Me

This is a drawing of my self using my favorite technique, red and white pencil on toned paper.
Mu hubby is next :)

The world is magical to those who have eyes to see

Back to mixed media on wood!

This is a piece of solid wood, 10x5x1,5"

 and the back side! That I really like actually :)

and Mona during the photo shoot! :)

Quick study at home :)

I love painting figure!! And after the class of yesterday today I was just feeling like doing more figure quick studies.

So here ie my of work of today:

9x12 inches oil on canvas board
with a limited palette of color

and 5x5 inches oil on stretched canvas
with a limited palette of color

Here they are!mmmmhhh I cannot decide which I like better...

Quick study painting with real model

Hello!

This is a very quick study from yesterday quick study class

5x7 inches canvas board
10min ( or less)

With the model in same pose I painted a bigger canvas

11x14 inches
40 min

For the last 40 min the model had a front pose, this was my crop of her:

9x12 inches

 A difficult angle, PLENTY of room for improvement :)

Favorite toys

12x12 inches
oil on canvas

Favorites toys

In the book about quick study I am reading at the moment the author talks about  exploring different subjects ...so why not using Mona's toy!!!:)

I am pretty happy with the final painting, how I rendered the texture of the duck especially.

More toys to paint! Mona has so too many of them ;)

Figure painting, quick study

8x0 inches oil on canvas board

This is the second study from yesterday quick study class. 2 pose of 20 min.

The pose was quite challenging, but I liked it, so I kept my spot.
I love the colors, I think is very fresh as...a quick study is supposed to be I guess ;)

Figure painting, quick study

This is my first study from yesterday class, 2 poses of 20 minutes each.

I am pretty happy with it, is always a challenge to make the right skin tones, sketch and paint the model in such a short time.

Jude Thaddaeus ...my first time painting a statue!

As you guys all know I love painting, I love painting everything :)
So when my gardener last week came to me asking me if I could paint, once again ( I did a small painting of the saint for him last summer) St Jude Thaddeus I said YES of course.
Even if is not really my style !  But I love painting, so it doesn't really matter does it?

Last time I picked a picture of the Saint my self from the internet (thanks God we have Internet!:)!!)
This time he wanted me to paint a statue he has at home, one of the many statues ( i should say!) he has.
I went my self to take a picture of it and I started my work.
First the underpainting then the colors, I have to say I really enjoyed the experience, from driving to his place and take pictures to the final painting, it is almost done.
I am planning to give the final touches on Wednesday.

Here it is till now:
18x24 oil on gallery canvas

the real statue :

my work in progress:

St Jude Thaddaeus..from last summer

11x14 oi on canvas

This was my first painted ever Saint.
Jude was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus He is generally identified with Thaddeus, to be distinguished from Judas Iscariot, another disciple, the betrayer of Jesus.

I painted this last summer for my gardener Fermin, he loved it so much that he commissioned me another one :)
I am on working on it .

Memories from India, quick study

Almost one year and half ago Michal and I went to India, a beautiful trip.
We came back with million of picture and amazing memories of a wonderful country.
I decided is time to dive into those pictures and make some good paintings.
The one of today wants to be a study for a larger painting on canvas.

8x10 oil on canvas board

I am dreamer, painting on wooden block

9x10inches x1,5 painting on solid wooden block

The title of this painting is " I am dreamer".
Yes that's me :) a real dreamer !
 That's the back and the side of the block:

Head drawing

I love this portrait, the model was excellent and very beautiful, she reminded me a bit of Angelina Jolie :)

Quick studies from model

As usualIy arrived late at class and of course I got an horrible spot:) Difficult and challenging, all on the side with mostly shadows...
These are my painting, 2 poses, 40minute each.
A lot of improvements ahead of me !!!! Which is good!!!:)

A little madness in spring

8x6 inches oil on canvas board


This small painting is my mood today: in love with this season in love with this place.


“sweet spring is your
time is my time is our
time for springtime is lovetime
and viva sweet love

(all the merry little birds are
flying in the floating in the
very spirits singing in
are winging in the blossoming)

lovers go and lovers come
awandering awondering
but any two are perfectly
alone there's nobody else alive

(such a sky and such a sun
i never knew and neither did you
and everybody never breathed
quite so many kinds of yes)

not a tree can count his leaves
each herself by opening
but shining who by thousands mean
only one amazing thing

(secretly adoring shyly
tiny winging darting floating
merry in the blossoming
always joyful selves are singing)

sweet spring is your
time is my time is our
time for springtime is lovetime
and viva sweet love”
― E.E. Cummings

díky Zdenka !

12x12 inches
oil on canvas board

Today it was me and Zdenka' s day :)
We drove down to SF, had lunch at the museum and went to visit a beautiful exhibition and had some "frame' shopping !!
A lovely day: chat, art, nice food :)  shared with and amazing friend: díky !!!!

Ohio just another day in paradise

This is the painting from yesterday quick study class:
8x10 oil on canvas board

While driving from NYC to SF, more than 2 years ago (OMG time flies!!) Michal and I drove through Ohio, at a petrol station we bought few postcards, this is one them.

I created a lot of texture...I really like the final effect!

Plenty of barns and plenty of corn in Ohio, it was a quite lovely relaxing drive...but it did not look like paradise to me....

Decorating box

Ciao ! and Happy Saturday everyone!
Another beautiful, sunny day here in Menlo Park, spring in the air...and well...is it just GORGEOUS.
And the day will improve too! :)
We are going to Napa with a bunch of friends, my camera is ready!! I will be back with tons of picture, ready to paint!!:)
Since we are leaving for the weekend and I had to wait for Zdenka's portrait to dry I busied myself with some art and craft, which i do love too!

Here is my new box:

Done with collage, paper tissue, buttons and A LOT of glue :)

BEFORE:

and AFTER my touch :)

Have a good weekend everyone!
ciaoooo!