Creating Herself

Creating Herself, mixed media, 26x20" (65x50cm.) is one of my paintings at Gallery Without Borders, 3834 5th Ave. in the heart of Hillcrest, San Diego, California.I also call this painting "Goddess", because as woman creates herself, she is a goddess.
Creandose a Si Misma, o "Diosa", es una de mis pinturas en la Gallery Without Borders", en el corazon de Hillcrest, en San Diego, California. Al crearse a si misma, la mujer es una diosa.

In a sense, we all create ourselves. Wayne Dyer has said: "Be miserable or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done is always your choice." En cierto sentido, todos nos creamos a nosotros mismos. Wayne Dyer ha dicho: "Quedate sintiendote mal o motivate a ti misma. Lo que sea necesario hacer es siempre tu eleccion."

Burka

 

Burka, 24x12" (60x30cm.) acrylic on canvas. This painting was very emotional for me. So much so, that I didn't sign it on the front, I couldn't put my name on a woman hiding her body, her face, her emotions, her entire life. I have signed it on the back. It is part of my show  "La Donna e Mobile", which opened yesterday at Petrini's Restaurant, in San Diego, California. 

Esta pintura fue muy emocional para mi. Tanto que no la firme en el frente, no podia poner mi nombre sobre una mujer que esconde su cuerpo, su cara, sus emociones, su vida entera. La he firmado atras. Es parte de mi exhibicion "La Donna e Mobile", que abrio ayer en el Restaurante Petrini, en San Diego, California.

Louise Bourgeois again: She made a book: "L'Ode `a L'Oubli", in 2004, of fabric and lithographs. Somewhere she wrote: "I have three kinds of diaries: the written, the spoken (tape recorder) and my drawing diary, which is the most important. Having these various diaries means that I keep my house in order." And I, Minnie Valero, add: I paint, travel, and keep diaries for my sisters who can't.

Louise Bourgeois otra vez: Ella hizo el libro: "Oda al Olvido", en el 2004, con tela y litografias. Escribio: "Tengo tres clases de diarios: el escrito, el hablado (grabacion) y mi diario de dibujos, el mas importante. Teniendo estos diarios quiere decir que tengo la casa en orden." Y yo, Minnie Valero, agrego: Yo pinto, viajo y mantengo diarios por mis hermanas que no pueden hacerlo.

La Donna e Mobile

La Donna e Mobile, watermedia and pastel, 30x22" (75x55cm.) one of 23 paintings in the new show in exhibition and for sale at Petrini's Restaurant, in Little Italy. Opening Reception is tomorrow Saturday, April 23, 2011, at Petrini's Restaurant, corner of Ash and India Streets, in Little Italy, San Diego, California, 2:00-4:00 pm. You are all invited!!! Opening Day sales are 10% off!
La Donna e Mobile, acrilico y pastel, es una de las 23 pinturas en la nueva exhibicion y venta en el restaurante Petrini, en San Diego. La Recepcion es manana sabado 23 de abril en Petrinis' (esquina de Ash e India) en San Diego, California, de 2-4 de la tarde. Las ventas del dia de recepcion reciben un 10%. Estan todos invitados!!!

L'Eglise de Cauterets

L'Eglise de Cauterets, quick watercolor in my sketchbook. There is a beautiful organ here, pretty impressive.

 Louise Bourgeois, born in France, lived many years and died in New York, said: "The medium is secondary to me...the wish to say something antedates the material...I'm not saying that materials are not important. I love materials...When you want to say something you consider saying it in different ways, just as a composer would play in different keys, or different instruments." I totally agree with L.B. since I also like to "play" with different media. Some subjects or moments are just more appropriate for a particular material. You're not going to keep a travel sketchbook in oils, but watercolor is fast and easy to travel with.
Louise Bourgeois, nacida en Francia, vivio muchos anos y murio en New York. Dijo: "El medio empleado es secundario para mi...el deseo de decir algo precede la tecnica...No digo que los materiales no sean importantes, me encantan los materiales. Cuando quieres decir algo, consideras decirlo en medios differentes, como un compositor tocaria en distintas claves, o usando distintos instrumentos." Yo estoy totalmente de acuerdo con Louise Bourgeois pues que a mi tambien me gusta "jugar" con distintos materiales. Algunos temas o momentos se prestan mas para ciertos medios. Uno no va a mantener un cuaderno de bosquejos en oleo, por ejemplo. La acuarela es rapida y facil para viajar.

