CATEDRAL DE SAN MARCOS, Chile, watercolor

CATEDRAL DE SAN MARCOS, CHILE, watercolor on Arches paper, 9x12 in. painted on location during a cruise from Los Angeles, California, down South on  the Pacific Ocean to Chile and Argentina, in 2013.

Chasing the light. That's the key to watercolor: 1, Make a preliminary value sketch. 2, Adjust the composition to accommodate light and darks. 3, allow each layer to dry in between.

Puerto Varas, Chile, watercolor on Arches paper

PUERTO VARAS, CHILE, watercolor on Arches paper, 9x12 in.
This is one of the five paintings accepted for exhibition at the San Diego County Fair, THE FAB FAIR!, which opens June 7, and goes till July 6. Fine art, fun and games, in Del Mar.

At the Watercolor Biennial in Shenzhen, China, the need for international exchange was very strong, according to comments in the June issue of Watercolor magazine. There were people from all over the world. Linda Baker said: "I was moved not by the differences but by the sameness. We were one in the pursuit of art."

READY TO GO, watercolor on Arches

READY TO GO, watercolor or Arches paper, 14x20 in. Painted on location in Säxnas, Sweden, last summer, READY TO GO has been accepted at the San Diego County Fair Fine Art exhibition 2014, along with four more paintings. SDCFair opens on June 7th, and lasts one month, till July 6th. Come visit us, have fun at the fair, and buy a painting!

"People look for retreats for themselves, in the country, by the coast, or in the hills...There is nowhere that a person can find a more peaceful and trouble-free retreat than in his own mind...So constantly give yourself this retreat, and renew yourself."        --- Marcus Aurelius

WINDS OF CHILDHOOD, pastel on velour board

WINDS OF CHILDHOOD, pastel on velour board, 16x20 in. Available.
This painting was based on a series of photographs taken of me and my son. He was crying because something hurt his foot, walking in the garden. I was trying to see what happened, and help him feel better. Tomorrow is MOTHER'S DAY in the U.S. Happy Mother's Day everybody!!

I am finishing the book: CARAVANS, by James Michener. It's awesome, excellent, brilliant! A novel of Afghanistan, very interesting, a page turner, and beautiful! I strongly recommend it.

CARMEN, acrylic and mixed media on canvas

CARMEN, acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 24x20 in. In exhibition and for sale at the San Diego Art Institute C-Note event from May 23-June 8. The C-Note Night with entertainment and food bites is on May 24th, 5-7 pm, DON'T MISS IT!!!

LUZ, COLOR Y ARTE, (Light, Color and Art) A wonderful and colorful book about all kinds of details of color and light, as it pertains to art. Fun and entertaining.

REFUGEE, pastel on velour board

REFUGEE, pastel portrait on velour board, 10x8 in. Today, this portrait won the Award of Excellence. This brings me to Signature Member status at the San Diego Portrait Society.

My upcoming events:
Next Tuesday, May 13: I am giving a demonstration for the North County Society of Fine Art, starting at 1:00.- The topic will be: Sketching while Traveling. Everybody welcome!
Next Wednesday, May 14:  Pastel portrait workshop at my studio-gallery in THE GLASHAUS, 1815 Main Street, San Diego 92113.- 10:00am to 1:00 pm. To register call: 619-240-6092 or email me: minnievalero@yahoo.fr  Space is limited, register early!
Next Friday, May 16: Watercolor workshop at my studio-gallery in THE GLASHAUS, 1815 Main Street, San Diego 92113.- 10:00 to 1:00 - to register call or email: 619-240-6092 or minnievalero@yahoo.fr   Space is limited, register early!

HOPE, pastel on velour board, 20x16

HOPE, pastel on velour board, 20x16, winner of award at the San Diego Portrait Society, and selected for Poster of the Year 2011 by the Bilateral Corridor Coalition,  sold.

I will be teaching two new classes starting this week: PASTEL PORTRAIT CLASSES, on Wednesdays, starting Wednesday, May 7th, throughout May and June. Classes will be at my new studio-gallery at THE GLASHAUS, 1815 Main Street, San Diego 92113. Three hour session:
10:00am -1:00pm, for $ 30.- a  session, maximum 5 students. All levels.

Also: WATERCOLOR CLASSES, on Fridays, starting Friday May 9th, throughout May and June. Same place, my studio-gallery at THE GLASHAUS, 1815 Main Street, San Diego 92113. Three hour session: 10:00-1:00, for $ 30.- a session, maximum 5 students. All levels.
TO REGISTER, CONTACT MINNIE AT: 619-240-6092, OR minnievalero@yahoo.fr  

Danny at Two, pencil, pastel, on paper

DANNY AT TWO, pencil and pastel on paper, painted from the live model, my son Danny, while he was watching tv, 34 years ago!

A month ago I read RELATOS ESCOGIDOS ( Selected Stories) by Yolanda Oreamuno, a great Costarrican writer. She has an incredible capacity to observe the human soul. She has "confessed" her faith in Proust, with pleasure and honor. To give yourself to your genius, she says, is to give yourself to death and live it minute by minute. Genius is that place without measure, she claims, where you are absolutely alone, and no words from others, or their smiles, not even their love can help you. It is to live side by side with death every second.