SAN SEBASTIAN, INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, ink and watercolor wash

SAN SEBASTIAN, INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, ink and watercolor on my art-notebook. Last weekend, Lisa Marie Evans, filmmaker, multi-media artist and superstar, and I drove from the Pyrénées in France, to San Sebastián, in Spain.

We happened to arrive the first day of the San Sebastian International Film Festival. It was very interesting and fun. We saw some stars walking down the red carpet, tons of people everywhere, and one movie that day: HAPPY TO BE DIFFERENT, an Italian movie-documentary about older gay people who suffered discrimination from society, and even their own families, when they were younger,  in the 50s,  60s and 70s.  It was beautifully done, a wonderful movie.

Jacqueline Driving

Jacqueline Driving, watercolor, 12x17cm.
Riding with my friend Jacqueline Peyrot from Argeles-Gazost in the French Pyrenees, I painted this watercolor of her. Later, another good friend of ours, Jean-Claude de Grissard, from Toulouse, France, shared his admiration of the lady. I then gave Jean-Claude this small portrait of Jacqueline with a thank you card, and he had them especially framed.

Days are getting shorter, the year is about to end, in perfect parallel with our lives. There is very little time left, enjoy every minute! Whatever you dream to become, do it now! The future is now.

Chemin de Cascades

Chemin de Cascades, watercolor, 10x5" (25x12cm.) available. Painted on location, in the French Pyrenees.
The French poet Rimbaud, wrote in 1886: "I've  tended cables from church tower to church tower; garlands from window to window; gold chains from star to star, and I dance..." This is what art does for me.

Les Pyrenees vue du Meridien

Les Pyrenees vue du Meridien, watercolor, 12x18cm. Available.
I painted this small watercolor sitting at the cafeteria of Le Meridien, a big shopping center near Tarbes, France, in the Fall 2011.  The cafeteria, on the 2nd floor,  has a magnificent view of the French Pyrenees. The sitting is indoor and outdoor on a large balcony, so no matter the weather you always get a fabulous view!

Cauterets, coucher soleil

Cauterets, Coucher Soleil, watercolor, 10x15 cm (4x6 ") painted plein-air, alla prima, in the beautiful mountain town of Cauterets, in the French Pyrenees, this summer. SOLD.
Today my son sent me a beautiful quotation I'd like to share with you all: "Don't ask what the world needs; ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is more people who have come alive." theologian Howard Thurman.--- Painting makes me come alive...

La Mairie de Cauterets

La Mairie de Cauterets, watercolor, 19x13 cm., available, 95 Euros, or $ 145 US.
This is Cauterets City Hall,  in the French Pyrenees. I teach one-week (8 hours in 4 days) art workshops in one of their big rooms, for the Office of Tourisme, every September. Last week, we did Discovery of Pastel. This week, it's Discovery of Watercolor, same as next week, September 26-30th. Come join us! Cauterets is 30 km. south of Lourdes (between Pau and Toulouse) in France.

La Mairie de Cauterets, acuarela.

Este es el ayuntamiento de Cauterets, en los Pirineos franceses. Aqui enseno cursillos de arte de una semana en uno de sus salones, para la Oficina de Turismo, todos los Setiembres. (8 horas en 4 dias). La semana pasada hicimos "Descubrimiento de Pastel". Esta semana, es Descubrimiento de Acuarela, y lo mismo la semana proxima, del 26-30 de setiembre. Ven a pintar con nosotros! Cauterets esta a 30 km. al sur de Lourdes, entre Pau y Toulouse, en Francia.

La Cascade

La Cascade, watercolor, 35x25 cm. Painting inspired by the Cascade de Loutour, in the French Pyrenees. Like some of the paintings published in the past few days, "La Cascade" is also part of the new solo exhibit at Bibliotheque Municipale d'Argeles-Gazos, France, August 1-20th, 2011. Vernissage on August 12th, at 6:00 pm, see you there!
Art Barter is not a new concept. Tracy Emin exchanged a piece of art for 30 hs. of French classes, in London. Two British art merchants did an entire show on the basis of exchange of goods for paintings: offer can be: hotel rooms, massages, trips, you name your offer, the artist decides if it is acceptable. I love the idea! Would you like to make me an offer for a painting?

