Breakfast is ready

Breakfast is Ready, watercolor, 7x5" (17x12 cm.), from my little daily journal notebook.

"Fear is what keeps us locked into insecurity", said my wise instructor of oil painting Cynthia Grilli, in San Clemente, California. It is true for art, and it is true for life. Go do it!! Dare! Dare to be different! Do the unexpected, and people will follow you. Do what pleases you, and who cares if anybody follows. "El miedo nos mantiene encerrados con llave en inseguridad", dijo mi sabia instructora de pintura al oleo: Cynthia Grilli, en San Clemente, California. Eso es cierto para el arte, y tambien para la vida. Atrevete a hacerlo!! Atrevete a ser diferente! Haz lo inesperado, y la gente te seguira. Haz lo que te hace feliz, y a quien le importa si alguien te sigue o no.

Boquete, Panama

Boquete, acrylic on canvas, 20x16.

Color is the child of light. Light is the source of all life on earth. Dennis Diderot has said: "Drawing gives shape to beings, but it is color who gives them life, there is the divine breath that makes them alive."El color el hijo de la luz. La luz es la fuente de toda vida sobre la tierra. Dennis Diderot ha dicho: "El dibujo da la forma a los seres, pero es el color quien les da la vida, alli el suspiro divino los transforma en seres vivos."

Expectation

Expectation, pastel, 16x12" (40x30 cm.). The school girl ready to start dancing is wearing the "tembleques" on her hair, those colorful pieces that shake with the movement of her head as she dances. Ngwobe Bugle and Panamenian dances. Esta nina lista para comenzar a bailar tiene puesto los "tembleques" en su cabello, piezas de color que se sacuden al bailar. Danzas Ngwobe Bugle y Panamenas.

Maurice de Vlaminck was an autodidact, and very proud of it! He was an autodidact of life and painting. Born in Paris in 1876, died in 1958. It was said that M.de Vlaminck was and painted always joyful. Painting was for him a party. He has said: " A painter should be as fascinated by painting as by the world around him. I paint for love of nature, love of my subjects, love of the landscape." I feel exactly as Maurice de Vlaminck!! Maurice de Vlaminck fue un autodidacta, y orgulloso de ello! Fue autodidacta de la vida y de la pintura. Nacio en Paris en 1876 y murio en 1958. Se dice que M.de Vlaminck estaba y pintaba siempre contento. Para el, pintar era una fiesta. El ha dicho: "Un pintor debe estar siempre tan fascinado por la pintura como por el mundo a su alrededor. Yo pinto por amor a la naturaleza, amor de mis sujetos, y amor al paisaje". Yo siento igual que Maurice de Vlaminck!!!

Natalie of Palmira

Natalie of Palmira, pastel, 16x12" (40x30cm.) A few days ago I was invited to a school celebration by the Palmira Elementary School Principal, Mrs. Mitza de Gracia, here in Boquete, Panama. Natalie was dancing the "Tumba Cana". I was impressed by her grace and elegance. Natalie de Palmira. Hace unos dias, la directora de la Escuela Primaria de Palmira, Sra. Mitza de Gracia, aqui en Boquete, Panama, me invito a una fiesta escolar. Natalie bailo la "Tumba Cana". Me impresiono su gracia y elegancia.


Visiting the Branly Museum, in Paris, you follow a very long road at the entrance, much longer than expected, and winding, till you reach a sign that reads: "It is often said in Asia, that the miracle is not to walk on water, but to walk on earth. Our walk on this earth is an experience from the indefinite to the infinite. Step by step, we have a chance to give back to the universe something of what we have received." Cuando uno entra al Museo Branly, en Paris, se sigue un camino largo, mucho mas largo de lo que uno esperaba, y con muchas curvas, hasta que uno llega al siguiente letrero: "Dicen a menudo en Asia, que el milagro no es caminar sobre el agua, sino caminar en la tierra. Nuestro paso por la tierra es una experiencia de lo indefinido a lo infinito. Paso a paso, tenemos la oportunidad de devolver al universo algo de lo que hemos recibido."

