Claudia Olivos and Sergio Olivos

RED... at Arena Stage... a must see for art lovers and artists!

2012-01-30T10:14:00.000-08:00

'Red' by John Logan

Produced by: Arena Stage
When: Currently sold out through 1/26...but lucky for you: extended through March 11

Last year I visited the show of Mark Rothko's Black paintings in the "Tower" of the East Building (National Gallery of Art here in Washington DC). Previous to that visit, I had often overlooked many of Rothko's pieces... but that particular exhibit drew me in. So much so, that I took the color theory college class I was teaching there for a visit and Sergio and I took a group of our younger students there as well.
We were amazed at how receptive everyone was once we read the captions that explained the emotion inherent in Rothko's work. "Red" is about that. Emotion. It is intense and visceral!

Sergio and I were both excited when we were invited to review this new production at Arena Stage. Red, a Tony Award winning play from 2010 is centered on the angst and joys and madness and egotism of Rothko, it is set in his Manhattan studio in 1958. The two-character drama follows Rothko and his young assistant as they work on a series of paintings commissioned to decorate the high-profile Four Seasons restaurant inside Mies van de Rohe's recently completed glass-and-steel Seagram Building on Park Avenue.

Throughout the play, the dialogue centers around Rothko's anger against critics, art collectors and his contemporary artistic rivals.
Rothko and his assistant engage in topics that are still significant in today's art world- topics abound about the meaning of art... what qualifies as "real art" and what is 'decorative art' and what I found to be one of the most interesting conversations in the play: 'should art be relevant in our culture/time ? as Rothko voices his concerned with his legacy in the art world as a new generation of artists such as Roy Liechtenstein and Andy Warhol are basking in popularity and he is feeling left behind. His assistant says: "You want to do your best work, not think that it's behind you. ... It does matter what other people think."

I concur.

The set of "Red" looks very much like the inside of a studio... Sergio and I found it to be brilliantly put together, the lighting design is superb as the paintings truly "shimmer" as Rothko appears to see them. During the play Rothko and his assistant apply paint to canvasses with passion and deliberation much like my favorite 'artist' scene in the movie New York stories with Nick Nolte playing the part of a painter. The smell of cigarettes wafts through the air... they not only stretch canvases, but mix the paint in large metal containers whilst having take out from the local Chinese place. Ah..yes...we can relate!

A most poignant part in the play occurs at the end, when Rothko decides do keep his paintings to save them from being overlooked at the restaurant.... if you follow my blog... you know that this very thing has happened to me. His sentiments about this are spot on, and I am left to wonder and thus learn more about him .... a sure mark of good writing!

The acting was superb! It is not easy to carry a two character play all within one room...but the set and the acting were just fantastic.Bravo John Logan! Bravo Arena Stage.... if you are in the Washington DC area.... it is a must see!

works in progress and stamping...

2012-01-26T09:32:00.000-08:00

Lately I have been posting "works in progress" on our Facebook page and I have found people are quiet interested in the process. I hope to begin making short videos as well... but first I will have to learn to do some video editing.
For now, I wanted to share these photos with you.

This was a drawing I began with the central figure. Her face was quite large and she looked angry. I began to transform her and in the process her neck became very elongated (her face came down to the black line on the white of her neck). At the same time I realized that the hair on the figure near the bottom looked sort of strange, so I changed that too.
Changing the neck and the hair game the whole middle of the image too much uninteresting space.

This is where stamps come in handy!

I made swirls with a thick ink pen, and then added the black butterflies into the large space.... voila! I love it now!

And to think that less than a year ago I had never utilized stamps... I saw them as a sort of "cheating" on art work to use someone else's art.
Now I happily make use of them (especially butterflies).... and perhaps I will make my own stamps in the future....though I like the juxtaposition of a stylized stamp with my own work.

I am still discovering the world of stamps... so far the only ones I have used I have purchased at my local craft store, and I only use the most basic stamp pad...though I have seen inks for the pads, embossing (still don't really understand what that is all about, but the sparkly colors look interesting)-- it is exciting to know that although I never thought I would work outside of traditional oil paints and charcoal... these last few years have brought me into a totally different world in the arts. I have to thank the recession for that.... as people could no longer afford my large oil paintings.... I turned to watercolor and mini canvases...and that has opened up a whole new world.

Although I look forward to getting back to my large canvas pieces... I am having loads of fun with mixed media, watercolors, stamping etc!

Funny how downturns in life...can lead us to interesting side paths in life! Any stories you have to share? Have you discovered something new because you have had to cut corners economically? I would love to hear about it!

Love & Light,
Claudia

Mailing lists and my updated website!

2012-01-25T07:51:00.000-08:00

We have been crazy busy with online things these past two weeks.
Sergio has been updating my website, and making it easier for you to buy work from us directly through our website. Of course, you can always contact us for any work you are interested in!