La Cascada, acuarela. Esta pintura esta inspirada en la Cascada de Loutour, en los Pirineos franceses. Como otras pinturas publicadas en los ultimos dias, "La Cascada" tambien es parte de mi nueva exhibicion individual en la Biblioteca Municipal de Argeles_Gazost, Francia, del 1-20 de agosto, 2011. La Recepcion es el 12, a las 6 de la tarde, nos vemos alli!

Arte por Trueque no es un concepto nuevo. Tracy Emin cambio una obra de arte suya por 30 hs. de clases de frances, en London. Dos comerciantes de arte britanicas hicieron una exhibicion completa sin precios, solo en base a intercambios: las ofertas pueden ser noches de hotel, masages, viajes, lo que se te ocurra, o tengas para cambiar, la artista decide si es aceptable. Me encanta la idea! Quieres hacerme una oferta por una de mis pinturas?

Coeur de la Ville

Coeur de la Ville, watercolor, 55x75 cm. The title: "Heart of the town" makes reference to the church in this town, Argeles-Gazost, in the French Pyrenees, on a market day. Everybody is here. This is one of the paintings in my upcoming solo show in the library of Argeles-Gazost: "De l'Argentine `a Argeles: Poesie des Territoires", August 1-20th. Come see the show, and come to the reception August 12th, 18:00 hs.
Coeur de la Ville, acuarela. El titulo :"Corazon de la ciudad" hace referencia a la iglesia en este pueblo, Argeles-Gazost, en los Pirineos franceses, en el dia del mercado al aire libre. Todo el mundo esta aqui. Esta es una de las pinturas en mi exposicion individual en la biblioteca de Argeles-Gazost: "De l'Argentine `a Argeles: Poesie des Territoires", del 1 al 20 de agosto. Vengan a ver la exposicion, y vengan a la recepcion el 12 de agosto a las 18:00 hs.

Isard

Isard, watercolor, 21x14 cm. The "isard" is an animal typical in the French Pyrenees, similar to the goat, with beatifully colored skin. I have seen many in the mountains here, but this one did not pose for me long enough for a watercolor. I took pictures, and painted it later, even if it is a small and fairly quick watercolor.
For Artists in the U.S: I was recently reading that our work has copyright protection for 70 years after our death. Also, that copyright law states that we retain copyright to our work after it is sold. The customer purchases the original, but not the rights to the reproduction of the original.

Isard, acuarela. El "isard" es un animal tipico en los Pirineos franceses, parecido a la cabra, con piel de hermosos colores. He visto muchos en las montanas aqui, pero este no poso el tiempo suficiente para hacer una acuarela. Tome fotos, y lo pinte mas tarde, aunque es una acuarela pequena y relativamente rapida.

Para Artistas en los EE.UU.: Hace poco lei que nuestro trabajo tiene proteccion "copyright" por 70 anos despues de nuestra muerte. Tambien, la ley de derechos de autor dice que mantenemos los derechos despues de haber vendido el original. Nuestro cliente compra la obra original, pero no los derechos a reproducirla.

Toujours Bienvenue

Toujours Bienvenue, watercolor, 21x14 cm. Painted from a sign in Gavarnie, French Pyrenees, indicating a rest place for the walkers on the Chemin de Compostelle. This road to Santiago de Compostela, in northwest Spain, has been used for centuries. In the Middle Ages, Christians did the walk following their faith. Today, the attitude has changed, for some it is still religion, for many others the source of their strength is social, sportive, curiosity, spiritual, or adventurous.
Toujours Bienvenue, (Siempre Bienvenido) acuarela. Esta acuarela fue pintada inspirada en un letrero en metal en Gavarnie, en los Pirineos franceses, indicando un lugar para descansar en el Camino de Compostela. Este camino, en noroeste de Espana, ha sido usado por siglos. En la Edad Media, los Cristianos lo hacian siguiendo su fe. Hoy, la actitud ha cambiado, para algunos todavia es religiosa, para muchos otros la fuente de su fortaleza es social, deportiva, curiosidad, espiritual, o de aventura.

