Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, pen sketch

Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, pen sketch, not available.
This museum opened in 1906. Eclectic style. Their biggest treasure, according to the lovely Eva, my tour guide, are their Dutch and Italian works, approximately 900 pieces of each. Also, it has the biggest collection of Spanish art after Spain! One of their temporary exhibits was a Photography in the 20th Century exhibition, including a photograph of Gloria Swanson's face behind lace, done by Edward Steichen (1879-1973), sketched here, in my art-notebook.

Hungarian Typical Dresses, watercolor

Hungarian Typical Dresses, watercolor sketch, 14x18cm. available.
Embroidery is one of the traditional art forms in Hungary. Women have been embroidering for centuries. Today in Budapest, you see women standing by the areas frequented by tourists, selling embroidered blouses, tablecloths of all sizes, handkerchiefs, and other small items. Most of the embroidery sold at those places is machine made, of course. In the better stores you find the pricier hand-embroidered items.

Folk Art Museum Entrance

Folk Art Museum Entrance, Budapest. Watercolor, 124x18cm. available.
This museum of folk art, in downtown Budapest, is set in an extraordinary building, an old palace rich in marbles, crystals, vitraux, heavy and beautifully carved wood furniture. The setting is as interesting as the folk art exhibited. This quick watercolor sketch doesn't do it justice, but it is the best way for me to remember the  spiritual feeling of women's work, calm and beauty I received in this place.

Hungary's Parliament, watercolor

Hungary's Parliament, watercolor, 21x14cm., available.
Hungary's Parliament, the country's largest building, has become a symbol of Budapest. It has 691 rooms, and the best artists of the country were asked to contribute to its decoration. The building is over 200 meters long (880 ft) and 96 meters high (315 ft). It is on the Pest side. All illuminated at night, when you are on the Buda side of the Danube, it glitters like a box of jewels.

Restaurant Robinson, Budapest City Park, watercolor

Restaurant Robinson, Budapest City Park, watercolor, 14x21cm., available.
Budapest is like a giant oyster containing many precious pearls...walking around you start finding them everywhere! The City Park, with its beautiful lake, is one of them. Restaurant Robinson, with its orange umbrellas, overlooking the lake and the castle on the other side is one of them. Residents sunbathe along the shore, children play, ducks do their duck business, and I...paint them all!

Lemonade at Szentkiraly

Lemonade at Szentkiraly, watercolor, 14x21 cm. available.
I was tired from walking all over Budapest, stopped at Szentikraly, on Andrassy Street, and had a pink lemonade. There it is, on the table, cold and delicious!
Hungarian Folk Art has evolved distinctive traits in different regions of Hungary. The designs are mainly floral, with roses the most common, then tulips and carnations. Bird is the most common animal portrayed. The most common folk art colors are red, and the avoidance of yellow and purple.

Budapest City Park, watercolor

Budapest City Park, Hungary. watercolor, 14x21cm. available.
This park is walking distance from my residency. There is a big lake in the park, where you can rent rowing boats, restaurants and a castle on the lake. In the park, there is also the city zoo, a permanent circus, and the Szecheny Thermal Baths, beautiful buildings in Art Nouveau style, with pools with different water temperature. My guess is that between 200 and 300 people can comfortably enjoy the baths at any given time, in the different pools, or sauna, hammas, different massages, etc. At sunset, when the sky is blue/pink, the buildings are yellow/orange, and the water is blue. Some people play chess in the water, some people play chess on the balconies overlooking the pools from the cafeteria. The ticket is for all day.