Since early December I have been working on compiling a mailing list to share news about our ARTventures with everyone, as well as to share our ongoing classes; it has proved to be a bit of a nightmare! I tried mailchimp (free mail service) for a few weeks, and finally turned to Aweber (monthly fee). I am still not convinced we will continue with them. Do any of you have a mailing list with 500 or less people on it? If so, do you utilize a service or do you send out emails on your own?
I appreciate the help! I reached out to a couple of artists we know who use yahoo for their newsletter....but alas, unfortunately some artists are not open to sharing their business practices.

I will share with YOU ....once I figure it all.out.soon. I hope.

Meanwhile, here is the image of my owl finished! I added tiny little pearls in some places, and a pretty ribbon on top. It is not as "orangey" in real life...
It is on sale on my page here.

I am done painting owls for a few weeks. I painted two sweet elephant paintings ... and I am now drawing a little bit in ink ~before I get to work on three commissions I have (one Goddess and two owls!).

UPDATE: I found this great site which you can peruse and decide which email marketing service will work best for your needs! Thanks to my fellow artist extraordinaire: Cagney King who led me here via a suggestion to try Vertical Response....and as often it happens in the world of the internet--one good lead led to many others including this one... so check it out here and let me know if you go with one!!

Much Love & Light to all!
Claudia

As a rose in a rose garden.....so is the art in our studio's walls...

2012-01-11T12:11:00.000-08:00

People often ask me if it is hard to let go of our art. After all, I do call them our "babies" ..but my answer is always no; I love to find loving permanent homes for our art!

First stage of the current piece I am working on...

A week ago a collector was visiting the studio and asked me that question again, and an analogy quickly came to my lips... as I gave her my answer I was elated at what came forth--does that ever happen to you: you say something brilliantly"right on"...and you think wow! that is my truth and yet I never realized it.....until you speak it out loud"?

I see our art as The Little Prince saw his rose.... special and unique...though it may look like any other rose when in a garden..she was his own special rose.

We work and value and love each piece we make. Making art is our passion, we give it all our tender love, much thought.
Sometimes, we may work on a piece for months...even years, until we are satisfied--these sometimes turn out to be amongst our best pieces. Other times, we are so disappointed with the result, we simply destroy it by tossing it in the fire and begin anew.

Each time we finish a piece we look at it together, we discuss the process...and think about where we will go next...
Sergio scans it for documentation purposes, and we either place them inside various basket bins we have in the studio (unframed pieces)- or we hang them on our wall.

They stay this way, admired by us and our studio visitors.... until someone gives them a loving home- until it is singled out from the 'garden'.

second stage of piece I am currently working on

While our art is on the wall I feel they are all beautiful together...as though one were looking at a rose garden.... however, I think when a piece is purchased and taken to it's permanent home, it is special, just as the Little Prince's rose was special. No longer is the piece 'one amongst many', it becomes a unique piece set apart to be admired and treasured wherever it's final home is.

So no, I am never sad when my pieces leave the studio.... I am thrilled!
I love to see the photos that people send me of our art in their living space.... it is an honour to know that our art adorns, encourages and beautifies spaces they were meant for.
A small miracle indeed..... that somewhere within us...lies a connection to all of you!

Please join us!

2012-01-04T11:29:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

This year 2012 will be a year dedicated to updating our websites..lots of exciting and new things to come-so stay tuned! We appreciate you SO much.....and your support via purchases/likes/comments and tweets are a HUGE part of what inspires us day to day.
Thank you!
As part of the effort to improve our online presence, we have decided to create an email subscriber list from where we can inform you of upcoming events, special offers, coupons, giveaways and the like..... as well as classes in the studio and soon to come online art classes too!

Please take a moment to subscribe on the link to the right ->
We appreciate YOU..thank you for encouraging us by supporting our ART!
~much, much Love & Light,
Claudia & Sergio

2012 Art Calendar Giveaway

2012-01-02T09:12:00.000-08:00

Another way of saying "Thank you" to all of our followers: An art calendar giveaway!!

....the winner will be announced on Friday January 13 at midnight! And the calendar will be mailed out to the winner on Saturday morning!
Free shipping within the USA!(~please pay shipping to everywhere else....)

...excercise the: "out with the Old and in with the New"

2011-12-31T07:41:00.000-08:00

....and a New Year begins!

As many people get ready to make new lists of goals and hopes for the New Year.... I like to practice first, the art of letting go.
Letting go of painful memories, difficult circumstances, hurtful people in our lives.... etc.

Many of you know I have gone through many tribulations for years... including much suffering at the hands of "the ex husband" and other problems and situations in my life that if I went into in detail...would transform this blog into a novel! Suffice to say: 2011 was a year of change for us. The painting here on the right speaks to much of that symbolically....

