Enaguas

Enaguas, oil on canvas, 16x20" (40x50cm.) I had the inspiration for this painting driving around Boquete, Panama, with my friend Susan, on a sunny day. The Ngwobe-Bugle women wash their colorful dresses, called "enaguas", and hang them out to dry. Tuve la inspiracion para esta pintura manejando en la zona de Boquete, Panama, con mi amiga Susan, en un dia soleado. Las mujeres Ngwobe-Bugle lavan sus vestidos llenos de colores, llamados "enaguas", y los cuelgan a secar.

Wassily Kandinsky, in his book On the Spiritual in Art, established the philosophical basis of non-objective painting. His book Point and Line to Plane , published in 1926, is one of the most influential books in 20th C. art. He presents here a detailed exposition of the inner dynamics of non-objective painting. Kandinsky, en su libro En lo Espiritual en el Arte, establecio las bases filosoficas de la pintura no-objetiva. Su libro Punto y Linea al Plano, publicado en 1926, es uno de los libros que mas ha influenciado el arte del siglo veinte. El presenta aqui una exposicion detallada de la dinamica interior de la pintura no-objetiva.

Le Couvreur

Le Couvreur, watercolor on Arches paper, 22x15" (56X38 cm.) I'm fascinated by working people. Men installing tiles on rooftops are courageous souls. The inspiration for this painting happened one day in Cauterets, my beautiful town in the French Pyrenees, on a day I missed the bus. I sat at the station waiting for the next bus, then I noticed the way light hit a man working on a nearby rooftop. I quickly took out my sketchbook. This watercolor was exhibited at the Exhibition International de l'Aquarelle, St. Marie de Campan, 2009, then at the Bibliotheque Municipal de Cauterets, France, 2009. A mi me fascinan escenas de gente trabajando. Los hombres que instalan tejas en los techos son muy valientes. La inspiracion para esta pintura ocurrio en Cauterets, mi preciosa ciudad en los Pirineos franceses, un dia que perdi el omnibus. Me sente a esperar el proximo, y note la manera en que la luz le daba a hombres trabajando en un techo cercano. Rapidamente saque mi cuaderno de bosquejos. Esta acuarela fue exhibida en la Exposicion Internacional de Acuarelas en St. Marie de Campan, y en la Biblioteca Municipal de Cauterets, Francia, 2009.

Another Japanese artist: NI ZAN (1301-13...?) considered the most important intellectual artist in Japan, due to his oeuvre and his life. Coming from a well-off family, Ni Zan spent the first part of his life between the library and his desk, where he painted, composed poems, and worked on calligraphy. His landscapes are spiritual, a graphique materialization of his interior life. Approaching 50, Ni Zan gave away all his personal possessions and adopted an errant's life liberating his spirit of all ties. Otro artista japones: NI ZAN , considerado el artista intelectual mas importante en Japon, debido a su obra y su vida. Venia de una familia pudiente, Ni Zan paso la primera parte de su vida entre la biblioteca y su escritorio, donde pintaba, escribia poemas, y trabajaba en caligrafia. Sus paisajes son espirituales, una materializacion grafica de su vida interior. Al acercarce a los 50 anos, Ni Zan reglo todas sus posesiones materiales y adopto una vida errante, liberando su espiritu de ataduras materiales.

Going Home

Going Home, pastel on suede board, 20x16" (50x40 cm.). This painting was exhibited at the San Clemente Art Gallery, in San Clemente, California. Esta pintura fue exhibida en la galeria San Clemente, en San Clemente, California.

Hokusai Katsushika (1760-1849) is the best known Japanese artist in Europe. He left a considerable amount of work, which due to its originality took a while to become well known in Japan. Hokusai didn't limit himself to the general technique and subjects done at the time following the ukiyo-e school. He had a curious and perfectionist spirit, always researching new things. Hokusai Katsushika (1760-1849) es el artista japones mas conocido en Europa. Dejo una considerable cantidad de trabajos, los cuales, debido a su originalidad, tomaron su tiempo en imponerse en Japon. Hokusai no se limito a la tecnica general y sujetos comunes en la escuela ukiyo-e en ese momento. El tenia un espiritu curioso y perfeccionista, siempre en busqueda de cosas nuevas.

Bullfight in Sevilla

Bullfight in Sevilla, watercolor, 12x16" (30x40 cm.). This painting was exhibited at the San Diego Watercolor Society in 2006, and at the School of Art and Design in Solana Beach in 2007. Today Spain has just won de Soccer World Cup, so this is my small homage to that beautiful country, congratulations...ole'!! Esta pintura fue exhibida en la Sociedad de Acuarela de San Diego en 2006, y en la Escuela de Arte y Diseno en Solana Beach en 2007. Hoy Espana ha ganado la Copa Mundial de Futbol, asi que este es mi pequeno homenaje a ese hermoso pais, felicitaciones...y ole!

