A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a post about an amazing experience we had while visiting San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. In that post, I shared photos of the riotous colors and fantastic mosaics we found all over Casa de las Ranas and the Chapel of Jimmy Ray, the property owned by artist Anado McLauchlin and his husband Richard Schultz.
As anyone who read that post can imagine, Anado’s creativity didn’t end with his fantastical wall mosaics and fanciful art assemblages; the doors, gates, and portals on their property were just as enchanting, playful, and full of whimsy.
Although these may not look like doors normally found on chapels, they are rich with a joyful spirit and offer a salvation from boring.
Don’t forget to head on over to Norm’s blog to view more of his beautiful collection of doors from Nova Scotia, then click on the blue frog at the end of his post to see what others have shared.
Retirementally Challenged 
These are spectacular as is Anardo! Wow and wow! These are the most unusual doors I have ever seen.
The whole compound was spectacular. If you ever get the chance to travel to San Miguel, be sure to plan a visit to the Chapel of Jimmy Ray!
Oh my gosh, that is a color explosion! Wow indeed, so beautiful!
Anado certainly isn’t afraid of color… on himself or his doors. 🙂
Wow! Love all the texture and color. Anado is living his truth, fersure — LOVE the red studio doors, all that detail. What a happy, happy place. 😀
I can’t imagine having a bad day if I lived there (assuming I wasn’t in charge of dusting). The colors and the art were joyful.
Doors always have had a fascination with me. Amazing what variety of doors are offered by your post! The big and the small, the plain and the colourful, they are all there, Janis.
I loved how Anado spread his artwork throughout the compound, not just inside the studio and house.
Hi, Janis – These doors are each so much fun that I could not pick a favourite no matter how hard I tried. If I truly had to choose a favourite, I would choose the photo of Anado himself. What an interesting man — I would love to have the chance to speak with him.
Awesome post!
Anado has quite a back story. There is a documentary film called “A Guy from Oklahoma” (which I haven’t seen yet, but the trailer looks interesting) which is all about him and his journey. Before our tour, when Anado stepped out of those big red studio doors wearing that outfit, I knew we were in for a treat.
They are really nice…the blue bottles are on trees here in South Carolina, as the story goes “blue” attract bad stuff and it gets trapped in the bottle
Good to know about the blue bottles… I just figured that they were especially fond of whatever was in them originally 🙂 I am left wondering… once the bad stuff is trapped, what happens to it?
I remember those colorful shoes from your last post Janis because they intrigued me. This is beyond colorful and my favorite colors for all the posts about the doors and artwork is the use of turquoise, the salmony-orange color and the pink. Even the steer skull was colorful!
I found that the Mexican people in general, and the expats who have embraced their culture are not afraid of color. Color is joy!
We sure could learn from them, couldn’t we?
Gotta love all of the colors! The gate is amazing, Janis. Thanks for sharing!
The colors were so uplifting… nothing boring or staid.
For me it’s the colors. All those bright eye-catching colors! Loved this collection 🙂
Thanks, Norm. Anado wasn’t one to hold back… even his outfor was a riot of colors.
These are absolutely wonderful! This innovative and colorful “art” is one of the things that makes Mexico so charming!
I agree. There is something about warmer climates that brings out people’s joyful, creative spirits.
I have developed “door envy” over the last several weeks of your beautiful postings…but this one tops them all. The riot of colors and mosaics just give me a thrill. 🙂
I knew we were in for a treat when our cab pulled up to that first gate… and it got better and better. Anado has created a jewel box set in rural Mexico.
Like your word choice with salvation from boring – ha
And anado is colorful too.
Your post reminds me there is a time for color and Mexico sure does it well
Although Anado and Richard’s home was truly unique, the joyful use of color and inspired design can be found all over Mexico. That’s one of the many reasons we love to visit.
How refreshing and enriching
Amazing! I love the riotous colours, but my favourite is the weathered wood and “whatever”, especially after reading an earlier comment about the blue bottles. I have seen them on trees before and now I know why.
I wasn’t aware of the story behind the blue bottles either. I think I need to source some wine that comes in blue bottles and begin to work on a collection to put in my yard 🙃.
Now, that’s a great plan!
I also loved that phrase “salvation from boring” for the chapel doors. Perfect! Loved the colorful collection here.❤️
This collection was fun to share.
Every one of these doors is INCREDIBLE! Really enjoyed this.
Thank you! I loved that each door and gate was unique and imaginative.
Such amazing doors, Janis! You captured them well! And the host IS as colorful as the doors!
Anado was great. He had such an interesting background. I love that, somehow, he ended up in San Miguel, bought a run down property, and created a fantastical wonderland… and now shares it with us.
Just Wow! Janis, I love all the bright colours and you certainly come up with some great photos of unusual doors. Have a great weekend.
Hi, Sue. I’m glad you enjoyed this group of doors. The creativity and imagination that went into each one was so inspiring… why be normal? 🙂 Have a great weekend also!
What a rich and colorful place. Thanks so much for sharing these images, Janis. For some reason, I really like the fence with the fish.
I like the fish too. They seem pretty happy swimming along the colorful fence.
Hi Janis
The clarity and richness of the color in these photos is amazing. Interestingly, my favorite is the gate built from reclaimed wood. The least colorful. The plant vining over the top is beautiful and I love the brick work leading up to it.
Anado and Richard are as colorful and their property and art.
Thanks for sharing more of your trip
Laura
I loved how every structure in their compound was interesting… they even had a compost pile with a “face” on in (hard to explain, but it was charming).
Great find, Janis. Casa de las Ranas looks like a door-lovers dream. I’ll have to look up Señor Anado next time I am in San Miguel.
Yes! It is definitely worth the short cab ride out of town. Just make sure you have reservations for a tour and arrange for a cab ride back.
Anando himself is wonderfully unusual!! It’s like he has so much art inside of him that he has begun to personify it!!
I love the arched doorway to the meditation room – SO MUCH WORK went into this one doorway. My favourite though is the gate with all the fish on the inside. Wonderfully whimsical.
I love your description of Anado! He is definitely not shy about expressing himself.
The colors are amazing, as are your photos!
Their home was an explosion of color and whimsy… I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures.
Wow, these are amazing doors Janis, what a fantastic collection and a real colour explosion. I love that the artist matches the doors in his appearance too. love colour and brightness but some of these might just be too colourful even for me. I’m like others in that I can’t pick a favourite, I love them all, even the skeleton 🙂
I’m a big fan of color but also prefer my home and clothes to be much more subdued. I love that others are not as “boring” as I am, though, because it’s fun to visit, admire, snap a few photos… then back to my white walls and spots of color 🙂
Beautiful, vibrant images!
They were definitely not afraid of color!
And, they did it so well! I’d like to borrow some of that color bravado.
Such an entrancing aesthetic of colour. Does Anando sell his art or do work for others on commission? Or is his home primarily a personal passion project?
Jude
I believe some of his assemblages are for sale (you can see one next to the arched entryway) but his art is mostly an expression of his creativity and passion. I did buy a brightly colored bracelet from him at the end of the tour… mostly to help support his work.