Our son graduated from high school, leaving "the ex" powerless to continue taking me to court every year with lies upon lies (no, he never won, but the stress of it all is indescribable... I experienced the injustice of a system that so easily allows someone to continually sue a completely innocent person). If you follow this blog..you know all the hell I went through in May when our son moved out in anger perpetuated by years of lies and pressure from "the ex"... and you know that just as many of you told me whilst you comforted me: you were right: indeed, our son came back to us in less than three months.. much changed. He is the young man I always knew he would be..and I am SO proud of him! (And I am so greatFULL for all your support!).
Sergio finished his studies! He has been studying on and off for four years.... his studies taking all of his time as he struggles not only with learning at the graduate level in a second language, but also challenged by his ADD which led him to study on most nights until 2am. Now, I have a husband again! I won't have to do all the household chores- leaving us both again with plenty of time to give more attention to marketing our art online...! Sergio is psyched! He walks around saying: "I have time on my hands!" ....
Me? I have finally come to terms with the fact that I must 'let go' of the people in my life that bring me sadness and pain. Being able to finally turn my back on "the ex" has served to propel me into 'cleaning' out my personal life. With some, it will not be a pain free process.... we always hang on to the hope that relationships can heal..but sometimes, they simply can not, and one must walk away.

I am finally ready to do that and I am beginning it all "officially" on New Year's Eve, since on the
eve of the New Year, we will hold a small party at our home, I am going to get everyone involved in "cleaning out" the negative things of 2011..... before we focus on all of the "good things" that 2012 has in store for us!

Getting rid of the negative
I will give each guest a piece of paper sometime around 11pm...on which to write all of the memories, experiences and people they must forgive and/or leave behind. Each paper will be folded up, and each person can throw it in the fire with a personal prayer.
Then: each person will get a colorful piece of paper to write down hopes and dreams for the coming year. We will pass out pencils and markers so each can decorate the paper to hold in our hands as we welcome the New Year at midnight!

We look forward to sharing a fantastic 2012 with you, and we hope the New Year brings you much Peace, Love and Happiness!!!!

Tortilla Soup Recipe

2011-12-28T20:12:00.000-08:00

One of our family's signature meals is my Tortilla Soup.....which we just finished enjoying tonight!I make it with one variation from the traditional Mexican recipe: I add acorn squash to the mix as I enjoy the sweetness and body it adds to this lovely treat.

It is so easy to make.... and especially tasty with fresh tomatoes. However, when fresh tomatoes are most readily available-summertime- it is when I least feel like having soup, so what I do is buy plenty of organic tomatoes in the summer and freeze them. Simply wash and throw whole in a ziploc bag, or throw in the blender before storing in the freezer bags. This way, you have plenty of flavorful tomatoes all year around... especially for winter time when all the tomatoes on this side of the world are tasteless and pricey.

Please try this recipe and let me know how you like it!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons ghee or butter or olive oil

2 medium white onions, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 or 2 Jalapenos or Chipotle peppers seeded and minced
8 ripe medium tomatoes, chopped
1 quart chicken stock
Salt
Cumin
Garlic powder
Chipotle powder (or Chili powder)
Ground black pepper
6 chicken quarters
1 diced acorn squash

Garnish

2 avocados, halved, pitted, peeled, and diced

1 cup shredded Cotija cheese (or Feta cheese)
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro leaves, for
1 lime, cut in wedges, for serving

Tortillas

Canola oil, for pan-frying

12 corn tortillas-preferably a few days old, cut into 1/8-inch-thick strips.
Cut tortillas in half; cut halves into 1/4-inch strips. In 3-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Fry strips in oil, 1/3 at a time, until light brown and crisp. Remove from pan; drain on paper towels.

Soup

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix cumin, chili pepper, garlic powder, and salt. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil on chicken breasts, then sprinkle a small amount of spices on both sides.

Place chicken breasts on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until chicken is done, shred and set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon Ghee or olive oil in a pot over medium high heat. Add onions, pepper, diced acorn squash and minced garlic. Stir and allow to simmer while you place fresh tomatoes in a blender and puree. Once tomatoes are pureed (only a few seconds) add to the pot with 1 quart of chicken broth.

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for 45 minutes, uncovered, add shredded chicken and stir, allow to simmer another 20 minutes.

Check seasonings, adding more if needed. Turn off heat and allow to sit for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.
Put a handful of tortilla strips into each bowl, then ladle the soup into bowls.
Garnish each bowl with diced avocado, cilantro and Cotija cheese. Add a wedge of lime to the side- each person can add it in to taste.

Enjoy!!

Feliz Navidad...our hearts are full of gratitude!

2011-12-23T10:34:00.001-08:00

Thank you and Happy Holidays from OlivosARTstudio

We are truly fortunate to have such delightful followers/muses/encouragers!!

