LES VEDETTES DE LA NONETTE, acrylique on canvas,

LES VEDETTES DE LA NONETTE, acrylic on canvas, 81x100 cm.

La Nonette is a river in the area of Senlis and Chantilly, north of Paris. This painting and 23 others, are hanging at the Bibliothèque Municipal d'Argeles-Gazost, France. The solo show has started on October 1st, and tomorrow Friday, at 18:00 hs (6:00pm) is the Vernissage (opening reception) at the Bibliothèque. YOU ARE ALL INVITED!!!

I've just finished reading: LA LISTE DE MES ENVIES (The list of my desires) by Grégoire Delacourt. The story of a haberdashery owner, who comes into fortune, but keeps it to herself...for a while. She questions the benefits and problems of being able to offer oneself everything one can desire. It is a beautiful story, which invites us to revisit our own list of wishes and desires. I strongly recommend it.

Ma Chambre `a Chantilly,France. watercolor sketch

Ma Chambre `a Chantilly, France.  watercolor sketch, 4x6" (10x15cm.) available.
Tonight I attended a chat/conference by Ted Nuttall, great artist of watercolor portraits, at the San Diego Watercolor Society's April meeting. Ted Nuttall talked about his painting, his life, his emotions and inspirations. He said we must paint subjects that move us, only then, we can move others with our paintings. He quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Light is the first of painters. There is no object that light will not make beautiful." I strive to do that. Thank you Ted Nuttall!

Ma Chambre `a Chantilly

Ma chambre `a Chantilly, watercolor on my traveling journal, 4x6", available.
I stayed in Chantilly in the summer, in the house of my friends Fredrerick and Nathalie. Their beautiful house reflects their traveling experiences, and their love for beauty, stability, organization and order. This was my room/bed while I stayed there in July this year. Chantilly is a lovely town north of Paris, in France. Chantilly is famous for their thouroughbred horses, their castle, and now...this Blog which mentions it!
Si tu veux  lire cet Blog en francais, fai comme sa:
1.  Faites un clic droit---une boite apparait...
2. Cliquez sur "traduiere........"une barre apparait sur le dessus
3. :Traduire l'angais vers........"........choisir la langue que tu veux....et voila!
bon dimanche!

Parc Gouvieux

Parc Gouvieux, watercolor, 13x17cm. Lovely park near Chantilly, France.
The four qualities of color are: Intensity, Temperature, Value and Hue. Regarding intensity, for better use of your money: buy bright colors that you can dull if needed. It's much harder to brighten up a dull color.

Parc Couvieux, acuarela. Hermoso parque cerca de Chantilly, Francia.

Las cuatro cualidades del color son: Intensidad, Temperatura, Valor y Color. Con respecto a la intensidad, es mejor uso de tu dinero comprar colores brillantes, que siempre se pueden apagar si es necesario. Es mucho mas dificil hacer mas brillante un color apagado.

Les Vedettes de la Nonette

Les Vedettes de la Nonette, acrylic on canvas, 81x100cm.
This painting is totally autobiographic and just for fun. My friend Mireille and I had bought these hats in Paris, and decided to go for a picnic near this beautiful lazy river: "La Nonette", in Chantilly, about 30 km. north of Paris. We had a lot of fun trying to place the camera so that we could get our picture taken. Finally we did. Last week, I decided to paint our fun picnic experience, and...voila! "Les Vedettes de la Nonette".
Les Vedettes de la Nonette, acrilico sobre tela.
Esta pintura es totalmente autobiografica y solo por divertirme. Mi amiga Mireille y yo habiamos comprado estos sombreros en Paris y decidimos hacer un picnic en este hermoso y lento rio: "La Nonette", en Chantilly, unos 30 km. al norte de Paris. Nos divertimos mucho tratando de acomodar la camara para sacarnos una foto. Finalmente lo logramos. La semana pasada decidi pintar nuestra divertida experiencia del picnic, y...voila! "Las Vedettes de la Nonette".

Le Ferme de Conde', Chantilly

Le Ferme de Conde', Chantilly. watercolor, 21x29 cm., available: 80 Euros/$120 US.
Who would have thought that the illegitimate child of a maid, born in an italian village would become an art legend? Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was one of the first artists to use oil to mix with his pigments.

