PYRÉNÉES 2, ink and watercolor

PYRÉNÉES 2, ink and watercolor in my carnet de voyages (travel sketchbook). I flew into Toulouse,  France, and took the train to Lourdes. While I look at the window, I smile non-stop: The valleys, the Pyrénées mountains in the distance, trees, sometimes cows, horses, a small mountain town here and there, flowers, everything passes quickly while my eyes and my memory try to catch a rooftop or a creek.

I am home, when I arrive to the Pyrénées. The train stops : Muret, first stop. Later we continue, I can't read my book, I'm addicted to looking out the window, looking at these beautiful mountains I fell in love with ten years ago. I can't stop smiling. I am home.

LE PONT NEUF, TOULOUSE, watercolor

Le Pont Neuf, Toulouse, watercolor, 14x20". Painted on location in Toulouse, France, about two months ago, this watercolor is in exhibition and for sale at the San Diego Watercolor Society during the month of December. This is in San Diego, California.

Tonight, at the reception,  I noticed a couple standing in front of my painting, so I approached them. They surprised me by telling me not only that they had recently been in Toulouse, but also in the area of the Pyrenees where I live part of the year, including Cauterets! They are bikers, and have biked up the mountains from Lourdes, to Cauterets. This is a feat that only expert bikers can achieve!

LA CASCADE DE L'AMOUR, watercolor on Yupo

La Cascade de l'Amour, watercolor on Yupo, 26x20in

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My solo show:     LE MYSTERE DE L'      AGUA
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opens next week  at Bibliotheque de Cauterets, France, from September 3-30. More than 20 paintings, mostly watercolors, on the theme of water, so important for our life, and so treacherous some times. This Spring the rivers in the Pyrénées were overflown due to heavy snow during the winter, and a great storm during the Spring, with lots of rain at the same time that the snow was melting. This is the reason I have chosen the theme of water this year for my yearly exhibition in France. You are all invited to come see the show. I will be posting some more paintings on the blog during the exhibition. Cauterets is 30 km. South of Lourdes, in the  Pyrénées, France. If you are not from the area, Lourdes is between Pau and Toulouse, on the Highway A64.

Bottles for Rosario

Bottles for Rosario, watercolor on Hungarian hand-made paper, 6x12 cm.
These bottles are full of water from Lourdes, for my "consuegra" (my daughter's mother in law) Rosario. I filled them up in Lourdes, France, and took them to Spain for her. She appreciates this "holy water". I don't believe in it, but I do it for her because she does.

Painting every day keeps the hand warm, Sorolla used to say. I paint every day for several reasons: a) it does keep the hand warm, b) it gives me sanity, c) I love painting, d) it's an addiction. Don't forget to come to the San Diego Pastel Society's meeting Sunday December 2nd, at the Point Loma Library, San Diego, California, at 2:00pm. I'll be doing a demo and talking about my month as Artist in Residence in Budapest this past July.

Lumiere de Saint Savin, pastel

Lumiere de Saint Savin, pastel on suede board, 40x30cm. (16x12"), available.
The Church of Saint Savin, near Lourdes, in the South of France, was built in the XIIIth Century. It's fairly small and has many original and beautiful features, including wood sculpted beams. Visitors from all over the world come here, and enjoy the Church, its museum, and the lovely town of Saint Savin. I'll be there this summer painting plein air, and teaching pastel and watercolor workshops in nearby Cauterets.

Chateau Fort de Lourdes

Chateau Fort de Lourdes, France, watercolor, 15x23cm. Available: 150 Euros or $ 220 US. Painted on location, in the gardens of the castle/fort in Lourdes a few days ago. The Occitan flag is in plain view. You can see the several churches of Lourdes and the river: Gave de Pau from the castle's excellent situation on top of the hill. The museum of the castle has a great collection of Middle Age weapons and agricultural instruments, as well as typical period clothes and china table-ware.
Chateau Fort de Lourdes, Francia, acuarela. Disponible. Pintada en el lugar, en los jardines del castillo/fuerte de Lourdes hace unos dias. La bandera Occitana esta a plena vista. Se pueden ver las distintas iglesias de Lourdes y el rio: Gave de Pau, desde el castillo, ya que esta situado muy convenientemente en la cima de la colina. El museo del castillo tiene una buena coleccion de armas e instrumentos de agricultura de la Edad Media, y ropa y servicio de mesa tipicos del periodo.