We want to express our sincere gratitude to you for being amazingly supportive of our art.

We wish you all a blessed Holiday Season and a New Year laden with Peace, Joy...boundless laughter and unmmesurable LOVE!

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts~!

We love & appreciate YOU

Claudia & Sergio

Here is a funny video we put together of ourselves and our son, Julian.... honoring the Holiday Season and Sergio's native Mexico :) ..... enjoy it!

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/0Unh9HltvKfYkSTK

Tis the Season of :highs and lows.....

2011-12-16T12:42:00.000-08:00

"Marker days" (like holidays and anniversaries...)~can be tough; we tend to have so many intentions.... we can find ourselves increasingly stressed due to expectations of a 'traditional Christmas/Hannuka' to media perfection.
“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” -H.Wright Mabi

Holidays sometimes may seem surreal. It can be very difficult for people who have lost someone and this is the first Holiday without them, recent break ups, job losses, family discord, etc....all these things we are supposed to 'set aside' and allow for the joy of the season.....not an easy task for people in pain. It is no wonder that the suicide rate goes up at this time of year! To compensate, many families easily fall into simply playing the role of a loving, healthy family for day as though it were a movie rather than real life, or others simply leave on vacation to escape the madness of it all.

“We all walk in the dark and each of us must learn to turn on his or her own light.” ~Nightingale

No matter how you choose to experience the Holidays, remember that you have a choice in how you spend your time and who you share it with.
This may mean saying "no" to certain invitations, opting out of certain family traditions, and even starting your own traditions......even if it is just you alone.

Many of us have bad memories of holidays past or are experiencing tough situations that make it difficult to jump on the "be happy because the Holidays are here" bandwagon... it's like anything else: do you see the glass half full or half empty?
Do you let the bad experiences/memories win or do you write over them actively creating "good memories and good experiences"?
Do you surround yourself with people who lift your spirit or with people who bring you down?
You have a choice. Choose not out of obligation, but rather choose what will be soothing to your heart and soul.

“A man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson 

We spend Christmas eve with my family of origin, but for Christmas Day we started our own little family's traditions: we get up early and light a fire and the three of us open gifts by our tree enjoying hot cocoa...later that day, we make a large late brunch (always Quiche and Mimosas) and spend it at home with a few good friends.

“There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” - E.Wharton   

Also, each year we give to those less fortunate...it seems to help heal negative energy and puts us in the mood for this season which really, should be ALL about giving!
Give it a try: you will be amazed at the change!

As some of you know I gave away free handmade Holiday cards this year to friends and strangers...anyone who requested it via our Facebook page... and wow! That was a great feeling when I put them all in the mail~ this will be another Holiday tradition for me!

Most of all, remember that Christmas is just another day... live it fully as every other day,and always with hope for a brighter future!

Holiday Cheer.....!

2011-12-12T11:03:00.000-08:00

Holiday time is here! Hannuka and Christmas are next week (!) We have been so busy with our open studio pARTy that our Christmas tree is standing naked in our sun room....*sigh*

This morning winter finally let us know in no uncertain terms that it is here...and we need to;catch up, decorate the tree, bring wood in for our fire and be prepared for the coming fun! Today's thick covering of frost gives slight hope for a white Christmas...
My shopping list is ready with pecans for the pies on Christmas Eve with family, and Quiche and Mimosa ingredients for Christmas Day with good friends! We wish YOU could join us too!

Many of you have become my friends although we have never met (via twitter, Facebook and this blog) and I appreciate YOU so much!
Your daily encouragement and comments really and truly help me (and Sergio) to continue giving ourselves wholeheartedly to our ART.

We are prolific artists not only because the passion burns in our hearts...but also because we know we have YOU to share with!

One way to say "thank you" is via Giveaways. I just did a "handmade original Holiday Card" giveaway on my Facebook page, and now it is time for a giveaway on this blog!-so come on and join in on the fun!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Surprises!

2011-12-07T12:40:00.000-08:00

During our Open Studio pARTy we were surprised by a fun visit from our friend David Camero who is a performance artist! It was wonderful... and again, we are so very, very grateful to all who share with us with so much love!

This year has been exhausting for us for so many reasons (you know why if you have followed this blog!).... but all is moving towards calm now and we are excited about the many things we will do in the coming year!

Part of that will be organizing our mailing list, working on our online presence.... and of course, continuing to share with friends near and far!

As part of our gratitude to all of you, we will be doing a giveaway again! So stay tuned for directions on how to enter! :)
Additionally on our Facebook page we will give a "gratitude prize" to the person who has commented on our posts most often!