Kuna Embroidery

Kuna Embroidery, watercolor, 5x7" (12x17cm.)


Kuna Indians live in the San Blas islands, near Panama City. Women especialize in a particular type of embroidery: they place two, three, sometimes four pieces of fabric together, then draw the design and cut small slits of one or other fabric, creating these complicated and colorful designs depending on which of the several layers of fabric is used each time. In their embroidery they represent their ancient art symbols, their beliefs and culture, and often the flora and fauna of Panama. The Kuna Indians are an independent group or state, with their own sytem of rules, laws and government, while belonging to Panama in a general sense. Los Indios Kuna viven en las islas de San Blas, cerca de la capital de Panama. Las mujeres se especializan en un tipo muy especifico de bordado: colocan dos, tres, a veces cuatro pedazos de tela juntos superpuestos, luego dibujan el diseno y cortan pequenas ranuras de una u otra tela, creando estos disenos complejos y coloridos, dependiendo de cual de estas telas es usada cada vez. En su bordado ellas representan antiguos simbolos de sus creecians y cultura, y a menudo tambien la flora y la fauna de Panama. Los Indios Kuna son un grupo independiente, con su propio sistema de reglas, leyes y gobierno, mientras que pertenecen a Panama en un sentido general.

Gates

Gates, watercolor, 5x7, (12x17 cm.) Another watercolor from my daily journal here in Boquete, Panama. "Gates", acuarela. Otra acuarela de mi diario de acuarelas aqui en Boquete, Panama.


Continuing with Turner, he used to surprise his observers particularly when he worked with watercolor. He would let color float on paper innundated with water, and work on several dessigns at the same time. He used to make backgrounds, give them a title, and save them for when he was ready to finish the painting. Continuando con Turner, el solia sorprender a sus observadores particularmente cuando trabajaba con acuarela. He dejaba flotar el color sobre el papel inundado con agua, y trabajaba en differentes disenos a la vez. El solia hacer fondos, les daba un titulo, y los guardaba para cuando estuviera inspirado para terminar la pintura.

Morning Porch

Morning Porch, watercolor, 5x7" (12x17 cm.) painted plein air, in Boquete, Panama. "Porch mananero", acuarela pintada "plein air", en Boquete, Panama.

William Turner is one of my heroes. For Delacroix Turner was a hero, too. He studied Turner's work extensively. Turner's watercolors are poetic, with perfect technique and perfect perspective. He faithfully worked "sur le motif" with pencil, then later prepared the color. Turner employed vibrant colors where the punch, the surprise, was accomplished by subtle and luminous transparences. William Turner es uno de mis heroes. Para Delacroix Turner fue un heroe, tambien. El estudio el trabajo de Turner extensamente. Las acuarelas de Turner son poeticas, con tecnica y perspectiva perfectas. He trabajaba fielmente "sur le motif" o en el lugar de origen, con lapiz, luego preparaba el color. Turner empleaba colores brillantes donde el "golpe", la s0rpresa, llegaba sutilmente con transparencias luminosas.

The Fight Team

The Fight Team, pastel, 12x16". The inspiration for this painting came while walking around in Palmira, near Boquete, Panama, early in the morning. Kids were walking to school. This older sister immediately moved her arm to protect her brother when I got closer. His shirt reads: "the fight team". Down the road you can see the gates of the cemetery, they walk almost an hour each way, to and from school every day, sometimes in the rain. Este pastel fue inspirado mientras caminaba por Palmira, cerca de Boquete en Panama, temprano a la manana. Chicos caminaban a la escuela. Esta hermanita mayor inmediatamente movio su brazo para protejer a su hermano cuando yo me acerque. El abrigo del nino decia: "Equipo de Pelea". A lo lejos en el camino se ven los portones del cementerio. Ellos caminan casi una hora de ida y otra de vuelta para ir a la escuela, todos los dias, a menudo en la lluvia.

