangements will bring the cost per person down per villa as each one is different as each one has multiple bathrooms, living rooms, full kitchens and porches. Have fun picking out your hilltop villa and room!

  1. La Casa del la Rosa - main villa, 4 bedrooms, extensive living space
    $1,429 PP - 1 King, 3 Queen beds
    $1,250 PP Couple - 1 King bed
    $1,285 Single - 3 Queen beds
  2. La Casa del Garambullo - smallest, one bedroom
    $1,433 Single -1 Queen bed
    $1,080 PP Couple - 1 Queen bed
  3. La Casa de la Bugambilia - 2 floors, nice views, 3 bedrooms
    $1,407 PP - 2 King beds, 1 Queen bed
    $988 PP Couple -1 King bed
    $1,188 PP - 1 King bed, 1 Queen, if couple takes 1st King bed
  4. La Casa del Pirul - 2 bedrooms
    $1,265 Single - King bed
    $887 PP Couple - King bed
    $1,108 PP - Twin beds w/ single King bed
    $948 PP - Twin beds w/couple King bed

TRANSPORTATION:


DRIVING – From the DFW area, the trip down 1-35 is about 7 hours to Laredo. There is a group leaving on Friday morning, March 14th from Laredo, TX, arriving in San Miguel, Friday afternoon (8 hrs.). The scenery en route is beautiful. Departure for Laredo is Saturday, March 22nd Please inquire for contact information.

FLYING –There are flights into Leon,Mexico (1.5 hrs.-San Miguel)–direct from DFW on AA $554 with WW. From Houston direct, DFW is a one-stop @ $508 with WW on CO. Mexico City (3 hrs.-San Miguel) has cheaper prices but the commute to San Miguel is longer. Aeromexico Airlines and Delta are also a one-stop from DFW and Mexicana also flies in from California. WW can assist with your travel questions, tickets and airport shuttle arrangements or you may make your own using air miles, internet or other means.

The American direct flight #563, leaves at 11:57 arriving in Leon at 2:26 PM.
This will put participants in San Miguel no later than 5:00 PM, in time for the 6:00 PM start of the workshop. The return will be departing Leon on Saturday, March 22rd at 3:24 PM, arriving @ DFW @ 5:47 PM. The CO (Continental) flight get in earlier in the day.

WW will organize the airport pickup and 1.5 hour trip to San Miguel from Leon for those participants who arrange ahead of time. The shuttle to and from Leon is not covered in the workshop cost, due the to numbers in each van and the various arrival schedules. There are also buses from private transfers at other times as well as a taxis. The shuttle is usually $25 per person each way and the driver will greet you outside with your name posted. Rob and Millie will greet the participants at the residences in San Miguel as they will be arrive in San Miguel, Thursday night, March 13th.

NOT INCLUDED IN GROUND PACKAGE: 4 personal lunches, evening formal dinner, even though last year’s group thought the evening snacks were fulfilling, some may want to go out after the early evening discussion and explore more shopping and some of the fine restaurants. Also not included: personal travel around town, a taxis is easy to arrange and inexpensive; art supplies (there are art supply stores); personal items, laundry; passport or birth certificate with raised seal needed for entrance and proof of identity.

DAILY SCHEDULE - HIGHTLIGHT 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, figures & sunsets! A full daytrip to Dolores Hildalgo, the ceramics center of this part of Mexico, where we will paint, shop and have a group lunch; as well as other unexpected discoveries.

DAILY ROUTINE: There will be a daily gathering of the group for a discussion of discovery, information and an important demonstration in the morning at our designated daily site in San Miguel. The group will travel by arranged cabs from the hilltop locations. There will be a general list of painting sites and the group will eventually use them all as well as other newly discovered sites. At each morning site, the group will be given a general painting theme with issues to consider and these will vary each day. Rob will paint for the group at least once a day, usually first thing in the morning or evening. All of the painting sites are within walking distance of the old city and the lodging bases. One can travel on their own by arranged cabs very easily, except for the daytrip away from the city on a group transportation. Of course, there is 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 will make his personal rounds for discussion in a general area and he will be demonstrating on half as well as full-sheets of 300 lb. and 400 lb. pound papers. There will be at least one or more evening sunset session from the bases. 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 if there is not an organized group lunch. Personal time and each day will end around 3:00 PM at the latest. This gives personal down time to browse, relax and think about the 6:00 PM gathering at the designated base for a discussion, drinks & extended snacks. There will be personal assistance for special requests in terms of sights, restaurants & shops.

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 one will be walking in the city center areas, 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 abound in San Miguel with many recommendations. Full breakfasts are covered along with an opening evening of extended snacks, drinks and three group lunches. A recommendation is to buy your own 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, TX and both hold MFA Degrees with a concentration in watercolor from Bowling Green. Both are members of the Watercolor USA Honor Society and have participated in the important annual exhibition, WATERCOLOR USA. Rob has had over 33 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. Two shows in Japan are planned this spring during the Japan Workshop in Tokyo & Niigata, where he exhibited last year. His major gallery is in New Oleans -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 the 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 workshops 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 to each participant. The number of painting sites will assist with size and number of watercolor paintings 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 is 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 in this international cultural destination.

Click here to schedule this workshop.