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Los Cabos Mexico

San Jose’ del Cabo

Acrylic Artist Workshop with Master Artist Misty Martin

February 4, 2017 by Akiba 5 Comments

It was another beautiful winter morning as I walked through cobblestone streets of the San Jose del Cabo Art District.  The birds were chirping and the shopkeepers were just opening their doors. I was on way to my first-ever art class  – I had never held a paintbrush before.  I was venturing into this new territory because I was so impressed with Misty Martin’s accomplishments.  I knew her class would be fun, full of information, we would have a lot of laughs and hopefully, I would learn something new.  So off I went to try an introductory class in Acrylic Painting with Master Artist, Misty Martin, at Galeria de Ida Victoria.

Galeria de Ida Victoria San Jose del Cabo Historic Art District

Galeria de Ida Victoria, San Jose del Cabo, Historic Art District

San Jose Art Distict

San Jose Art District

San Jose Art District

San Jose Art District

Galeria-de-Ida-Victoria.jpeg

Galeria de Ida Victoria

GALERIA IDA VICTORIA is not to be missed. Owner/Artist Ida Gustavson has a degree in Illustration from Parsons School of Design, and her husband Pete Signorelli is the designer in charge of the Custom Frame Studio. The two have created a friendly space, featuring the artwork of 25 established as well as emerging contemporary artists from the US, Mexico and Canada, a colorful eclectic collection of original art and sculpture, always selected with humor and a vibrant twist.”

There are only six artists worldwide who have achieved Master Artist status with the National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society (NOAPS), and Misty is one of them.  She is delighted to share all the jewels of knowledge that she has acquired over the years – such as which materials are best to use, how to mix colors and which methods will produce the best results. She is hoping to help other aspiring artists understand what to expect and what to do on this wonderful artistic journey.  Misty’s classes involve both an academic approach and a chance to play. Misty shared jewels of information on color mixing, techniques and how-to’s, and everyone in the class left with lots of hands-on experience.  Because Misty is entirely self-taught, she is intimately aware of all the ups and downs, trials and tribulations of creating artwork. Her photorealist style of painting is not easy. It takes time, energy, concentration, and skill – but the rewards are immeasurable. Misty wants her students to be free to explore their own creativity by teaching them technique until it starts to become second nature.

If you are interested in attending the award-winning artist Misty Martin’s painting workshops, e-mail Ida Gustavson with Galeria de Ida Victoria at:   idavictoria1@mac.com

Misty working her magic

Misty working her magic

IMG_1490

IMG_1494

Misty Explaining Scumbling to the Class

Akiba Deep In Concentration

Akiba Deep In Concentration

Student's Finished Piece Ready to be Framed.

Proud Student’s Finished Piece Ready to be Framed.

I learned 3 different techniques in my first class:

  • Underpainting or Undercoating – Preliminary painting, over which other colors are applied.
  • Sideloading – a technique used for applying shading or highlighting. Also known as “sideloading.” A flat or angular brush is usually used with one side loaded with paint and the other side loaded with water or extender.
  • Scumbling – Semi-opaque or thinned colors loosely brushed over an underpainted area so that some of the color beneath shows through.

I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday morning.  I hope this will encourage all of you to make the leap and take a class or a series of classes with Misty Martin.

Art Classes

Posted in: About, Learn Tagged: Acrylic Art Classes, historic art district, Ida Gustavson, Master Artist, Misty Martin, San Jose' del Cabo

I. O. Domani – Personalized Shopping for the Holidays

December 2, 2016 by Akiba 2 Comments

iod-photo-1

i-o-domani

“Life is too short for boring clothes”

You may love to shop or you may hate it, but one thing is for certain, all women shop.  This especially holds true during the holiday season.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if shopping could be enjoyable and something to look forward to rather than a chore?  I. O. Domani  can turn a bad shopping day into a delightful and enlightening experience.  This is a place where you can feel at home, socialize a bit, have a few laughs and maybe even have a glass of wine while you get to the know the savvy owner, Chad Thomas, and her dynamic mother/partner, Clarice Thomas.  Their goal is to make your day better when you walk through the door and give you a personalized shopping experience.

When I interviewed Chad, she was brimming with excitement and it was obvious that she loves everything about fashion and she has worked tirelessly to make her store run seamlessly.  The clothes are carefully thought out and she collaborates with her designers to create exclusive collections for I. O. Domani.

We sat together and Chad started pulling pieces that she felt would work great for the festive holidays.  She particularly likes these three designers:  NFP (New Form Perspective), Coco Rocha Co + Co, and Rachel Pally.

  • NEW FORM PERSPECTIVE: NFP – offers basic building blocks to encourage each individual to create their own personal comfort and blueprint. Gail Travis has designed a collection of smart geometric shapes and styles that are of the moment, but not bound by time. Each piece has the ability to link, layer, fold, snap, shift or connect, creating a platform for personal expression. The knitted sweaters, hand felted dresses and tops and foundation jersey pieces of tanks, bodysuits, and leggings collectively present a unique line of architectural building blocks.  NFP’s  pieces can be turned upside-down and backwards.  The snap wrap piece below can be worn as a dress but when flipped upside down and backwards, it becomes a cardigan.  It can also be molded into a longer flowing cardigan that can be wrapped.
NFP Snap Wrap Tunic Dress

NFP Snap Wrap Tunic Dress/Cardigan

  • Coco Rocha  – Rocha’s inaugural collection, called Co + Co, is a sporty contemporary line that aims to bridge the gap between luxury and affordability while fitting right in with the current fixation on the athleisure market.
02-coco-rocha-on-her-new-fashion-line

Co + Co Cambrie Tunic – A long length tunic that gives an elegant fashion forward silhouette..