Pride

Pride, pastel, 16x12" (40x30 cm.) A Ngobe-Bugle mother, walking with her daughters on their Sunday best. She was happy to pose for me. Una madre Ngobe-Bugle, caminando con sus hijas en su mejor dominguero. Estuvo contenta de posar para mi.

Picasso said: "The secret of art is that one does not look for, but finds." And Dali has said: "The painter is not an inspired being, but somebody ready to inspire others". This is what has happened to me here in Panama. I have found these beautiful people, the Noble-Bugle, proud of their heritage, customs, artworks and beliefs. And I just hope that my paintings and stories inspire others. Picasso dijo: "El secreto del arte es que uno no busca, sino encuentra." Y Dali ha dicho: "El pintor no es un ser inspirado, sino alguien que inspira a los demas". Esto es lo que me ha ocurrido aqui en Panama. He encontrado esta hermosa gente, los Noble-Bugle, orgullosos de sus ancestros, constumbres, arte y creencias. Y yo espero que mis pinturas y mis historias inspiren a otros.

Ngobe-Bugle Girl Going to School

Ngobe-Bugle Girl Going to School, pastel, 16x12" (40x30cm.) Nina de la tribu Noble-Bugle yendo a la escuela.

We are in the highlands of Panama, near the Baru' Volcano, in the rain forest, Palmira, in the outskirts of Boquete. Ngobe-Bugle is the main indian tribe of the area. Most kids go to school with a uniform of blue pants or skirt, and a white shirt. Some indian kids who cannot afford the uniform, go in their traditional clothes, which is the case of this girl. Some walk barefoot, all of them walk to school on the street or two-lane highway. Estamos en la zona mas alta de Panama, cerca del volcan Baru', en el bosque lluvioso, Palmira, en las afueras de Boquete. Ngobe-Bugle es la tribu indigena principal de esta zona. La mayoria de los ninos van a la escuela con un uniforme de pantalon o falda azul, y una camisa blanca. Algunos ninos indigenas que no pueden pagarse el uniforme, van a la escuela con sus ropas tradicionales, como esta nina. Algunos caminan descalzos, y todos caminan por la calle, que es la ruta principal, para ir a la escuela.

Baru'

Baru', watercolor, 5x7" (12x17 cm.).This lovely male Dalmatian who loves to take a nap near my feet, carries the name of the big volcano here in Panama: "Volcan Baru". Baru' es un Dalmata macho que ama dormirse una siestita cerca de mis pies. El lleva el nombre del famoso volcan aqui en Panama: Volcan Baru'.

Today I learned the story of Jironday, the ancient Indian Chief of the Noble-Bugles, the tribe native to this area of Boquete, in Panama. Jironday (pronounced "Heeronday") was a very wise chief who loved his people very much. He had two heads. When the Europeans came and tried to kill him, he would re-appear every time. They killed him with swords, fire, and germs, but he was reborn again and again. Now he has disappeared for a while, but everybody knows that when the end comes...Jironday will appear again to help his people. Hoy aprendi la historia de Jironday, el viejo jefe indio de la tribu Noble-Bugle, nativa de esta zona de Boquete, en Panama. Jironday era un jefe muy sabio y querido por el pueblo. El tenia dos cabezas. Cuando los Europeos vinieron y trataron de matarlo, el aparecia de nuevo. Trataron de matarlo con cuchillos, con fuego, y con enfermedades, pero el renacia una y otra vez. Ahora ha desaparecido por un tiempo, pero todo el mundo sabe que cuando llegue el final...Jironday aparecera otra vez a ayudar a su gente.

Hummingbird Friend

Hummingbird Friend, watercolor, 5x7" (12x17 cm.) painted yesterday morning. I have set up three hummingbird feeders in the terrace around this house in Panama, and they come, enjoy the food, and fight with each other. Apparently hummingbirds are very territorial. Esta acuarela la pinte ayer a la manana. He establecido tres bebederos para picaflores en las terrazas alrededor de esta casa en Panama, y ellos vienen, disfrutan del liquido dulce, y pelean. Aparentemente los picaflores son muy territoriales.