Heard at my graduation from California State University Dominguez Hills with my Master degree in English and Linguistics: "If you work with your hands you're a laborer. If you work with your hands and your brain, you're a professional. If you work with your hands, your brain, and your heart, you are an artist!" May all of you who read this be artists! Escuchado en mi graduacion de la Universidad de California Dominguez Hills, donde recibi un grado de Master en ingles y Linguistica: "Si trabajas con tus manos, eres un trabajador manual. Si trabajas con tus manos y tu cerebro, eres un profesional. Si trabajas con tus manos, tu cerebro y tu corazon, eres un artista!" Espero que todos los que lean esto sean artistas!

Tumba Cana

Tumba Cana, acrylic on coffee bag, 30x22" (75x55cm.) I painted a similar, smaller image in pastel on paper. I liked this girl dancing the Panamenian dance so much, I painted her on a Panamenian coffee bag. This painting is hanging at the Boquete Studio, in Boquete, Panama, at this moment. Pinte una imagen parecida y mas pequena en pastel sobre papel. Me gusto tanto esta chica bailando la danza tradicional panamena, que la pinte sobre una bolsa de cafe de Panama. Ahora cuelga en el Boquete Studio, en Boquete, Panama.

Today I'll tell you about the Picasso Museum in Paris. Here I saw his "Portrait of Mme. Rosenberg et sa fille", from 1918, for the first time in a museum, since it had been recently donated. His sketches and notes while working on the portraits are also here. It is interesting to note this was the only time Picasso took a commission. Other memorable paintings were one he did on a kitchen towel, and another one on the back of the framed canvas. His pastel work was excellent, too. A good artist can work with anything, on anything. Like he said: "if I run out of red, I use blue." Hoy hablo del Museo Picasso en Paris. Alli vi su "Retrato de Mme. Rosenberg y su hija", de 1918, que estaba por primera vez en un museo, pues acababa de ser donado. Sus notas y bosquejos mientras pintaba tambien estan alli. Fue la unica vez que Picasso tomo una comision. Otras pinturas memorables fueron una sobre un repasador de cocina, otra en la parte de atras de una tela. Su trabajo en pastel tambien excelente. Un buen artista puede trabajar con cualquier cosa, sobre cualquier cosa. Como el dijo: "si se me termina el rojo, uso el azul."

Volcan Baru

Volcan Baru, watercolor on paper, 5x7" (12x17cm.)


Today I'll talk about another museum I loved: Musee Cernuchi, Musee de la Ville de Paris. Mr. Cernuchi was born in Italy, he had gone to Paris as a refugee, worked and made his fortune there. He loved Asian art and had a great collection of Asian art. He donated his collection to the city of Paris for everybody to enjoy. This museum is free (all museums belonging to the "Ville de Paris" are free), it has a lovely Japanese garden in the back. I recommend it for your next visit to Paris, France. Hoy les contare de otro museo que me encanta: el museo Cernuchi, Museo de la Ciudad de Paris. El senor Cernuchi nacio en Italia, el habia ido a Paris como refugiado, trabajo y amaso su fortuna alli. Amaba el arte asiatico y tenia una gran coleccion. El dono su coleccion de Arte Asiatico a la ciudad de Paris para que todo el mundo la disfrutara. Este museo es gratis (todos los museos pertenecientes a "La Ciudad de Paris" son gratis), tiene un hermoso jardin japones atras. Lo recomiendo en tu proxima visita a Paris, Francia.

Rain Forest Journey

Rain Forest Journey, oil on canvas, 22x30" (56x76 cm.) I'm impressed and delighted with the indian women walking along the roads here in Boquete, Panama. They carry children, heavy bags, or just by themselves, in beautifully decorated and long dresses of bright colors. Hanging in front of her dress, accross her body, is the "chacara", knitted bag of a special fiber, which expands as you keep loading it with things. They seem to be miracle bags! Estoy impresionada y encantada con las mujeres indias que caminan a lo largo de los caminos aqui en Boquete, Panama. Ellas llevan sus ninos, o bolsas cargadas, o caminan solas, en vestidos largos de colores brillantes y hermosamente decorados. Colgando a traves de su cuerpo, delante de su vestido, esta la "chacara", bolsa tejida de una fibra especial, que se estira y agranda al ponerle mas cosas adentro. Parecen ser bolsas milagrosas!