To Be or Not to Be

To Be or Not to Be, 10 min. pastel sketch. I just found it among my papers, it is from 2009.
Este es un bosquejo en pastel que acabo de encontrar entre mis papeles del 2009.

The National Museum of Women in the Arts, in Washington D.C., has published Exploring the In/Visible, by Krystyna Wasserman. I've just had the pleasure of reading it and admiring the sketches of 14 women artists spanning over 200 years, from Elisabeth Vigee-Le Brun to the Argentinian Natalia Blanch. It's a beautiful small book. Since I am a sketchbook artist, too, I identify  with their ideas and comments. For example, Elizabeth Ockwell, says: "Everything is acceptable and nothing is a mistake. Sketchbooks are a place to experiment and a private place to enjoy drawing." Go sketch!
El Museo Nacional de Mujeres en las Artes, en Washington D.C. ha publicado Explorando lo In/Visible, por Krystyna Wasserman. Acabo de tener el placer de leerlo y admirar los dibujos de 14 mujeres artistas durante mas de 200 anos, desde Elisabeth Vigee-Le Brun a la argentina Natalia Blanch. Es una bellisimo pequeno libro. Puesto que yo tambien mantengo cuadernos de dibujos, me he identificado con sus ideas y comentarios. Por ejemplo, Elizabeth Ockwell, dice: "Todo es aceptable y nada es un error. Los cuadernos de dibujos son un lugar para experimentar y un lugar privado para disfrutar de dibujar." Vete a dibujar!

Senegalaise `a l'Orange

Senegalaise `a l'Orange, oil on canvas, 20x16" (50x40 cm.) I've painted this oil this week, based on sketches and photographs I took in Dakar, Senegal, when I was there in 2009. This woman was one of the vendors at an open air market in Dakar.

Este oleo que pinte esta semana, esta basado en bosquejos y fotografias que tome en Dakar, Senegal, cuando estuve alli in el 2009. Esta mujer era una de las vendedoras en el mercado al aire libre en Dakar.

The official language is French. Other languages like Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, and Mandinka are also spoken. The modern port of Dakar lies in one of the world's most strategic locations, since it is the most westerly point in Africa, and oversees the shipping lanes between Western Europe and Brazil or South Africa. Their most important ethnic groups are the Wolof and the Fulani, who account for about 70 percent of today's population.

El idioma oficial es frances. Otros idiomas como el Wolof, Pulaar, Jola y Mandinka tambien son populares. El puerto de Dakar es moderno, y ubicado en una de las posiciones mas estrategicas del mundo, pues esta en el punto mas oeste del continente africano, pudiendo vigilar el transporte maritimo entre Europa Occidental y Brazil o Africa del Sur. Sus grupos etnicos mas importantes son los Wolof y los Fulani, que comprenden el 70% de la poblacion de hoy.

Casablanca Girls

Casablanca Girls, oil on canvas, 12x24" (30x60 cm.). This oil is one of a series of African women I'm working on these days, based on sketches and photographs I took on my last trip along the African coast in the Fall of 2009. More to come...
Este oleo es uno de la serie de mujeres africanas en las que estoy trabajando en estos dias, basandome en bosquejos y fotografias que tome en mi ultimo viaje a lo largo de la costa africana, en el otono de 2009. Pronto habra mas....

I've recently visited the San Diego Museum of Art. They have a wonderful exhibit called "Dreams and Diversions" of  Japanese woodblock prints. The SDMA has received the donation of more than 400 Japanese woodblock prints, dating from the 1670s to the 1930s. They are so many that they will be exhibited on a rotating basis!
Hace unos dias visite el Museo de Arte de San Diego. Tienen una exhibicion exquisita llamada "Suenos y Diversiones", de pinturas japonesas impresas en bloques de madera. El MASD ha recibido la donacion de mas 400 impresiones japonesas, fechadas desde 1670 hasta los 1930. Son tantas, que  estan siendo expuestas en un sistema de rotacion!

Health Care

Health Care, watercolor, 11x14" (27x35cm.) has also been accepted as "Meritorious Entry" to the Richson 75 International Still Life and Abstract Competition 2011.