Balboa Park Tower

Balboa Park Tower, 10x8" (25x20cm.) watercolor on board. Painted on location, one fun morning.

Again I'll comment on Louise Bourgeois, who in her 90s, still painting strong, producing some exciting and original pieces, said of her life's work: "My early work is the fear of falling. Later on it became the art of falling. How to fall without hurting yourself. Later on is the art of hanging in there." She was talking about her art, but I feel that is true about our life in general. We spend years dealing with different fears, until we master how to do so many things: drive, work, love, be a parent, and eventually, life becomes the art of hanging in there.
Otra vez comento sobre Louise Bourgeois, quien ya entrado los 90 anos, seguia produciendo trabajos originales e interesantes. Ella dijo sobre la obra que produjo en su vida: "Mis obras tempranas son acerca del miedo de caer. Mas tarde se transformo en el arte de caer. Como caer sin lastimarse. Mas tarde llego a ser el arte de seguir aguantando." Ella hablaba de su obra artistica, pero yo pienso que eso se aplica a nuestra vida en general. Nos pasamos anos conquistando diferentes miedos, hasta que aprendemos y dominamos el arte de hacer una variedad de cosas: conducir, trabajar, amar, ser madre, y eventualmente, la vida se transforma en el arte de mantenerte vivo.

She's a Beautiful Model

She's a Beautiful Model, watercolor and pencil, 20x16" (50x40cm.) A quick sketch and paint from a drawing session with an older model. It's so interesting to use older models! This lady used a variety of props and had a wonderful attitude.
Este dibujo/acuarela rapida es de una sesion con una modelo de mayor edad. Es muy interesante usar modelos mayores! Esta senora usaba una variedad de elementos decorativos, y tenia una actitud maravillosa.

I've recently read a biography of Louise Bourgeois by Ann Coxon. There is an anecdote of what L.B. said after seeing an exhibition of 400 pieces of Picasso. She wrote:''It was so beautiful, and it revealed such genius...that I did not pick up a paint-brush for a month." What's so interesting, is that Picasso himself felt something similar when he saw Manet's "Le Dejeneur sur l'Herbe", he couldn't paint for a few days, then he only painted  "Dejeneur sur l'Herbe"s  for months! As a result, we have many "Lunch on the Grass" by Picasso, after Edouard Manet's one and only, which changed the history of art. I had the marvelous good luck of being in Paris when all of these Picasso's "Lunch..." were exhibited together with Manet's original "Lunch..." at the Musee d'Orsay, a couple of years ago. The feeling of "spiritual communion" with an artist's work is documented as being as strong as having an epiphany, a revelation, a magical moment.
Recientemente he leido la biografia de Louise Bourgeois de Ann Coxon. Hay una anecdota de lo que dijo L.B. cuando vio una exhibicion de 400 trabajos de Picasso. Ella escribio: "Era tan hermoso, revelaba tal genio...que no pude pintar por un mes." Lo que encuentro muy interesante es que el mismo Picasso sintio algo similar cuando vio "El almuerzo en la hierba", de Manet. Picasso no pudo pintar por varios dias, y luego solo podia pintar "Almuerzos..." similares, siguiendo el unico "Almuerzo..." que cambio la historia del arte. Tuve una suerte maravillosa de estar en Paris cuando todos estos "Almuerzos..." de Picasso fueron exhibidos junto con el famoso "Almuerzo..." de Manet en el Musee d'Orsay, hace un par de anos. El sentimiento de "comunion espiritual" con el trabajo de un artista ha sido documentado de ser tan fuerte como una epifania, o revelacion, o momento magico.

Sunset for Two

Sunset for Two, watercolor, 15x22" (37x55cm.) It had been accepted at the San Diego Watercolor Society this past March, then exhibited at "The Secret Life of Women" in April, and now it's been accepted as a Finalist for the Richeson 75 Landscape Competition!! It will be exhibited at the Richeson School of Art Gallery in Kimberly, Wisconsin. The Reception and Award Ceremony will be on Friday, June 24th, 6:00-9:00pm. You are all invited!!
Esta acuarela fue exhibida en la Sociedad de Acuarela de San Diego en marzo, luego en la exposicion "La Vida Secreta de las Mujeres", y acaba de ser aceptada como Finalista en la Competicion de Paisajes Richeson 75. Sera exhibida en la Galeria  Escuela de Arte Richeson en Kimberly, Wisconsin. La recepcion y ceremonia de premios sera el viernes 24 de junio de 6:00-9:00 de la tarde. Estan todos invitados!!!