St. Jean Pied de Port

St. Jean Pied de Port, watercolor, 21x14 cm. This is a town in the French Pyrenees.
Bigas Luna, Spanish painter and movie director, has said: "Time is a curious thing: I have the same time as everybody else, my days also have 24 hours, and I can paint, direct movies, and do many things that other people say they don't have time to do. It is a personal choice." I agree.

St. Jean Pied de Port, acuarela. Esta es una ciudad en los Pirineos franceses.

Bigas Luna, pintor y director de cine espanol, ha dicho: "El tiempo es una cosa curiosa. Yo tengo el mismo tiempo que todo el mundo, mis dias tambien tienen 24 horas, y puedo pintar, dirigir peliculas, y hacer muchas otras cosas que la gente me dice que ellos no tienen tiempo de hacer. Es una eleccion personal." Yo estoy de acuerdo.

Deux Euros 50 centimes le Kilo

Deux Euros 50 centimes le Kilo, watercolor, 21x14cm. Open-air markets in France are a tradition, they are also more abundant and crowded in summer. This painting was done at the market in Argeles-Gazost, in the Pyrenees, a few days ago.
More on Color Temperature: The temperature of a color contributes to the moods and emotions associated with colors. Warm colors are considered exciting, cozy, earthy and energizing, while Cool colors are considered to be sedate, meditative, soothing and calming...You choose if you want a warm or a cool painting, or a balance of warm and cool colors.

Dos Euros y 50 centavos el Kilo, acuarela. Mercados abiertos al aire libre son una tradicion en Francia, tambien son mas abundantes y llenos de gente en verano. Esta pintura la hize en el mercado de Argeles-Gazost, en los Pirineos, hace unos dias.

Mas sobre Temperatura del Color: La temperatura de un color contribuye al modo y emocion asociada con los colores. Los colores calidos se consideran excitantes, dando una sensacion de comodidad, de hogar y tierra, y llenos de nergia. Los colores frios se consideran sedantes, calmantes, ayudan a la meditacion...Tu eliges si quieres una pintura fria o calida, o un balance de colores frios y calidos.

Rider in Blue, Gavarnie

Rider in Blue, Gavarnie. watercolor on Yupo, 25x38cm. Of course the title is a take from Kandinsky's "Blue Rider"! this poor rider is on a donkey in the French Pyrenees, with the Cirque de Gavarnie with the longest waterfall in Europe behind him. Kids are playing in the river, hikers are walking away. It's a summer afternoon.
Watercolor does very interesting things on Yupo. Yupo is soft like paper, but it's not paper: polypropilene I think they said. It does not absorb the water, you have to let it dry flat, as the water evaporates all the pigment rests on the surface, since nothing is absorbed, like in watercolor paper. The result is brighter colors; it works best in dry climate, since it takes longer to dry.

El caballero en azul, Gavarnie. acuarela en Yupo. Por supuesto que el titulo es un juego basado en el "Caballero Azul" de Kandinsky. Este pobre caballero esta en un burro en los Pirineos franceses, con el Circulo de Gavarnie con la cascada mas larga de Europa detras suyo. Hay chicos jugando en el rio, caminantes se alejan hacia la montana. Es una tarde de verano.

La acuarela hace cosas interesantes sobre Yupo. Yupo es blando como el papel, pero no es papel: creo que se llama polypropilene. No absorbe el agua, debes dejarlo secar horizontal, mientras se evapora el agua el pigmento queda en la superficie, puesto que nada es absorbido, como ocurre con el papel de acuarela. El resultado es colores brillantes; funciona mejor en climas secos, pues demora mas en secar.