Here is the video of our friend performing in our studio:

Open Studio pARTy 2011

2011-12-05T12:16:00.000-08:00

We had a terrific turn out for our Annual Studio pARTy!
Sergio and I are so very grateful to all who came to share in this most important evening for us...it has now been 6 years that we have been hosting this event together...8 yrs. since I have been doing them on my own. It is the most important evening of the year for both of us and we deeply appreciate the love and encouragement we receive from those near and far! We love and appreciate everyONE of you!

Please remember we hold this pARTy every year, the first Saturday of December. Come for fun, reduced prices on our work....and to have fun with new and old friends!

Love & light,

~Claudia & Sergio
Here is one of the Videos from that evening....

framing options.....

2011-11-23T17:56:00.000-08:00

A few days I posted photos of some of my art on Facebook seeking suggestions on our framing options -at that point all were only in black. However, thanks to the feedback we received we have been working on mounting some pieces on wood using a distressed/crackle technique. Sergio has gone through some "trial and error" days...but finally we have gotten them to look just as we want them-- and I must say they look great!

Thanks to Sergio who has spent a couple of days figuring out the best way to 'distress' the wood and attach the mini canvases in such a way as to be quite secure, while at the same time "removable" in case someone desires a different mounting/framing option. Sergio rocks!!!! :)

But indeed: what would we do without your feedback?
I do hope you all know how very much you mean to us and our process! We love you, we really do!

...now: back to work getting ready for our Open Studio....(coming up so soon!).....

Love & Light......from us to you!
And on this quite blustery Autumn day.... with leaves flying all about and honey in my tea... I leave you with a bit of Pooh...(one of my favorite characters!):

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh!" he whispered.
"Yes, Piglet?"
"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw
. "I just wanted to be sure of you." ~A.A. Milne

Thanksgiving and gift giving.....

2011-11-17T14:10:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

It is that time of the year....time to start thinking of the coming Holiday gift giving rush!
In anticipation of Cyber Monday and Black Friday....we are extending the one day coupon to all our followers (twitter, facebook and this blog) ...the coupon is now good through Black Friday at Midnight!

This is a coupon for FREE shipping (domestic USA) for items in my etsy shop.

The Coupon Code is: HappyHolidays2012 -you input the information at the time of check out. Please note this is for USA domestic shipping only.

This sale Includes our free Holiday gift wrapping and free handmade card (you tell me the message that will go in the card on the comment section at check out)- your purchase can go straight from our studio to your "giftee" (please don't forget to provide me with the mailin address if different than billing address).

Please visit my etsy shop and buy your treasure: a unique and
'forever lasting' gift for your self or your loved ones!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/OlivosARTstudio. I am listing more items there now....come buy unique gifts for your friends and family!

If you are interested in something you have seen on Facebook or our websites but is not listed on etsy..please contact us! Olivosartstudio (at) gmail ....or via facebook/twitter.

Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving! We are thankFULL for you! Your support....your love

We appreciate and love you....!

Holiday time is near......!

2011-11-13T15:27:00.000-08:00

BeautyFULL encaustic piece by Sergio-
you can see my mini canvases behind it-to see the scale of his piece

Greetings! We have been SO busy in the studio.... getting ready for our 7th Annual Open Studio pARTy..and if you are in the Washington DC area... you know that OlivosARTstudio is ALWAYS the best place to be the first Saturday of December!!

a small mixed media piece by Claudia

Three encaustics on wood by Sergio

Loads of unique, original beautyFULL art to gift yourself and your loved ones!
Art is the best gift!!! No sizes to worry about, fat free, and lasts forEVER!

Large mixed media piece by Claudia

All of our art is for sale ...you can look in our etsy shop, on our websites and on FB (latests pieces get listed there first!)..... we will ship straight to your "giftee" -gift wrapped and with a handmade personalized card!!

Here is the invitation to our pARTy!
We hope you can make it...but if you can't visit us online! :)

Woman

2011-11-07T10:43:00.000-08:00

"...I am the poet of the body,

And I am the poet of the soul.

oil on canvas "Motherhood" by Claudia Olivos.

The pleasures of heaven are with me, and the pains of hell

are with me,

I am the poet of the woman the same as the man,

And I say it is as great to be a woman as to be a man,

And I say there is nothing greater than the mother of men"....

~Walt Whitman

Trees, symbolism and mini canvases .....

2011-10-26T11:00:00.000-07:00

Trees hold a multiplicity of mythic and symbolic qualities.
I love trees .... and have just started this small collection of mixed media mini canvases with trees.

The deep-rooted meaning of trees is apparent in common and can be found throughout history, art, religion and various spiritual practices.

Each tree holds their own symbolism, for example my favorite is the Olive tree... of course (!)- because our last name "Olivos" which means Olive trees in Spanish.... but also because they are quite, quite beautiful with their complex trunks and root systems, and their bounty of Olives and delicate leaves. I love them!