Magic Moment

Magic Moment, acrylic on canvas, 20x24" (50x60cm.)

Today I'd like to recommend a film to my readers: "Rhapsody in August", by Akira Kurosawa. It's a beautiful film, set in the outskirts of Nagasaki. Four grandchildren stay with the grandmother, who lost her husband 45 years before, on August 9, the day the atom bomb fell in Nagasaki. The film becomes more urgent when we are aware of the pain and suffering, the endurance and bravery of the Japanese people at this moment. A magnificent film!
Hoy me gustaria recomendarles una pelicula a mis lectores: "Rapsodia en agosto", de Akira Kurosawa. Es un film hermosisimo, situado en las afueras de Nagasaki. Cuatro nietos estan con la abuela, quien perdio su esposo 45 anos antes, el 9 de agosto, el dia que cayo la bomba en Nagasaki. la pelicula es mas urgente ahora, cuando estamos tan conscientes del dolor y sufrimiento, de la fortaleza y valentia de la gente Japonesa en este momento. Una pelicula magnifica!

Together

Together, acrylic on canvas, 7x5" (17x13cm.)

Continuing the story of Artemisia Gentileschi (Roma, 1593-1656). She became a "master" (mistress?) of Tenebrism, Naturalism, and Fresco painting. Original perspective and great passion in her painting are some of her characteristics. One of her teachers raped her, when she denounced him to the authorities, she was questioned to the point of braking some of her fingers in the process, quite typical in those times. At 22 years old she painted: "Allegoria dell'inclinazione", representing a naked woman holding a compass, symbolic of an artist's natural talent, and how it's necessary to orient the talent to the right path, without falling in despair when difficulties arise. More tomorrow on Artemisia Gentileschi!
Continuando con la historia de Artemisia Gentileschi. Llego a dominar el Tenebrismo, Naturalismo, y Fresco. Sus caracteristicas principales son una perspectiva original y la gran pasion reflejada en sus pinturas. Uno de sus maestros la violo, y cuando ella lo denuncio a las autoridades, la cuestionaron de tal manera, que hasta le quebraron algunos dedos en el proceso, bastante tipico de la epoca. A los 22 anos pinto "Allegoria dell'Inclinazione", representando a una mujer desnuda sosteniendo una brujula, simbolizando al talento natural de algunas personas, y como es necesario orientarlo hacia el camino correcto, sin dejarse abatir por las dificultades. Mas sobre Artemisa Gentileschi manana!

The Secret Life of Women - Elizabeth

Elizabeth, pastel, 20x16" (50x40cm.) I was inspired by this charming and beautiful woman. This painting is one of the pastels I'll be presenting tomorrow at THE SECRET LIFE OF WOMEN show at The Clubhouse, 4625 Kantor, (almost corner with Governor) in University City, San Diego. Reception is 10-12, sponsored by Town Park Villas/La Jolla del Rey.  You are invited, hope to see you there!
Elizabeth: Esta pintura es uno de los pasteles que presentare manana en la exhibicion LA VIDA SECRETA DE LA MUJER, en la Clubhouse, 4625 Kantor, San Diego. Recepcion de 10-12, estan invitados!

Continuing with my stories about women painters, I hope you've all heard about Artemisia Gentileschi (Rome, 1593-1656?). She made a lot of money painting, and among her many friends was Galileo Galilei, and Michelangelo's nephew. She left her husband, had many lovers, was juried in as a member of the Academia del Disegno de Florencia and the Academia del Disegno de Roma, she painted with Diego Velazquez, traveled all over Europe...and there is so much more, I'll have to continue in the next Blog. Amazing, what a woman could do 400 years ago!
Continuando con mis historias de mujeres pintoras, espero que hayan escuchado de Artemisia Gentileschi. Gano mucho dinero con su pintura, y entre sus amigos se contaba Galileo Galilei, y el sobrino de Michelangelo. Artemisia dejo a su marido, tuvo muchos amantes, fue aceptada como miembro de la Academia del Disegno de Florencia y la Academia del Disegno de Roma, pinto con Diego Velazquez, viajo por toda Europa...y hay tanto mas, que tendre que continuar en el proximo Blog. Sorprendente, lo que una mujer podia hacer hace 400 anos!