Norwegian Epic II, at Sea

Norwegian Epic II, at Sea, watercolor, 6x12cm., available
While aboard the Norwegian Epic cruise ship, in October 2012, I painted some scenes of every day life at sea. I was going from Rome to Barcelona with my friend Mireille.

A couple of months ago, thinking of my friend Marisa, who was born in Bolzano, Italy, I read: CASANOVA IN BOLZANO, by Sandor Marai, a Hungarian writer who died in San Diego, California. I felt touched by the coincidences. I was in Budapest when I learned of him (although quite famous ), the title of his book includes "Bolzano", and he died in San Diego, where I live part of the year. I really liked the book, I found Marai very inspiring. Some quotations: "He knew that everything was of equal importance, because it is only the feelings we have about what we see that makes things seem different.".....and....."I gave everything a woman can give a man, passion and patience, children, excitement, peace, security, tenderness, freedom from care...."

Elizabeth, pastel portrait

Elizabeth, pastel portrait, 20x16, available at Doreen Mellen Studio, The Glashaus, 1815 Main Street, San Diego, California. Come see more of my paintings, and the beautiful ceramic artwork by Doreen Mellen.

When I was in Budapest, Hungary, this past July, doing an artist residency, I visited Saint Stephen Basilica. It is named so, in honor of the first king of Hungary, Stephen. In this beautiful basilica is the mummified hand of the very own Saint Stephen! Imagine that! The basilica has excellent acoustics, and I was able to attend and enjoy an evening concert there.

California Beach

California Beach, pastel, 16x20, available. Contact me at minnievalero@yahoo.fr

When I was in Budapest, Hungary, this past July, as a resident artist, I was able to visit  Sabi Silagi's exhibit: "From Zero to Zero and Back", at the Budapest Galeria Lajos Utca. Some of his work was good, very conceptual. Some was political, like this one:  a big frame with two small flags, one of Israel, one of Palestine, the names of the countries written underneath, then at the bottom it said "Buy One, Get One Free".

Together

Together, acrylic on canvas, 7x5 in. available at the Women's Museum of California, located at Barrack 16, Liberty Station, San Diego, California.

The Hungarian National Museum, in Budapest, Hungary, was founded in 1802. Among its treasures, they have Francisco de Goya's "La Aguadora", oil on canvas, painted around 1812, Velazquez "El Almuerzo", Monet's "Fishing Boats", Manet's "Lady with Fan", plus Van Gogh, Toulouse Loutrec, Kokoshka, Picasso, etc. What surprised me the most, was to learn that they have the largest collection of Goya paintings outside Madrid. This beautiful museum is in front of Hero's Square, right where the big city park starts. Highly recommended visit.

Alizarin and Friends

Alizarin and Friends, watercolor, 6x12cm, available
When I don't know what else to paint, I paint my paintbox! Alizarin Crimson is that pretty red you see there, the others are his friends...

Today I did a presentation at the Pastel Society of San Diego. I talked about doing sketchbooks, and showed them some of my sketchbooks from 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. Second, I talked about my artist residency in Budapest, Hungary, this past July: my work, museum visits, and visits to some specific artists' studios in Budapest, like Nora Gergely. Nora is a conceptual artist I greatly admire, who works in Budapest.

Marco-Olivier

Marco-Olivier, commissioned pastel portrait, 65x50cm. (25.5x20in.)
Marco's mother commissioned a portrait of her young son, killed in an automobile accident. I looked at several pictures of him, and decided to paint his portrait surrounded by smaller pictures depicting his  hobbies, to celebrate the life he had lived. Marco loved the mountains, and speed sports.

YOU ARE INVITED: Next Sunday, December 2nd, I will be doing a demonstration at the San Diego Pastel Society meeting in the Point Loma Library, San Diego, California. The theme is: "Sketchbooking,  painting in Hungary and France in the Summer of 2012". It will start at 2:00pm, free.

Alizarin and Friends

Alizarin and Friends, watercolor, 6x12cm.
When I don't know what to paint, my left hand, my feet, or my watercolor box are all good subjects. This was done on a lonely night in France a month ago. Alizarin and friends are always with me.