Olive trees symbolize peace amongst other things:

"This tree possess a wealth of symbolism - peace, fruitfulness, purification, strength, victory and reward. In Ancient Greece the tree was sacred to Athene and the first olive, which sprang from her quarrel with Poseidon, was preserved as a treasure behind the Erechtheum. In Jewish and Christian tradition, the olive is a symbol of peace and it was an olive-branch which the dove brought back to Noah when the Flood was over. And old legend tells that Christ's cross was made of olive-and cedar-wood. For Islam, the olive is the central tree, the World axis, a symbol of Universal Man and of the Prophet." (from The Penguin Dictionary of Symbols" by Jean Cheavlier and Alain Gheerbrant)

All trees symbolize different things, for example the oak symbolizes strength and courage. The ancient Romans thought oak trees attracted lightening and connected the oak tree to the sky god, Jupiter and his wife, Juno, the goddess of marriage. Thus, the oak is used in art symbolism as a symbol of conjugal fidelity and fulfillment.

Birch and Cherry trees symbolize new awakenings and renewal....and my other favorite tree, the Willow tree, stands for magic, healing, inner vision and dreams.

Behind our studio stands a huge Sycamore tree, it's white bark is beautiful and can seem to glow in the light of a full moon...I was thrilled to find out some years ago that these trees hold great spiritual meaning and have been worshipped in various cultures throughout time. The fig leaf mentioned in the Bible came from a Sycamore tree-Ficus Sycomourus- and for both the Ancient Egyptians and the Mayas, the Sycamore stood on the threshold of life and death, connecting the two worlds... it symbolizes protection, divinity, eternity, and strength.

It is a Sycamore that survived the attacks in New York... what a blessing to have this wonderful tree looking down on us day to day!

Allow the image of a tree to be a visual reminder to help you heal and/or fulfill the dreams and visions for your life.

the power to just, be.

2011-10-20T13:12:00.000-07:00

Parents and students often ask me for college advice, and as I was writing a reply to a parent, I felt this is something I want to share with all of you too... and as I was thinking about it all...I realized how this (in my opinion) relates to the Wall Street Protests.

In life...follow your heart.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
We get asked that question through out our lives... and the answer for many of us changes from time to time-- but we all want to be happy and successful.

I went into college as a psych major, then went back and forth for a year between journalism and international relations/politics.... then art therapy.
I graduated with both a BA in psych and a BFA; then struggled with what to continue with. I thought of a Phd in Psychology, an MSW or an MFA. Decisions.
I was working as a mental health counselor and at the same time actively exhibiting in galleries throughout the DC area. I was indecisive and had to consider the economic impact of being an artist vs being a social worker or psychologist; I was a single mom, so my decision had to lead me to a position where I could provide for my child and myself.

A friend said to me: don't settle, only do what you really, really want to do.

I pondered what to persue my higher education in, I asked myself: who do I want to spend the rest of my life around- wacky, temperamental artists...or wacky temperamental social workers? The artists won out (then I married one!).

I have never regretted my decision-it eventually led me to my initial dream: working with children (this is why I had gone into Psych) and painting.

Had you asked me years ago if I wanted to teach I would have adamantly said NO. My mom is a teacher, and I once did a few months stint teaching after school Spanish- I hated it.
I had wanted to work with children one to one... to help kids like the ones I read about in books like "Dibbs in search of self". To make the difference in one child's life.... yet now I believe I help make a difference in many children's lives through my teaching. Life is a path .... a non linear one.

I remember a very good student I had...she drew very well.... yet she wanted to be a "foot doctor". She went off to college and focused on that. I hadn't seen her in over three years, and a few months ago, there she was sitting across from me at a County meeting as an intern for the public art dept..... and says she is loving it (!) her heart led her back around to her passion.

Amazing how life is not a straight shot, nor is it circular, but rather it seems to be as a spiral always bringing us back to center, to heart--but only when we listen to the passion within.

I believe that the important thing is to know what is out there.... not only in what we think we want to do/be, but opening ourselves up to the infinite possibilities...

We tend to lean towards what attracts us most. Knowing what we do not want is a good start....(I wanted to fly, applied and got into the air force, but withdrew within the 48 hr period when I realized getting up at 6:am to yells or bells was NOT something I would be thrilled with doing).
In time, we find we love some things more than others.

That's the main thing: find what you love, reach for your passion within, it is always there...

All this focus on the economics of our lives ..this drive to own "stuff"...it has always existed, but it has been exaggerated more and more as of late. I think this is what many people protesting in Wall Street right now are all about...it is not only what "they" have done to us...but what we have done and are doing to ourselves and our world by buying into the culture society has been offering.... focused on money and five minutes of fame.
We have forgotten the beauty of simply being. Not doing, just being.

