KATHLEEN'S FIRE, pastel portrait on Canson paper

KATHLEEN'S FIRE, pastel portrait on Canson paper, 28x22 in., a portrait of Kathleen Mitchell, glass blower extraordinaire, at The Glashaus.

Big event today Saturday, March 14, at The Glashaus, Kathleen's exhibition of her beautiful production. Come today, wonderful music, good food, and her fantastic artwork. Most studios will be open, too, including mine, all afternoon and evening. The Glashaus: 1815 Main Street, San Diego 92113. From the 5 fwy, exit Cesar Chavez Ave. See you tonight!

DOREEN'S MAGIC, pastel portrait on Canson paper

DOREEN'S MAGIC, pastel portrait on Canson paper, 28x22 in. It can be viewed in Doreen Mellen's studio at The Glashaus, in San Diego, California. Doreen is a gifted ceramist, originally from Tasmania, Australia.

She works her magic in white ceramic, day and day out. She's a true artist, because as one of my professor's at the University of California once said: "If you work with your hands, you are a laborer, if you work with your hands and your brains, you are a professional, if you work with your hands, your brains, and your heart, you are an artist."

THE MASTER AT WORK, pastel on black Canson paper

THE MASTER AT WORK, pastel on black Canson paper, 12x9 in
This is a portrait of international DJ Dan DeLeon. He's playing in several venues in California this month, then he does an Asia tour:  Beijing, Singapour, Shanghai. He will return to California for a few days, before embarking on his playing tour of South America: Mexico, Colombia, Brazil and Argentina. Check him out! Get your tickets early!

This painting will be in exhibition  at the Pastel Society of San Diego Members show at the Point Loma Library, in San Diego, California,  from May 3rd till August 3rd. Reception will be announced soon. Stay tuned!

A LA ESCUELA II, PANAMA, pastel on Canson paper

A LA ESCUELA II, PANAMA, pastel on Canson paper, 12x18 in.
Painted a couple of years ago, while I was in Boquete, Panama, surrounded by Panameñan people from different ancestry: Spanish, and Gnobe-Bugle. This girl is wearing the typical dress of the Gnobe-Bugle women, in bright colors, and decorated with ribbons in zig-zag. Also, the cut of the dress seems to be made to de-emphasize the "feminine curves", yet this young girl attracted my eye as she walked past me, on her way to school.

I was able to quickly capture her image with my camera, and later I painted her in pastel (this version here) and in oil on burlap coffe bag. Enjoy!