Back on track

Hello dear readers,

although I haven't written an article for a while, rest reassured that I continue painting; in fact I just finished another piece.

This beginning of the year was a little busy for my and my girlfriend. We move to a new apartment which implies shopping for new furniture, wall painting etc.

At the same time I wanted to have a piece of art in my living room. My girlfriend wanted to have an abstract painting; so hat was my cue to start this new project.

Like I wrote before, I'm an amateur in the art of painting so for now I search for nice pieces on the internet and I try to do my version of it. At times I realize that the painting is not looking like the original but still I enjoy the process, so in my next post I'll show you my latest piece.

In another note. My girlfriend and me are busy dancing, we love it because we learn how to move our body to display different 'matisse', make it look beautiful. This will be another theme of my blog, dancing, painting, languages, meditation, happiness etc.

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Meditation

Hello dear readers,

Question for you; which activity helps you meditate? do you like walking? running? play an instrument?

There is this book called "the miracle of mindfulness" that I started reading a few weeks ago; it is really interesting and helpful because I could perceive an immediate improvement in my state of mind after reading the first chapters.

The book teaches you easy tricks to meditate and there is one that I liked very much. It suggests that when you wash dishes you should wash dishes; in other words you should wash dishes and stop thinking about something else; just focus on the task and try to meditate, enjoy every second of what you do while you do it.

Many of us worry to much about many things at the same time, we are told that we need to be 'multitaskers' to accomplish more; maybe with all the technologies that we have nowadays, we don't have to be told, we just do it; all of that make us worry or maybe just keeps or mind super busy. We stop enjoying what we do, we are not aware of ourselves while we do something.

It was always hard to put into words what I experience when I'm painting, until now. I now believe that I am meditating while painting, I enjoy painting while painting, I am aware of my body while painting, the colors the feel of the brush and the canvas, the sound of brushing canvas. Painting relaxes me, makes me feel happy.

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Younger Mona Lisa

Hello dear readers,

Could you recognize your friend or a member of your family from a picture when he or she was 10 to 15 years younger?

Well, paitings were the only way to create images of people back in the days. Not long ago I read a news article about the exposition of the "10 year younger mona lisa"  at an art gallery in Asia.

When I searched for the pictures on the internet; it was clear that the same Lisa di Giocondo was on both paintings, I could recognize her like you would recognize a friend or family member on a photo taken 10 years ago. I started searching for more information and I found this interesting video that I share with you.




I can't consider myself an artist but from my humble experiences I could say this: If you wanna make a master piece you have to practice and then when you feel ready you can start with the big task.

My theory is that Leonardo sketched Lisa di Giocondo on canvas and later he created world known Mona Lisa on wood.

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Life is still

Hello there,  have you ever wondered what's the best type of painting for the kitchen? 

Still life is my answer. Usually fruit is the main subject, glasses with wine and bread. My first instinct was to paint a reproduction of a masterpiece from Manet or Monet even Picasso; but there was nothing I fell in love with. 

So the search continued until google suggested 'still life photography'... clicked on it and voilà... the perfect picture.  Composition, lighting, colors. The only challenge was the metallic kettle. 

The very next day I bought a nice 16x20 inches canvas a couple of brushes and headed back home decided to finish the painting in one sitting. My plan? You guessed it. Impressionism.

I started painting the background then the kettle and at this point the fact of being an amateur artist showed right away, the painting slowly became realistic. Although I'm happy the painting took me 3 hours the first night and two nights later another 2 hours to finish;  it was clear that I need some classes and fast.

"Still life one" 16X20 Inches, oil on vanvas, 2014

What do you think about this still life painting? Do you have any suggestions or comments?

Stay stay tuned because I'll be blogging about my art workshops and classes.


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