Half the way walked

Today mi wife sent me a post for people with more than 40 years of age. It is one of those posts that one receives every day. One that was sent from someone who received it from another one and so on. But this one really made me think.
I am over fourty, and the way I view life is not the same as it was some twenty years ago. Then, I had more energy, it was like if I was able to do whatever I wanted, although now I'm not so sure. Today I know what I can do, and it's a lot.
First, now I can enjoy life, to savor time and action, even no-action. I can make a stop and smell my cup of tea, and drink it alone, just because I like tea. And I may have it with a loved friend and enjoy the company.
Now I'm not in a rush, and it is not because I can't run, it is just that I have found another pace that allows me to live the moment. I like speed, but found that cycling and walking give me a better speed, one that makes me have the chance to hear a bird singing in my way.
There are many things that I want to do, But I have found that I prefer to do one thing with love and patience than many in a clumsy way. Now I want less things, and it has nothing to do with what is in or out.
Life has not changed much for me in this years. It is my perspective of life what has changed, and I'm happy.

Walking

Walking has become part of my life. It seems that I like walking since childhood. When I was in high school Iused to walk with a friend in rainy days, feeling the drops falling down, walking together without a word. There is a park near the house I used to live in, where I used to have long, long walks, watching everything around, catching any smell there was.
There is no better way to see a city than walking. It is the speed of walking that allows you to watch, to discover places, to be with people. I'm a city dweler, and I know that nature is present within the city. By walking you can hear nature, you can find some wild animals living in the city and look at them.
But for me, one thing that I have found during my daily walking, is myself. I like to walk early in the morning, when there's no much people and noise, so you can be with yourself. Thinking, enjoying being alive, even praying.
Guillermo.

If you happen to be a walker, I invite you to join a yahoo group I found, it is called Holylanders (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Holylanders/) :

Holylanders is a group for people who walk for health, for meditation and to enjoy nature. In addition Holylanders is a discussion group for people who enjoy the writings of nature authors and nature mystics such as Saint Francis of Assisi, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and John Muir

Teaching and art work.

When I started this blog I decided to writte at least two times a month. That hasn't happen at all. But it is now a good time to star it over.
After starting school again, I have been thinking about what will happen, in the near future, with my carreer as an artist. If I intend to focus on teaching, how would that affect my art.
I'm starting a two year program that focus on education. That is, I will be prepared to be a better teacher, I could work in the developement of curricula or into administrative work within the educational system.
More and more my work is related to education. The hours spent in a classroom are more, as well as the time spent before and after the class. Recently I have closed down my serigraphy studio, because I don't have the time required for a printing run. Painting has become harder for the same reazon: lack of time. What is left is drawing.
Although little prints where my first passion (mail stamps), drawing has been one that has lasted more. Drawing demands focus. It is possible to be drawing for hours, but it is also true that there are drawings that require short periods of time. I love drawing, so why not give it a chance.
After the scientific illustration workshop taken a few months ago, I rediscover drawing from nature. I have been looking into the work of botanical and wildlife illustrators and found some incredible body of work.
Why shouldn't I try to follow two passions from childhood? First, the love for nature, animals and the human body. Second, the love for drawing. Time will let me know what will happen. For the time being, I'll keep on drawing with love the ten thousand things with all my heart and a blade of grass as myself.

about Velo-city 2007

I have been a bicycle fan for many years. I'm convinced that it is a perfect way to travel short distances within the city. The next info is very relevant and I've decided to share it. Thanks. Guillermo.

Velo-city newsletter No. 2
27th of July, 2006
Minister Tiefensee confirms his participation in the Velo-city 2007 Conference
Dear guests,I am delighted to be able to inform you that Wolfgang Tiefensee, the Federal Minister for Transport, Construction and City Development, has confirmed his participation in the Velo-city 2007 Conference. As a co-organizer of the conference, he will be honoured to give the international delegates of Velo-city 2007 an insight into the strategies of the Federal Government for the promotion of bicycle transport in Germany in his opening statement.
Yours truly,Ralf KaulenVelo-city Director
*Have you already submitted your proposal as presenter for Velo-city 2007? The deadline for submission is Friday, 11th August 2006. All necessary information is available under http://www.velo-city2007.com/. We welcome your contribution!**Please help us to spread the invitation to Velo-city 2007: kindly forward the Velo-city 2007-Newsletter to your network!***For former editions of the Velo-city 2007-Newsletter please have a look at http://www.velo-city2007.com/index.php?id=18.

To teach or not to teach.

For long time I have heard or read about teaching in the art field. Some say teachers are just a plague. I remember the movie "the wall", were students are tortured by their teachers. I have read some times that, in order to become an artist or illustrator, there is nothing better than stay apart from schools and teachers and start creating "your art".
This may be the way of thinking of many, but there are plenty of schools around, and teachers continue to work hard. Now, what is the point in saying all these words? - you may ask. First, part of my work is done as a teacher. And second, and for me, at this particular moment, more important, I'm starting a master degree in teaching very soon.
Althoug I like the idea of studying, I wonder if teaching is so important for me. After many years of teaching in different institutions, I have to ask myself if teaching is that significant as to make it the subject of study and, as a consequence, my project of work, maybe more important than creating my own paintings and prints.
I started teaching for fun. Yes, it may sound very irresponsible, but that was the case. I was just a university student, and let me tell you, it was in fact a great time some friends and I had in the classroom during those days. After that expirience, I just kept on teaching. Teaching persons old and very young; teaching drawing, painting, printing or some theoretical subjects. But what have never change, is the momet where you can see a bright light in the face of a student, sudenly realizing that she or he can do what was never thought as possible. The moment where the face of a student shows satisfaction, or just a state of deep concentration that turns in to a significant expirience, an expirience that, in some, becomes a turning point in their lives.
Maybe that is why I keep on teaching. Maybe that is why I want to study about teaching. If I can show a few how to find their way, if I can show some persons to really see the world they live in, If I may help others to express their feelings and thoughts, then my decision is well taken.

"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge."
Albert Einstein

A new start

Well, although english is not my native language, I will try to write in this blog in english, since I am in some english speaking groups of artists. So please, forgive my mistakes.
I'm a visual artist living in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. This is a city in the centre of Mexico, with a semidesertic climate and with some 1,000,000 individuals living together. After living most of my life in Mexico City, it seems to me as a little place. Yes, I know it's not that little, but if you've ever been in Mexico City you may understand.
I studied graphic design, but always wanted to make a living producing some kind of art. I have taken some courses in drawing and painting, like in The Corcoran School of Art ( Washington, D. C.), the National School of painting,sculpture and printing "La Esmeralda" in Mexico City, or The Central School of Art and Design in London.
The last workshop was here in San Luis, a Natural Sciences Illustration workshop by one of the best science illustrators in the country: Aldi de Oyarzabal. This has make me think about my production.
After some years in figure drawing and painting, I received a comission for a mural painting. Of course my subject was around humans, but the background was worked with geometrical patterns and elements. After that work, I started exploring with abstraction.
Now I feel like going back to nature, to persons. I'm trying to combine both experiences to produce my work. But the love for the human figure has remain. Somewhere I read that in Latin America artists tend to make their work supported on feelings, not in reazon, and the author may be right. But working with natural subjects just make me feel like I belong, that we are part of it.
I'll just keep on working.

Guillermo.