  • Rachel Pally works jersey like no other designer around. Her designs have been described as comfortable, feminine, body-conscious and sensual.  Inspired by her days as a dancer, she has taken her love of fluid moving fabrics and transformed it into a brand that attracts women of all ages, shapes, and sizes. Rachel’s appreciation for the female form inspired her to turn that love into dressmaking.  “I love that you can just throw on a jersey dress and feel great and look great. Day and night! It really can work for anyone!”  This dress does not have a hem so it can be cut to any length.  Wear it one season long and the next just cut it to any length you desire.
rachel-pally

Rachel Pally Ingrid Dress

L*Space – You can’t come to Cabo without the perfect bathing suit. L*Space swimwear designs focus on that chic, yet unfussy coastal-cool lifestyle, making waves on and off the beach. L*SPACE is the soft, sensual bikini that you covet, and the beach-chic dress that quickly becomes the go-to in your closet.

L*Space Maniac One Piece

L*Space Maniac One Piece

I have only touched on a few of the amazing designers to choose from as well as accessories, bags and shoes (coming).  I. O. Domani is a beautiful shopping experience.

Across the courtyard from Mercado Gastronomica in the Koral Shopping center, Cerro Colorado, San Jose del Cabo

Open Monday – Saturday 10 – 7 / Sunday by Appointment only

Parking available

Posted in: About, Learn, Shop Tagged: Chad Thomas, Clarice Thomas, Co + Co, Coco Rocha, I.O. Domani, Koral Shopping Center, L*Space, Los Cabos, Mercado Gastronomica, New Form Perspective, NFP, Rachel Pally, San Jose' del Cabo

Km 19 Cocina de Campo

April 16, 2016 by Akiba 9 Comments

IMG_1690Km 19 Cocina de Campo is owned and operated by Jose Ramon Redo and Martha Ofelia Pastor de Redo.  They serve traditional Mexican food that you would typically find on a ranch – in other words, good hearty fare.  Jose Ramon (known as Ramon) is not a trained chef but he is a very good cook and he obviously has a love and passion for what he is creating.  He arrives early every morning to make the salsas that are the backbone of the dishes. He also prepares fresh cookies, cinnamon rolls, croissants, sweet breads called conchas and coyotas filled with brown sugar or caramel.

Conchas

Conchas

There is a lovely garden that Ramon puts to use for his soups, stews and salsas.  He is growing herbs, nopale cactus, aubergines, cucumbers and tomatoes.  He also plans to raise his own chickens and use the fresh eggs in the restaurant.

The breakfast menu consists of fresh eggs – any style, chilaquiles, enchiladas and pan dulce.  Try the nopale cactus with scrambled eggs to start your day off.

Breakfast

Breakfast

The lunch menu changes each day and when we arrived on a Wednesday, the special was beef stew which was filled with earthy chiles and slow-braised meat.  Thursdays Ramon prepares green Pozole with chicken, tomatillos and pumpkin seeds and Saturdays he makes a red Pozole with guajillo chiles, chicken and pork. Sopa de Tortilla is on the menu every day and I found it to be heavenly.  Sundays Ramon really puts on his chef’s hat and prepares pizzas cooked in his wood burning oven and Paella with saffron rice that includes shrimp, clams, octopus, mussels, chicken, pork and chorizo.

Beef Stew

Beef Stew

Also on the menu is Chilorio, a slow-cooked pulled pork recipe which originated in Sinaloa and is made with a delicious ancho chile sauce, beef Birria stew with 3 kinds of dried red chiles, Chile Rellenos stuffed with cheese and Shrimp in red sauce.

Chilorio

Chilorio

My friend who I was having lunch with asked for chicken even though it was not on the menu and they whipped up beautiful chicken tacos for her.

When purslane is in season (the taste is similar to watercress or spinach), Ramon uses it for his baby back ribs in green sauce.

Km 19 is rustic but very comfortable and well thought out.  It is a nice structure that is completely screened so there is no problem with pesty flies or bugs.  It is also cool inside and surprisingly quiet even though it is fairly close to the highway.  They do not have a liquor license but you can bring your own wine and there is no corkage fee. Interior

Breakfast is served all day beginning at 8:30 am. Lunch begins at 12:30 and they close at 4:00 pm.

It is located across the highway from Las Ventanas Resort and the old Melia Cabo Real.  There is ample parking and easy access on and off the carretera.

Ramon and Martha strive to make the customers comfortable while serving well prepared home cooked food.  This little gem of a restaurant has so much potential and I am excited to try the many dishes that Ramon prepares with such care.  You can find me on Sundays happily dining on Paella and playing with the baby chicks.Chicks

Posted in: Eat, Uncategorized Tagged: Km 19 Cocina de Campo, Los Cabos restaurants, San Jose' del Cabo
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