Draw Oaxaca: Art Tourism in Oaxaca, Mexico

Oaxaca, Mexico is a southern Mexico city that is the seat of an intact indigenous culture. Renowned for it's cuisine, arts, ruins, markets and natural beauty, it's also the home of Mezcal, the mysterious smokey/smooth distilled agave beverage that is the soul of Oaxaca. It's the perfect place for the artist, offering ample opportunities to visit museums, galleries, cultural events and ruins. Cafe life beckons, offering opportunities to sketch as well as mingle with like minded travelers and locals. Village markets and craft collectives dazzle with a spectacular, indeed surreal array of goods. As a Oaxaca resident since 2007, I'm your insider guide to art adventure here.

Local flora

Easily reached via a direct flight on United from Houston, Oaxaca offers a wide range of elegant, reasonably priced hotels. Aero Mexico also flies to Oaxaca via Mexico City.

The city of Oaxaca sits at the confluence of three mountain valleys and boasts a near ideal climate at an altitude of 5000 feet. The city center features a charming array of sixteenth century baroque architecture, dotted with convivial cafes and restaurants featuring the world renowned Oaxacan cuisine.

Urban Oaxaca ruin

I've been teaching drawing and painting classes in Oaxaca for the past two years, concentrating on on-site life studies. There is plenty to draw -- the flora & fauna, buildings and landscapes. We've even tackled the human figure in market settings. No easy task, as people move freely about as we try to capture them in pencil, it gives your hand and eye a real workout.

You are invited to join me in Oaxaca for on-site drawing and painting sessions. I generally charge 200 pesos per session, with a price break for group sessions depending on the number of students. Day trips can be scheduled for groups at 1000 pesos per day plus a stipend for gas. 

In addition to art lessons, I host visits to ruins, arts and craft villages, museums, mezcal stills, markets and other Oaxaca attractions. I also recommend local guides and tours in addition to leading them myself.

I'm happy to field questions on all things Oaxaca -- from travel and hotels to what to pack and what to leave home. Drop me a line!

Steve Lafler

Email me

503-213-3671

Francisco Garcia Vasquez

Today my family to a day trip from Oaxaca city to nearby Ocotlan, to eat at our favorite market stall restaurant with the Frida look alike chef, and to visit the Rodolfo Morales museum, Octolan's favorite son/painter.

We ate a great comida but the museo was closed, so we dropped into the series of workshops run by the Aguilar family, renowned ceramic artists. We saw great ceramic scenes of bars, hookers, funerals and a sublime Last Supper.

Then we bumped into the next workshop and I was surprised to see some unique paintings on metal by one Francisco Garcia Vasquez. These small works we executed in the Ex Voto style of painting on metal, but the subject matter and painterly chops were completely unique. I felt like a kid in a candy shop! This was something new and very special!

A super nice guy told me his 23 year old son painted these. Then he showed me his work, the dad that is, and his name is Demetrio. Wow, incredible stuff and he explained he shows in various cities in the states. Based on my budget today, I picked up the above piece by young Francisco, but man I will return to purchase some very fairly priced, utterly unique and beautiful work by Demetrio!