When opportunity knocks: I was reading the biography of Eugene Delacroix (1798-1863) by Ivonne Deslandres, and learned a few interesting facts: His mother married Charles Delacroix, who was 17 years older than her, left for the Netherlands with a government position, where he had a tumor, was operated on, and died in 1805.  Meanwhile at home in Paris, Talleyrand  succeeded Charles Delacroix as Minister of Foreign Relations in 1797, and lived in the same building, was much younger, healthy and energetic than the young painter's father. Eugene was born in 1798.  In 1822, when Eugene Delacroix was only 24 years old and an art student, the State of France bought a painting  for 1200 francs (year 1822) and soon after another one for 6000 francs. Apparently, Talleyrand had a say in paintings bought by the State. There was gossip at the time that Talleyrand was actually his father. These purchases by the  State put Delacroix in an early road to fame.
Cuando la oportunidad llama a la puerta: Estaba leyendo la biografia de Eugene Delacroix (1798-1863) por Ivonne Deslandres, y aprendi algunos hechos interesantes: Su madre se caso con Charles Delacroix, 17 anos mayor que ella, quien partio para los Paises Bajos con un cargo del gobierno, donde luego tuvo un tumor, lo operaron, y finalmente murio en 1805. Mientras tanto en casa, en Paris, Talleyrand habia sido nombrado en el antiguo cargo de Charles, como Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores en 1797, y vivia en el mismo edificio, era mucho mas joven y saludable que el padre de nuestro pintor. Eugene nacio en 1798. En 1822, cuando el joven Eugene Delacroix tenia solo 24 anos y era estudiante de arte, el Estado de Francia compro una de sus pinturas por 1200 francos (1822) y luego otra por 6000 francos. Aparentemente, Talleyrand tenia opinion y poder sobre las pinturas compradas por el Estado. Hubo rumores en su epoca que Talleyrand era el padre verdadero de Eugene. Estas compras por el Estado lo pusieron a Delacroix en su temprano camino a la fama.

La Boca

La Boca, mixed media of watercolor, acrylic, and collage, 15x22" (37x55 cm.) has been accepted as "Meritorious Entry" in the Richeson 75 International Still Life and Abstract Competition 2011.
Esta pintura ha sido aceptada como "Meritoria" en la competicion Richeson 75 Internacional de Bodegon y Abstracto 2011.

I've just finished reading Drawing and Coloring for your life, by Julia Nichols and Avis Garrett, PhD, with illustrations by Elizabeth "Grandma" Layton. The writing is based on Elizabeth Layton's drawings and beliefs. One of these was that contour drawing is "the magic prescription to health". She had never drawn in her life, and started drawing at age 67! She represented feelings like fear, hope, guilt, and learning to like ourselves in her simple, beautiful line drawings.
Acabo de terminar de leer Dibujar y Colorear para salvar tu vida, basado en dibujos y principios de Elizabeth Layton. Ella creia que dibujar con simples lineas era la "prescripcion magica para la salud". Nunca habia dibujado en su vida, y comenzo a hacerlo a los 67 anos! Representaba sentimientos de miedo, esperanza, culpa, y aprender a gustarse a uno mismo, en sus dibujos de contorno simples. 

Solitude

Solitude, watercolor, 6x9" has been accepted for exhibition at the San Diego Watercolor Society Gallery February show, in Liberty Station, San Diego, California. The reception is Friday, February 4th, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. I hope to see you there!
Solitude, acuarela de 15x22 cm., ha sido aceptada para la exposicion de febrero en la Galeria de la San Diego Watercolor Society, en Liberty Station, San Diego, California. La recepcion es el viernes 4 de febrero de 5:00 a 8:00 de la tarde. Espero verlos alli!

Sketchbook: My Three Lives, Part III, page 39

Sketchbook Project: page 39 acrylic.
I have been blessed with wonderful people who have come into my life and have left footprints on my heart that have helped me grow. I am thankful to them and to you for reading this. I hope my life and ideas have in some way encouraged, inspired, or motivated you to respect who you are and to express what you want to say. Let your spirit flow....
He sido bendecida con gente maravillosa que han venido a mi vida y han dejado huellas en mi corazon que me han ayudado a crecer. Les agradezco a ellos, y a ti por leer esto. Espero que mi vida y mis ideas de alguna manera te hayan dado valor, inspiracion, o motivacion para que respetes quien eres y expreses lo que quieres decir. Deja que tu espiritu fluya...

I can't believe I did it! 365 entries in 365 days! I'm a year older than when I started.

No puedo creer que lo logre! 365 entradas en 365 dias! Tengo un ano mas que cuando empeze.