We change as we grow older....but I think one of the best things about growing up is being able to be true to yourself and your dreams-to be who we really are; and those dreams are still in the making...each day is a new opportunity to live the dream, reach for the dream...or even create a new one much closer to heart.

What is your dream?.....Now, make it your goal...now, reclaim it as a part of you: be who you really are!

Love, just Love.....

2011-10-10T16:12:00.000-07:00

This month were are exhibiting at the Hyattsville gallery "Lustine" by ArtDC.org.
The exhibit is entitled "Caminos, Caminantes".... I came up with the name and as soon as I shared it with the group I realized it was unconsciously inspired by the words of Spanish poet Antonio Machado, “Caminante no hay camino, se hace el camino al andar…” Traveller, there’s no road. The path is made as we travel.

Mixed media: "Love, Just Love"
14" x 11"
Mixed Media painting $200.-
(plus shipping)

When I was thinking of a title for our exhibit which is in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month here in the USA, I was thinking of the many roads us immigrants have taken to arrive here. I myself arrived here (by birth) because my father was a diplomat. I soon went back to my native Chile and came back when my mother remarried and wanted my stepfather to learn English. We never went back to Chile... and I think sometimes my paintings speak to the longing I will always have for my roots: diaspora.

However, I love the USA, and I am grateFULL for everything this country has given me. I am concerned about our path as a nation at this time.... still involved in this largely forgotten war, corporations who forget the people and see only dollar signs, numbers etc... , the environment...
yet-- I sense a move towards the divine- God, Goddess, Universe, Nature..... I sense a need in many to get back in touch with themselves and one another.

A long time I wrote in my artist statement:

"I want to remember the many mysteries lying within a multiplicity of answers, and to allow myself never to forget that I understand the necessity in life, to touch the earth."
What I meant was that in spite of all the "mysteries" :the hardships, the challenges, the curses and the blessings ....I want to always appreciate the basic of life: LOVE.
It is all around us yet we miss it in the midst of our busy days: the beauty of a butterfly gently sailing overhead, the embrace of a child, the softness of a rose petal, the feel of the wind in my hair, my child's laughter, my lover's smile..... love. Just love in all it's forms.

Just LOVE.

(sugar) Pumpkin soup and Angel of Love ....

2011-10-06T12:48:00.000-07:00

I am sharing a painting and a recipe today!My painting is a mixed media piece painted on canvas (12" x 14") -she is holding a little orb with the word "love" in Chinese. I finished it while the delicious aroma of this soup was dancing through the house...

We belong to a "CSA" (Community Supported Agriculture) where we pay a fee in January, to help the farmers through the winter, and they in turn provide us with organic fresh vegetables from may though mid October).
For our last delivery this season we received three Sugar Pumpkins. These are smaller than the larger pumpkins carved for Halloween....they look the same, but smaller.
Because they are from our organic farm, I really felt like I would rather cook them instead of making a Jack o' Lantern but I could not find any recipes that I liked, so I invented one. I tend to do this often, which leads to the problem that if it turns out to be a good recipe and I want to replicate it in the future, I have little memory of all the ingredients I used; so, I am going to share them with you- this way we can both enjoy it in the future!

The amounts will vary according to how large your pumpkin is. You can make this sans chicken and with vegetable broth for a vegetarian dish!

Claudia's Pumpkin Soup:
1 whole pumpkin. Seeded and peeled.
1/4 cup coconut oil (healthiest oil to cook with!)

1 cup chopped onions

1 clove garlic, minced

3 tablespoons Curry
2 tablespoons Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Star Anise
1/2 teaspoon Cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Sea salt to taste
16 oz Coconut Milk (Trader Joe's sells my favorite!)
2 cups of water or broth (if you use chicken- you can skip the broth and simply use water)
optional: Chicken thighs

1. Peel, seed and cut your pumpkin into cubes, chop the onions and mince the garlic.
2. Heat the coconut oil in a deep pot over medium heat and stir in the onions allowing them to become translucent
3. Add the garlic and the spices, turn down the heat a bit while you allow the condiments to pre-cook in the oil (they will "smoke" a bit-that is Ok).
4. Mix in the Chicken or  broth and the pumpkin cubes.
5. Cook and stir until the mixture comes to a gentle boil, about 10 minutes.
6. Once boiling, cover, and cook 20 minutes more.
7. Add the coconut milk, stir and cook another 5 minutes.
8. Scoop out the chicken and set aside, with a potato masher mash remaining pumpkin pieces (most will have pureed into the broth).
9. Add chicken back in and serve in soup bowls- one chicken thigh per bowl, spoon in pumpkin soup and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds (recipe follows).

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds Recipe

Washed, rinsed and dry seeds from your pumpkin.

Coconut oil

Sea salt

1. In a small saucepan, add the seeds to water, about 2 cups of water to every half cup of seeds. Add a half tablespoon of salt for every cup of water.

