Sharing the Knowledge

Sharing the Knowledge, watercolor, 12x15 in. available at the San Diego Watercolor Society Holiday Bazaar sale on December 7 and 8, matted unframed.

Painting with light: For shadows, always go to the light source, but reflections are always vertical. They follow different set of rules. Don't ever forget that we paint the ILLUSION of realism. We strengthen this illusion by the way we handle value, the way we create contrast. "You can see a lot by observing" said Yogi Bear.

The Thinker

The Thinker, watercolor, 12x16 in., available at the SDWS Holiday Bazaar, San Diego, California. This is special sale of member's artwork matted but unframed. Sale takes place on December 7 and 8 only. The San Diego Watercolor Society is at Liberty Station, 2825 Dewey Road, San Diego, California. Come make your shopping for the holidays!!

Marco-Olivier

Marco-Olivier, commissioned pastel portrait, 65x50cm. (25.5x20in.)
Marco's mother commissioned a portrait of her young son, killed in an automobile accident. I looked at several pictures of him, and decided to paint his portrait surrounded by smaller pictures depicting his  hobbies, to celebrate the life he had lived. Marco loved the mountains, and speed sports.

YOU ARE INVITED: Next Sunday, December 2nd, I will be doing a demonstration at the San Diego Pastel Society meeting in the Point Loma Library, San Diego, California. The theme is: "Sketchbooking,  painting in Hungary and France in the Summer of 2012". It will start at 2:00pm, free.

Bottles for Rosario

Bottles for Rosario, watercolor on Hungarian hand-made paper, 6x12 cm.
These bottles are full of water from Lourdes, for my "consuegra" (my daughter's mother in law) Rosario. I filled them up in Lourdes, France, and took them to Spain for her. She appreciates this "holy water". I don't believe in it, but I do it for her because she does.

Painting every day keeps the hand warm, Sorolla used to say. I paint every day for several reasons: a) it does keep the hand warm, b) it gives me sanity, c) I love painting, d) it's an addiction. Don't forget to come to the San Diego Pastel Society's meeting Sunday December 2nd, at the Point Loma Library, San Diego, California, at 2:00pm. I'll be doing a demo and talking about my month as Artist in Residence in Budapest this past July.

Alizarin and Friends

Alizarin and Friends, watercolor, 6x12cm.
When I don't know what to paint, my left hand, my feet, or my watercolor box are all good subjects. This was done on a lonely night in France a month ago. Alizarin and friends are always with me.

Sorry I have not been writing on  my blog lately. I've been traveling and teaching workshops a lot. I will be doing a demo at the Pastel Society of San Diego meeting next December 2nd, at the Point Loma Library, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. The topic will be sketchbooking, and I will also be talking about my experience as Resident Artist in Budapest, Hungary, this past July.
Hope to see you there!