Le Ferme de Conde', Chantilly. Acuarela. 

Quien hubiera pensado que el hijo ilegitimo de una mucama, nacido en un pueblito italiano llegaria a ser una leyenda en el mundo del arte? Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) fue uno de los primeros artistas que uso aceite (oleo) para mezclar con sus pigmentos.

Gare de Chantilly, France

Gare de Chantilly, France. watercolor, 21x15cm. Available: 105 Eu.  ( $150 US) shipp incl.
Painted on location in the Chantilly train station, France, 2011.
We owe to Filippo Brunelleschi the discovery of lineal perspective and point of fugue, situated at the height of the spectator's eyes. His greatest achievement was to impose a new style of construction, inspired in ancient architectural shapes. Brunelleschi (1377-1446) gave us the mathematics that justified the perspective. Suddenly art was at the level of science.

Gare de Chantilly, France. acuarela, 21x15 cm. Disponible: 105 Eu ($150 US) envio incluido

Pintado en la estacion de trenes de Chantilly, Francia, 2011.

Debemos a Filippo Brunelleschi el descubrimiento de la perspectiva lineal y punto de fuga, situado al nivel de los ojos del espectador. Su mayor logro fue imponer un nuevo modo de construccion, inspirado en formas de arquitectura antiguas. Brunelleschi (1377-1446) nos dio las matematicas que justificaban la perspectiva. De repente, el arte fue elevado al nivel de ciencia.

La Nonette `a Senlis

La Nonette `a Senlis, watercolor "a la prima", 6x4" -15x10 cm. This lovely river in the area of Chantilly and Senlis, north of Paris, France, with some ducks raising their families, gave me a wonderful rest after a two hour walking tour of Senlis.
En TODO LO QUE HAY QUE SABER SOBRE EL ARTE (Everything you must know about Art), Zaldo and Sifuentes, 2010,  the authors claim the following is necessary for an artist to be great:
1. Capacity for invention
2. Her(his) life must mark a "before" and "after"
3. Time should increase her(his) reputation
4. Introduction of new ways of expression

La Nonette `a Senlis, acuarela pintada "a la prima". Este encantador rio en la zona de Chantilly y Senlis, al norte de Paris, Francia, con algunos patos criando a sus familias, me dio un bienvenido descanso luego de una visita guiada de dos horas a traves de la ciudad de Senlis.

En Todo lo que hay que saber sobre el Arte, Zaldo y Sifuentes, 2010, las autoras dicen que lo siguiente es necesario para que un/a artista sea grande:

1. Capacidad de invencion

2. Su vida debe marcar un "antes" y "despues"

3. El tiempo debe aumentar su reputacion

4. Introduccion de nuevas vias de expresion.

My reflection in the train

My Reflection in the Train, watercolor, 21x14 cm., in my travel journal. Last week, on the 20 minute train ride from Chantilly to Paris, I sketched and painted this little watercolor, seeing my reflection on a separating wall in the train. It was challenging to keep the small water container balanced. That day I visited the Musee Rodin.  We all know how wonderful Rodin's sculptures are, but my favorite ones are Camille Claudel's in the room dedicated to her sculptures. I believe she would have been even better than him, if she hadn't been secluded in a sanatorium for 30 years. Her "imprisonment" was signed by her brother Paul and her mother. She achieved such high level as sculptor in the few years she was able to do it freely.
Mi Refleccion en el Tren, acuarela en mi cuaderno de viajes. La semana pasada, en el viaje de 20 minutos en tren de Chantilly a Paris, dibuje y pinte esta pequena acuarela, viendo mi propio reflejo en una pared de separacion en el tren. Fue dificil mantener el balance de mi pequeno contenedor de agua. Ese dia visite el Museo Rodin. Todos sabemos lo hermosas que son sus esculturas, pero mis favoritas son las de Camille Claudel, en la sala dedicada a sus esculturas. Yo creo que ella hubiera llegado mas lejos que Rodin, si no la hubieran encerrado en un sanatorio para dementes por 30 anos. Su encierro fue firmado por su hermano Paul y su madre. Ella llego a gran nivel como escultora en los pocos anos que le fue permitido hacerlo libremente.