A LA ESCUELA, PANAMA, pastel

A la Escuela, Panama, 16x12 pastel painting, you can see it and purchase it at Kettner Arts Studio and Galery, 1772 Kettner Street, San Diego, California.

The Chinese painter and poet Sou Zhi (1035-1101) believed that painting and poetry were one and the same. Each painting becomes a symphony. Zhang Can, painter from the Tang dynasty (618-907) said: "The imitation of nature, the exterior form, is not the essential thing. The essence is born from the source that resides in the heart of the painter."

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!

Along the roads in Panama, watercolor sketch

Along the roads in Panama, watercolor sketch, 5x7" Available. Painted on the bus, going from Panama City to David, trying to capture the views along the road. I paint anywhere, everywhere, like Sorolla used to say: "to keep the hand warm".
This past weekend I visited La Quinta Art Festival, in the Palm Springs area in California. It is a wonderful event, with mostly good quality art. I also visited some art galleries along El Paseo in Palm Desert, and I found some of the art exhibited there of excellent quality, too. It was a rewarding and interesting experience.

Breakfast is Ready

Breakfast is Ready, watercolor, 6x4" (15x10cm.) Available. Painted in Boquete, Panama.
Have you ever seen Sister Wendy's "Story of Painting" videos? They are marvelous! I strongly recommend them. Not only she is extremely knowledgeable about art and art history, she's also down to earth and funny. She shows us each painting in the castle, dungeon or museum where it is located, with vivid accounts of the painting and the painter him/herself. Engaging videos!

Peregrino II

Peregrino II, mixed technique: gesso, acrylic, oil and dry leaves on an original Panamenian coffee bag. 30x22" (75x55cm.) Available: $800 US. Mailing included within USA.
"Et Maintenant On Va Ou?" (And Now Where Do We Go?) a film by Nadine Labaki I saw a few days ago.  A film only a woman could do. The story of a small town where musulmans and christians live in peace, but in the country at large they are at war. The women in the town get organized and use their imagination in interesting ways to keep the men from fighting. Wonderful film!
Peregrino II, tecnica mixta: gesso, acrilico, oleo y hojas secas sobre una bolsa Panamena de cafe. Disponible: $ 800 US. Envio aereo dentro de USA incluido en el precio.
"Y Ahora Adonde Vamos?" pelicula de Nadine Labaki que vi hace unos dias. Una pelicula que solo una mujer podria hacer. La historia de un pueblo donde musulmanes y cristianos viven en paz, pero en resto del pais estan en guerra. Las mujeres del pueblo se organizan y usan su imaginacion en maneras muy interesantes para que los hombres no se peleen. Hermosa pelicula!