Sorry I have not been writing on  my blog lately. I've been traveling and teaching workshops a lot. I will be doing a demo at the Pastel Society of San Diego meeting next December 2nd, at the Point Loma Library, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. The topic will be sketchbooking, and I will also be talking about my experience as Resident Artist in Budapest, Hungary, this past July.
Hope to see you there!

Martyr's Square, Budapest, watercolor

Martyr's Square, Budapest, watercolor, 14x18cm. available.
I was sitting on the Parliament side, waiting for the #2 Tramway, when I saw this small park, with beautiful trees, around some kind of bridge with a statue of a person standing on it. It looked quite appealing from the distance, so I made this watercolor sketch in my sketchbook without knowing what or who it was. Later I found out, this is a statue of Imre Nagy, ex- Prime Minister of Hungary, much loved by his country, who gave his life to support the people of Hungary, literally, he was assassinated. He now stands on the bridge, looking at Parliament.

Sunset on the Danube II, inkwash

Sunset on the Danube II, inkwash, 14x18cm. available
You can see the Elizabeth Bridge, in Budapest, from this view point. Elizabeth is still a most adored queen in Hungary's past. You remember the story: "Sissi Emperatriz" was the movie I saw in Argentina as a young girl, and everybody knows "Sissy", as a most adorable young woman, playful, falling in love with her cousin, the next King of Hungary. Unfortunately, her life was not all roses after the first few years of marriage, she survived her husband's infidelities, the killing of her son, and was herself killed. The people of Hungary will always remember her as a lover of the common people. This is the beautiful white bridge with her name.

Hungarian Typical Dresses, watercolor

Hungarian Typical Dresses, watercolor sketch, 14x18cm. available.
Embroidery is one of the traditional art forms in Hungary. Women have been embroidering for centuries. Today in Budapest, you see women standing by the areas frequented by tourists, selling embroidered blouses, tablecloths of all sizes, handkerchiefs, and other small items. Most of the embroidery sold at those places is machine made, of course. In the better stores you find the pricier hand-embroidered items.

Budapest City Park, watercolor

Budapest City Park, Hungary. watercolor, 14x21cm. available.
This park is walking distance from my residency. There is a big lake in the park, where you can rent rowing boats, restaurants and a castle on the lake. In the park, there is also the city zoo, a permanent circus, and the Szecheny Thermal Baths, beautiful buildings in Art Nouveau style, with pools with different water temperature. My guess is that between 200 and 300 people can comfortably enjoy the baths at any given time, in the different pools, or sauna, hammas, different massages, etc. At sunset, when the sky is blue/pink, the buildings are yellow/orange, and the water is blue. Some people play chess in the water, some people play chess on the balconies overlooking the pools from the cafeteria. The ticket is for all day.

Vaci Utca, Budapest, watercolor

Vaci Utca, Budapest, watercolor, 14x21cm. Available.
Vaci is the most expensive street in downtown Budapest, Hungary. Similar to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Vaci is the name of the street. Utca means street. I keep doing small watercolor sketches wherever I go, learning about Budapest, its people, its culture and its art. Certainly not on Vaci Utca,  with all the brand names and marks that you find anywhere in the world of the rich and famous, but I am walking the city, and taking regular buses, trams, trolleys and metro, going to the market, and just plain living and surviving in a city where I do not speak the language. Most people, particularly younger, speak English with some level of proficiency.

Let There Be Light, acrylic on canvas

Let There Be Light, acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 14x14" (35x35cm.) Available.
I've just finished a book about Hungarian Decorative Folk Art: Although each district in Hungary has some distinctive traits, in general the designs are mainly floral, and birds are very popular, too. The typical colors are different shades of red, and they seem to avoid yellow and purple. Strength, definition, a lively fantasy characterize Hungarian folk art. More on art in Hungary coming up soon, as I am brushing up on the Fine Arts in Hungary in the next few months, in preparation for an Artist Residency in Hungary this summer.