LA ROUTE DES CYGNES, watercolor and ink sketch in my journal

LA ROUTE DES CYGNES,  ( The route of the swans, my translation) , watercolor and ink sketch from the book by René Hardy. This is a novelized version of the discovery of America by the Vikings. The story starts in the year 870, and it goes on until 1006. I read it in French, my own translation is "The route of the swans", but it may have a different title in English. It was a very entertaining book, about a fantastic story. The discovery of a whole new continent, while they were thinking they had just discovered new lands farther away.

BACKYARD VIEW, ink and watercolor sketch in journal

BACKYARD VIEW, ink and watercolor sketch in journal. Painted plain-air, sitting in front of the window with a cup of coffee, after finishing the book: THE NAKED TRUTH, AND PERSONAL VISION, by Barlett H. Hayes Jr.
"The Arts are man's protest to accepting the world at its face value. ...... Within each straight-away the road seems clear, but the memory of earlier directions warns that the view never can be the same for all people."   Just like in life... I loved this book.

ANTHURIUM, ink and watercolor sketch in my journal

ANTHURIUM, ink and watercolor sketch in my journal. The pot was made by my grandson, Matthew. Incredible, how this plant blooms. I received it as a gift three months ago, in early December, with five flowers. One died, one new came on, it still has five blooms!

No direct sunlight, I water it once a week with six ice-cubes! I enjoy it every day!

COUNTDOWN JOURNAL ENTRIES, Hawaii Cruise, ink and watercolor

COUNTDOWN JOURNAL ENTRIES, Hawaii Cruise, ink and watercolor.

The last day of our Hawaii cruise in January, coming back to L.A. , we stopped in Ensenada, Mexico. I bought some "praliné" from this lady, took a picture of her cooking-roasting it, then painted this watercolor sketch in my cabin. Late that night, we put our suitcases by our door, to be taken out at sunrise when we arrived in Los Angeles, San Pedro port.  On the right is a watercolor and ink sketch of our suitcases. Done. The trip is over, back home.

Don't ever forget: "YOU NEVER TAKE A TRIP. A TRIP TAKES YOU!!!" anonymous, and true!

SURFING IN HAWAII FOR 1700 YEARS, ink and watercolor

Surfing in Hawaii for 1700 Years, ink and watercolor in my journal.

I learned in a lecture during the Star Princess cruise to Hawaii, that surfing has been going on there since the year 300 A.D. They used to carve their own board, from a tree. Then, when the missionaries appeared, they banned surfing, hula dancing, playing the ukelele, and many other traditional customs from the islands.

The legend of the Aumakua: your ancestors come back to you through birds and other beings that identify themselves to you. Creatures in nature embody the spirit of our ancestors, they believe. As Pope Francis recently said: "Who am I to judge?"

Antonio String Quartet, ink and watercolor sketch

Antonio String Quartet, ink and watercolor sketch in my journal. This String Quartet played daily in different parts of the Star Princess ship, where we were cruising from Los Angeles to Hawaii in January. They were awesome!

According to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, when you write a goal you MUST have a deadline. A goal without a deadline is not a goal, he said, but just a wish.

STAR PRINCESS CRUISE Journal, ink and watercolor

Star Princess Cruise to Hawaii Journal,  ink and watercolor.

My own private journal (with a compass!) of daily activities, events, concerts,  lectures, books read, people I met, etc. during the 15 day cruise. I kept a written and painted journal. I will not publish every page, but some.

Day 1: we boarded the cruise ship early, so I had time to paint the bridge in the Port of San Pedro, viewed from the ship, before we left.

That afternoon we watched the movie: "Parental Guidance". My husband and I enjoyed it very much, as we could empathize with the grandparents in the movie.

The Sketchbook Project : page 10

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The Sketchbook Project, page 10. watercolor. This is the last sketch of My First Life: Habia Una Vez...in Argentina.

Proyecto Cuaderno de Dibujo, pagina 10, acuarela. Este es el ultimo dibujo de Mi Primera Vida: Habia Una Vez...en Argentina.

Outside: Argentina , country of pampas and politics. With four children, Immigrant Visa into the USA but still no jobs there, my husband and I decided to say "farewell" to our native country. "Don't Cry for me....Argentina...the truth is...we never left you..."
Inside: We left parents, siblings and friends. We left jobs, and pieces of our hearts.

Exterior: Argentina, pais de pampas y politica. Con cuatro hijos, la visa de immigrante pero todavia sin trabajo alli, mi esposo y yo decidimos decir "Adios" a nuestro pais nativo. "No llores por mi.......Argentina....la verdad es......que nunca te dejamos..."

Interior: Dejamos a nuestros padres,nuestros  hermanos y nuestros amigos. Dejamos nuestros trabajos, y pedazos de nuestro corazon.