I've read that after the discovery of America, its very presence was very disturbing to the Europeans, an intellectual shock. Neither Ptolemy or the other ancients, or the Bible had ever suggested that such a land could exist. And the shock continued in the constant unexplained wonders of its animals, plants, and peoples. He leido que despues del descubrimiento de America, la sola presencia del continente fue muy molesta para los europeos, como un choque intelectual. Ni Ptolomeo ni los otros antiguos, o la Biblio jamas habian sugerido que una tierra asi pudiera existir. Y el choque continuo con la maravilla constante de sus animales, plantas y gentes.

Ferocious

Ferocious, watercolor, 5x7"(12x17cm.) is a painting of the lovely and loving Rottweiler I'm living with in Panama. She loves to come where I am, and go to sleep near me. I painted this in the front porch this morning. Esta es una pintura del amoroso perro Rottweiler con el que vivo en Panama. A ella le encanta venir donde estoy, y acostarse a dormir cerca mio. Esta la pinte esta manana, en el patio.

In the book A PERFECT RED by Amy Butler Greenfield, I read that Elizabeth I, sometimes dressed all her servants in red to set off her black and white gowns. We as artists should remember this effect. En el libro UN ROJO PERFECTO, de Amy Butler Greenfield, he leido que la reina Isabel I, a veces vestia a todos sus sirvientes en rojo, para que resaltaran sus vestimentas negras y blancas. Nosotros los artistas debemos recordar este efecto.

The Return

The Return, watercolor, 5x7" (12x17cm.) painted in Aliso Viejo, California.

My inspiration was this beautiful regional park, the generous trees, the fence and the path. My design strategy was to make the viewer want to visit the place. Mi inspiracion fue este hermoso parque regional, los arboles generosos, la tranquera y el camino agreste. Mi estrategia de diseno fue hacer que quien vea la pintura desee visitar este lugar.

Painting in the Garden

Painting in the Garden, watercolor, 4x6" (10x15 cm.) done last year while painting with my grandaughter Natalie outside. Esta acuarela la pinte el ano pasado, mientras pintabamos afuera en el patio con mi nieta Natalie.


A piece of advice to artists: Focus on understanding your object: its shape, volume, color, and relation to its environment. When you "feel" your object, your rendering will have depth and feeling. You will have something more important than your subject, you will have content. When your work takes a life of its own, when it gets out of control, that is a lovely experience! Consejo para los artistas: Concentrense en comprender su sujeto: la forma, el volumen, el color, la relacion con su entorno. Cuando realmente "sientan" su sujeto, vuestra pintura tendra profundidad y sentimiento. Tendran algo mas importante que su sujeto, tendran contenido. Cuando vuestro trabajo toma vida propia, cuando no lo pueden controlar, esa es una experiencia fantastica!

Beauty in the Camargue

Beauty in the Camargue, watercolor, 5x7" (12x17 cm.). This was done in the Camargue, in the South of France, two years ago. These beautiful wild horses are born dark brown, and about four years later they change to white. You often see them running wild, both brown (younger) and white all together, in the swamps area of the Camargue. Esta acuarela fue hecha en la zona de Camargue, en el sur de Francia, hace dos anos. Estos hermosos caballos salvajes corren juntos, blancos y marrones oscuros. Ellos nacen marron, y al cumplir los cuatro anos se vuelven blancos.

I promise more paintings from Panama, where I am now. I'm a few days behind due to travelling and getting settled. Thanks for your patience. Prometo mas pinturas de Panama, donde estoy ahora. Estoy unos dias atrasada debido al viaje y asentarme aqui.

Hummingbird Feeder

Hummingbird Feeder, watercolor, 7x5" (17x12 cm.)

