La Gente del Pueblo

Come meet La Gente del Pueblo.

Even though I did not know it, this project started in 2021 when I wanted to thank the carpenters who were kindly providing me with pieces of wood on which to paint my Corazones de Colores. I decided to make them a little painting of themselves in their sweet woodshop, and gift it to them. They loved it and so did I - so next, I made a portrait of my friend Ale delivering her beautiful produce. Then for fun, I added two more people from the village - and did not touch it for almost two years, focusing on other passions.

In June of 2023, a wind of creativity blew through me and I decided to go back to the project and complete a series of 12 people from the village, and maybe make a calendar.

Something simple.

Ha!

It wasn't long before The Muse showed up in the form of a local friend and next thing I knew, I had committed to FIFTY TWO paintings. In three months.

I spent the summer of 2023 in my studio, connecting with dozens of people from the village as I created their portraits.

This series is a work of love, a work of humility and a work of gratitude for all the people who have, one thread at a time, created the tapestry of my life for the last several years.

I am working on adding words to each painting and it may take a little while 🧡

"Hi Laura, your paintings are so beautiful, honestly. They make me smile, they make me cry. I cannot wait to attend your display/show on Dec 7 with wallet in hand. Thank you for being here in the village for all of us."

"I am so impressed with this project and the impact your pieces have the individuals and community. I sometimes cry when I look at them. The honor imbued."

If you are in the US and want to buy a print, here are some options:

Giclée prints on archival paper - original size
$55 including US shipping
(for international shipping, please email me)

FOR LARGER, INCLUDING MUCH LARGER PRINTS, PLEASE EMAIL ME.

Giclée prints on unstretched canvas - original size
$75 including US shipping
(for international shipping
or for stretched canvas option, please email me)

"Laura, your paintings and stories are a treasure of the village's community. You have captured the essence. Thank you for sharing your work."

If you are in Mexico and would like to buy an original,
please contact me directly.
They are 2,000 pesos
(receive a discount at the Dec 7th show)

"Capturing cultural beauty takes more than the “eye”. It takes an intuitive “heart” that has experienced the beauty of diversity. You have many layers Laura. Keep sharing and inspiring."

Juan de Jesus - only prints available
8" X 10"
Juan de Jesus sweeps the park each day, using his broom made of palm fronds. He works rhythmically, meditatively, patiently. Quietly. . One sweep of his broom at a time, he restores order and beauty to the heart center of the village. There is no rush, no surprise, just his work, his gift to the town. Like a series of breaths that heal. His work makes me pause and think about how much we can all affect our community, no matter who and where we are. Presence.

Teresa
12" X 12"
One early morning in the summer, Teresa and I were the only two humans in the small area by the beach.

Nana Emilia - only available as a print
12" X 12"
Her granddaughter asked me to paint her and sent me a photo. She told me that her beautiful grandma blesses the fishermen before they go out to sea in the morning. When I met Nana Emilia to bring her her painting, I was taken over by her beauty, her youthfulness, her JOY. Her womanliness, too. Her granddaughter tells me that people come to her to listen to stories of the village, and I can see why. Before I left her home, we hugged and she asked me when I would come back to visit. That choked me up a little bit. Love.

Eva at the Frutaria.
10" X 10"
Eva has sold me fruits and veggies from pretty much the first day I arrived. She always checks that they are not bruised and silently waves me to get another one when they are. Her whole family works and lives there and once, she gave me a few perfect words which I needed to hear. I am not sure how she knew. Recently her heart broke and even though I know this is not the kind of broken that chocolate can heal, I still baked them a chocolate torte. Wisdom.

The Churros
8" X 10"
They set up in the same spot each time. They pop open the tailgate of their pick up truck and bring out the vat that will hold the hot hot oil. Then the special batter gets squeezed just right into the oil, in a beautiful spiral. The brown crispy-yet-soft dough comes out at the exact time only to be gently rolled into a bed of cinnamon sugar goodness. The spiral gets cut with scissors into bite-size morsels which get placed in a brown paper bag, where they do not last long.
This is pure pleasure, a reminder of the goodness of a simple life. Gratitude.

Vero.
10" X 10"
Vero is one of the first people I talked with when I first moved into the village. She fed me a magical soup made of meatballs and a rich, herby tomato stew. Vero stands at the entrance of the school so that when the kids get out, they may buy fruity popsicles, crunchy snacks - and receive her kind smile in the process. Warmth.

San Francisco
8" X 10"

El Caballo.
8" X 10"
I saw this horse on my way to dinner with a friend and even though he does not qualify as "a person," I knew I wanted to include him in this series because he represents so much of the spirit of this village I love. Here he is, parked on a No Parking sign, personifying the joyful disregard for rules that lives in this tiny beach town. Delight.

Sorayada
8" X 10"

Carolina - La Floreria
10" X 10"

"Canas"
10 X 10"

Don Juan and his Tuba
10" X 10"

David y su Donas
12" X 12"
David carries a huge tray of donuts over his head as he walks through the village streets, the beach. He likes to tell everyone out loud that his donuts have no calories. His arrival brings joy to the tourists and the locals.
Some days, I like to believe him about the calories. Whimsy.