WEDDING DANCE, watercolor on Arches paper

WEDDING DANCE, 23x16 in. watercolor on Arches paper, commissioned and sold.

No white lace or silks here, but two handsome gentlemen in gray suits, dancing away celebrating their wedding coming up in a few days. I painted this watercolor as a commission, just finished it. It is now framed and on its way to the gay wedding!

MARSEILLE VIEW FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN, watercolor sketch

MARSEILLE, VIEW FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN, watercolor sketch in my sketchbook.

Please click to enlarge. On the right is the entrance to the port of Marseille, and on the left you can see the Cathedral: La Major, in the back ground, and in black le MUCEM, the most incredibly modern museum, inaugurated a few months ago.

I have been asked to write about my inspiration, and the artists that have inspired me. Delacroix and his travel sketchbooks have definitely been an inspiration for mine. I use ink and watercolors for my travel sketchbooks, and have a collection of them, since I started doing this, about 7 years ago. I have published a few as books, two are for sale at the moment: MY THREE LIVES: in Argentina, USA and France.  Also: LOOKING FORWARD, watercolors during my five week cruise to South America. Contact me for details: minnievalero@yahoo.fr 

DROUGHT RESISTANT FRUIT: FIG, acrylic on canvas

DROUGHT RESISTANT FRUIT: FIG, acrylic on canvas, 14x14 in.

Here is one of six paintings I have done for the weekend show at the San Diego Jacobs Center. The meeting/convention is about drought resistant and/or tolerant plants, particularly fruits. It will take place on Friday and Saturday, August 7 and 8. NOT SUNDAY, as I wrongly announced it earlier.

BEZIER, DEPUIS LE TRAIN, watercolor

BEZIER, DEPUIS LE TRAIN, watercolor in my Côte d'Azur sketchbook.

 Just passing by Bezier quickly in our train, on our way from Toulouse to Menton, with my friend Mireille, this image struck me. I didn't have time to get my iphone and take a picture, suddenly the image was gone! But I had my "mind's eye", and the image was stuck in my brain. I immediately got my sketchbook and painted it, starting my sketchbook of my last week in France. I will be posting here the sketchbook page by page. If you have no patience and want to see the whole thing at once, you can do so in my webpage: www.minnievaleroart.com