One of the first watercolor sketches in Boquete, Panama, where I arrived a couple of days ago. I will be painting and resting here till the end of July. Life is art. Change and evolution are good, stretching ourselves out of our comfort zone help us grow. Art is life. Una de las primeras acuarelas rapidas pintadas aqui en Boquete, Panama, donde acabo de llegar. Estare pintando y descansando aqui hasta fines de julio. La vida es arte. Cambio y evolucion son buenos, estirandonos fuera de nuestra zona de confort nos ayuda a crecer. El arte es vida.

Magic Dreams

Magic Dreams, pastel, 30x40cm. (12x16"), in exhibition at Galerie d'Art de Verfeil, France.

While you work with pastels, you will have dirty fingers. The problem is that you may transfer some dark pastel powder in your fingers, say blue, to the next pastel stick you pick up, let's say white or yellow. How do you avoid this? There are several techniques that I know and probably more that I don't. These are some of them:

1. Cleanse your fingers with a kneaded eraser. The eraser will pick up the dust from your fingers, if you work it several times.

2. Wash your hands often and wait for them to dry. Obviously, this is the least practical.

3. Have wet-wipes handy, wipe your fingers with one of them, then dry your fingers with a paper towel. This is the most practical one for me. When I work with pastels, I always wear an apron with a big front pocket. I have wet-wipes in a plastic bag, and dry paper towels, all in my pocket, so it's easy to wipe my fingers first in the wet wipes, then in the dry towels, and continue working.

Come Back to Me

Come Back to Me, pastel, 40x30" (16x12 cm.) in exhibition at Galerie Bordenave, Cauterets, France. COME BACK TO ME es una pintura a pastel en exhibicion en la Galeria Bordenave, en la ciudad de Cauterets, Francia.

Pastel can be combined with oil, watercolor, acrylics. Don't be timid, experiment! As the painting develops, use the fixative with gusto! The spray not only binds the pastel to the surface at each stage but it isolates that stage and creates a new surface with slightly more tooth. Pastel puede ser combinado con oleo, acuarela, acrilico. No seas timido, experimenta! A medida que la pintura se desarrolla, usa el fijativo con gusto! El spray no solo une el pastel a la superficie en cada etapa, pero ademas aisla cada etapa y crea una superficie nueva con en poquito mas de "diente".

Dreamer

Dreamer, pastel, 40x30cm (16x12"). I painted "Dreamer" in Paris last year, from a live model. "Dreamer" is now in exhibition at the "Salon de Printemps", Galerie d'Art de Verfeil, Verfeil, France. Yo pinte este retrato en Paris el ano pasado, frente a la modelo. "Dreamer" esta ahora en exhibicion en el "Salon de Printemps", Galeria de Arte de Verfeil, en Verfeil, Francia.

Pastels is an extremely versatile medium. Pastel sticks is pure pigments and chalk bound with gum. There are three grades: soft, medium and hard. Then there are also the pastel pencils, whick is what I used for this portrait. The color of the paper plays an important part in the finished picture. Some of the techniques of pastel painting are: crosshatching, pointillism, linear strokes, scumbling.

Rue Tolbiac II

Rue Tolbiac II, watercolor, 5x7" (12x17cm.) another view of the same corner in Paris, from my watercolor notebook. Otra vista de la misma esquina de Paris, de mi cuaderno de acuarelas.


Continuing with the same topic of the book I mentioned in the previous Blog, DOG TRAINING MY WAY, I will mention some other advice by Barbara Woodhouse. Dogs adore affection. It is essential to talk to your dog often, as you would a child, with affection and firmness. The tone of your voice is the secret to efficient training. It is HOW you say things not WHAT you say that matters. But ....isn't it the same for us, human beings? Continuando con el mismo tema del libro que mencione en el Blog anterior, ENTRENANDO PERROS A MI MANERA, mencionare mas consejos de Barbara Woodhouse. Los perros adoran el carino. Es esencial hablarle a su perro a menudo como si fuera un nino, con afecto y firmeza. El tono de su voz es el secreto de un entrenamiento eficaz. Es COMO uno dice las cosas, y no tanto QUE se dice que es muy importante. Pero.......no es lo mismo para nosostros, humanos ?

Rue Tolbiac

Rue Tolbiac, watercolor, 5x7" (12x17cm.) from my Paris watercolor sketch notebook last year. Acuarela de mis cuadernos de bosquejos del ano pasado en Paris.

Today I'll refer to the book DOG TRAINING MY WAY by Barbara Woodhouse, 1980. I found it in the used books section and have read it to understand dogs better. It's a fascinating book. She says: " Dogs have a brain equal to that of a 5 year old child. Dogs pick up your thoughts by an acute telepathic sense, and it is useless to be thinking one thing and saying another. You cannot fool a dog. Enthusiasm is essential for success. This book has helped me understand and appreciate dogs better. Hoy me voy a referir al libro ENTRENAMIENTO DE PERROS A MI MODO de Barbara Woodhouse, 1980. Lo encontre en la seccion de libros usados y lo he leido para comprender mejor a los perros. Un libro fascinante. Ella dice: "Los perros tienen un cerebro igual al de un nino de 5 anos. Los perros reciben tus pensamientos por un sentido telepatico muy agudo, y no se puede pensar una cosa mientras dices otra. No puedes enganar a un perro. Tener entusiasmo ees esencial para tener exito. Este libro me ha ayudado a comprender y apreciar mejor a los perros.

Capricho de Venezia

Capricho de Venezia, watercolor, 12x16" (30x40cm.) I did this painting from my sketches and photographs after my last trip to Venice, Italy.

Today, a word to the wise painter: Paint only from your own sketches, photographs, notes. If ever you decide to copy from somebody else's painting, for some practice exercise, give credit where credit is due. Acknowledge the original artist in the title of your painting, and keep the painting for yourself. I recently was witness to a very sad story. I will not mention the artist or the gallery here, only the event. A couple of months ago, I was visiting a gallery in Southern California, when I noticed a painting on the wall that caught my eye. I had recently seen that same painting in a museum. How could that be? For a few minutes I couldn't remember where I had seen it, since I have a habit of visiting art museums often, then I looked at my notes. I also have a habit of keeping notes on paintings that strike me. I found it! The painting on the wall looked almost exactly as F. Luis Mora's "Morning News", hanging at that very moment at the San Diego Museum of Art. It was unbelievable to me, such a flagrant copy. The turn of the century hats, the New York Times, the other man carrying a box on his knees, every detail was there, only this copy was less luminous, the brushstrokes insecure. The next day I went back to the San Diego Museum of Art, to confirm my already certain suspicion. I then called the people in charge of the gallery and told them what had happened. Then I learnt that the artist of the copy had won a third prize award for that painting over the weekend, with high scores on originality!!!!!Needles to say, she eventually had to take the painting down.

Secretos

Secretos, watercolor on Yupo, 11x9" (28x23cm.) was inspired by watching my grandaughters talk to each other on their way to school. Girls and secrets, seem to go together. Secretos, acuarela on papel Yupo, no absorbente. Esta acuarela fue inspirada al ver a mis nietas hablar entre ellas al ir a la escuela. Ninas y secretos, parecen ir tan bien juntos.


Salvador Dali kept painting women with drawers, it was his representation of women and their secrets. This was one of his constant themes: women with drawers, where their secrets were hidden. Salvador Dali pintaba mucho a mujeres con cajones, fue su manera de representar mujeres y sus secretos. Este fue uno de sus temas constante: mujeres con cajones saliendo de sus cuerpos, donde sus secretos estaban escondidos.

Promenade

Promenade, oil, 22x28"(55x70cm.) a fun view of a side street in Little Italy, San Diego. You can see it in person, at Petrini's Restaurant, in Little Italy, San Diego, California.

I've recently read THE SHAPE OF CONTENT by Ben Shahn. He talks about Spiritual Energy as being the primary force in art. He also mentions non-conformity as a basic pre-condition of art. He claims that the degree of non-conformity present and tolerated in a society might be looked upon as a symptom of its state of health.

View from the Trocadero

View From The Trocadero, watercolor, 7x5" (17x12cm.) painted "alla prima",(in one sitting) and "plein aire" right there in the gardens overlooking the Eiffel Tower, in the Spring 2009. It was fun! View from the Trocadero, acuarela pintada "alla prima" (de una sola vez), y en "plein aire" alli mismo en los jardines que dan sobre la Torre Eiffel, en la primavera del 2009.

Going back to William Turner: his sketchbooks, now at the British Museum, tell us about his character. He was very methodical. At the start of the 19th C. London was as much an attraction for artists as Paris would be 100 years later. Fashion dictated that the landscape painters should seek in nature not truth but drama. Turner's favorite emotion was exaltation, and his favorite word was "sublime". Essentially, Turner tried to elevate the status of landscape painting to place it on a plane with the grandeur of noble poetry. Volviendo a William Turner: sus cuadernos, que ahora estan en el Museo Britanico, nos dicen de su personalidad. Era muy metodico. Al principio del siglo XIX, London era tanta atraccion para los artistas, como lo fue Paris 100 anos mas tarde. La moda dictaba que los pintores de paisajes debian buscar en la naturaleza no la verdad, sino el drama. La emocion favorita de Turner era la exaltacion, y su palabra favorita era "sublime". Esencialmente, Turner trato de elevar el estatus de la pintura de paisaje al mismo plano que la grandiosidad de una noble poesia.

Ghislaine

Ghislaine, watercolor, 5x7" (12x17cm.) Ghislaine and I painted together in Paris last Spring. She's a lovely and generous woman, and was very helpful and patient with me, and my poor French. Ghislaine, acuarela. Ghislaine y yo pintabamos juntas en Paris la primavera pasada. Ella es una mujer generosa y fue muy paciente conmigo y mi pobre dominio de la lengua francesa.

Turner, his genious, and his world :(1775-1851) One hundred and fifty years ago, at the time of painting by classical formulas, Turner used or ignored them at will. He's today's artist's kindred spirit. Many of his works follow traditional rules of clarity, balance, perspective. But in his greatest achievements he abandoned these rules, intuitively pursuing paths that later became the road to Modern Art. He took air, light, earth, water, wind and fire and gave them to us on a platter, on a canvas. Turner, su genio y su mundo (1775-1851). Hace ciento cincuenta anos, en la epoca de painturas que debian seguir un formula clasica, Turner ignoraba las reglas y formulas. El es el espiritu gemelo del artista de hoy. Muchos de sus trabajos siguieron reglas de claridad, balance, perspectiva. Pero en sus obras mas grandiosas el abandono las reglas, siguiendo pasos intuitivos que luego llegaron a crear el camino para el Arte Moderno. Turner tomo aire, luz, tierra, agua, viento y fuego y nos los dio a nosotros servido en un plato, o en una tela.

Tango `a Tarbes

Tango `a Tarbes, watercolor, in my 7x9"journal (17x22cm.) This watercolor comes with its own story. Read on:Tango en Tarbes, acuarela. Esta acuarela viene con su propia historia. Leanla:

The city of Tarbes is close to the Pyrenees, in the South of France. They hold a Tango Festival every summer in August. Last year, my husband and I went one evening to Tarbes. We walked around and stopped at this restaurant/bar for a drink. Musicians were playing and singing, people were dancing tango in the streets. While we were having a drink at Le Carrillon, I did this quick watercolor sketch. Two months went by, I had almost forgotten this evening, and had done many watercolor sketches in my notebook. One day in October, I was with a friend in another town in France, when she introduces me to her friend, Roberto. Roberto is amused that I am originally from Argentina, because, he says, he loves tango music. In fact, he tells me he plays the guitar and sings tangos. Actually, he continues, he played at the Tarbes Tango Festival in August, at Le Carrillon. I was quiet for a moment, then dig out my notebook from my purse, and show him this watercolor, done two months before! Roberto is the man with the white hat, I had painted him two months before meeting him. La ciudad de Tarbes esta cerca de los Pirineos, en el sur de Francia. Ellos celebran un Festival de Tango todos los veranos en agosto. El ano pasado, mi esposo y yo fuimos una noche a Tarbes. Caminamos por la ciudad y paramos a tomar algo en este restaurant/bar. Habia musicos y gente bailando en la calle. Mientras tomamos algo alli, llamado Le Carrillon, yo hice esta acuarela en mi cuaderno. Pasaron dos meses, yo casi me habia olvidado de esta noche, y habia pintado muchas acuarelas en mi cuaderno. Un dia en octubre, estaba yo en otra ciudad de Francia con una amiga, y ella me presento a su amigo Roberto. Roberto estaba muy interesado en saber que yo era originalmente de Argentina, porque, segun el, amaba el tango. En realidad, me seguia contando Roberto, el toca la guitarra, canta, y hasta actuo con su grupo en el Festival de Tango de Tarbes dos meses antes, tocando en Le Carrillon. Yo lo mire callada por un momento, saque de mi bolso mi cuaderno de acuarelas, y le mostre esta pintura, hecha dos meses antes! Roberto es el hombre en el sombrero blanco, yo lo habia pintado dos meses antes de conocerlo.

Annie's home in Giverny

Annie's home in Giverny, watercolor sketch, 7x9" (17x22cm.), done early morning, from the porch of my friend Annie's beautiful house in Giverny. La casa de Annie en Giverny, acuarela pintada en la manana temprano, desde el porch de la bellisima casa de mi amiga Annie en Giverny.

Annie Harrau is a talented artist, a beautiful woman, and a generous soul. She invited me to her amazing home in Giverny for a few days last Spring, 2009. That weekend, we painted together at the "Fete des Impressionistes" de Giverny, where she won a well deserved First Prize. Annie Harrau es una artista talentosa, una hermosa mujer, y un alma generosa. Ella me invito a su increible casa en Giverny por unos dias la primavera pasada, en el 2009. Ese fin de semana pintamos juntas en el Festival de Impresionistas de Giverny, donde ella gano el muy merecido Primer Premio.

Park behind the Paris apartment

This quick watercolor sketch from my notebook "Park behind the Paris apartment", reflects some of my lazy afternoons in Paris last Spring. Sometimes I would just walk around the neighborhood in the 17th arrondissment, and do little watercolor sketches of the neighborhood. This is one of them. Even the wire of the notebook is there!Esta acuarela de mis cuadernos, llamada "Parque detras del departamento de Paris" refleja algunas de las tardes tranquilas que pase en Paris la primavera pasada. Solia caminar por el barrio, en el arrondissment 17, and pintar rapidamente escenas del barrio. Esta es una de ellas. Hasta el alambre del cuaderno esta aqui!

I'm enjoying this sharing of my sketches with my Blog readers. I've just completed three months of Blogging, and it's been such a pleasure to look at what painting will I share tonight, and what story or comment will I expand on! Only nine more months to go! I want to thank my readers for being there. As Emily Dickinson wrote: "This is my letter to the world, who never wrote to me." Estoy disfrutando mucho compartir mis dibujos y pinturas con los lectores de mi Blog. Acabo de completar tres meses de blogging todos los dias, y ha sido un placer buscar que pintura voy a compartir esta noche, y que comentario hare. Solo nueve meses mas para completar mi ano prometido! Quiero agradecer a mis lectores por interesarse por mis pinturas y escritos. Como escribio Emily Dickinson: "Esta es mi carta al mundo, que nunca me escribio a mi."