2. Bring to a boil. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and drain.

3. Spread about a tablespoon of coconut oil over the bottom of a pan. Spread the seeds out in one layer.
4. Bake on the top rack of the oven until the seeds begin to brown, 10-20 minutes.
You can also do this on a frying pan...make sure they are on only one layer and cook on low-medium heat.

ENJOY!!!!!!

Calacas.....

2011-09-23T09:44:00.000-07:00

Fall is here! .... and so are my Calacas!
I have listed some in my etsy store...but here is one of my most popular images, I have so far painted 4 of these and two have sold, but have two more of these little originals for sale-- each one is unique, although there are subtle differences in each one- color gradation, tonality, etc.

They are watercolor on paper, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" and are sent to you matted and inside a plastic sleeve with a hard backing for safe shipping and handling.
Available for $40.- each, plus $4.00 shipping within the USA (please email me for shipping outside the USA).
You can pay via paypal or credit card.

These two SOLD.

5" x 7" prints available for only $15.- plus shipping

New art...Old art

2011-09-13T10:41:00.000-07:00

It is that time of the year when we begin to think about our annual Open Studio. If you live in the Washington DC metro area..please mark your calendars and plan to visit us at our Holiday Open Studio pARTy December 3rd from 6pm ...to ?
It is always a great time, we have lots of ART for you to peruse and take home for yourself, friends and family. So make a note and save the date, come drink some of our now famous Sangria, chat with new and old friends....and enjoy new and old art!

This is a painting I am currently working on

Original ART is the best gift!

However, a mystery we often ponder is why the same people who will spend hundreds of dollars on a dress they may only wear once (prom, cruise ship, bridesmaid etc..), or so many other things--many of them also art related like a great concert or theater tickets...or even a fantastic bottle of wine or dinner....why will these same people fret, think so hard and make it such an ordeal to spend money on visual art?!

A painting or sculpture is not only part of the beauty of a home, original art has history, stories and heart. Art can be passed down generation to generation ..... it is a lasting valuable gift to oneself and/or loved ones.

Since 2008, our sales have slowed down considerably as galleries who represented us closed and clients/collectors began to feel the hurt of a lagging economy; however, Sergio and I have continued to create art.

It is who we are...artists, and no matter what-we will always be "making things".
This in a way is wonderful.... however our studio is as a result, quite wonderFULL.... we need to "move" some of our old work and make space for new pieces. Thus, from now until December.... that is our aim.

oil painting w/encaustic, 4 x 5 feet.

We will be offering some of our work at studio prices in several venues where we will be exhibiting. This does exclude some of our larger pieces in fairness to our collectors. after all, not only do we want to be loyal to them in continuing our careers so that our art is constantly rising in value--we also want to make certain that none of our art will ever loose value within the market.

We hope you will take advantage of the fact we are taking our studio prices to the streets.... you can look on our websites for current event listings and find where we will be the following three months with our art.

Thank you so much for your support! We appreciate you, your comments, purchases, encouragement...without YOU.... we would not feel as inspired as we feel each day we get up in the morning and enter the studio!

sad times and good brownies.......

2011-09-09T17:59:00.000-07:00

These last two days have been "uneasy"..... with Tropical storm Lee coming towards us after last week's hurricane....and you know flooding is one of my traumas.... BUT Sergio missed the inundated studio and home THREE times! He has only been her for one, and it was only about an inch. I spent years battling our County to make changes to our street in order to avoid flooding. And after a few years, they did; but that was before Sergio-so he has no first hand experience with the desperation that comes with watching water seep into your home and studio like a river. Lost possessions. Lost art.
The muck and gross clean up. The decisions of what to keep..what is worthless after wet.

My heart goes out to everyone experiencing the loss of things that although "material" are still dear to us.

Lucky are we, that no water came in this time. Amazing.
Streets all around flooded. Three deaths locally. My thoughts go out to the families!

A water logged tree fell, right after I passed under it...I saw it sort of tilting in the hard rain...I went under it quickly and felt the thick branch touch my car....but it fell on the van right behind me. Lucky for them (and me) the van sustained damage but nobody was hurt.

Sergio and I argued. The rain.
The flood I was concerned about. The art he is working on. The milk that he forgot to pick up. The rain boots I needed but did not have in order to walk to the metro, then around downtown DC with my students. The rain.
Not a good night. I had dreams...the kind where you are trying to get to a place but everything impedes it. Broken elevators. Doors that lead to the wrong place. And of course: water impeding my path. Water rising and rising.

This morning I was glad to be awake. Still, riding the metro was odd. Water everywhere plus heightened security for 9/11.
Everywhere filled with policemen and their dogs. many carrying assault rifles (is that what they are called? Huge guns, no doubt).

So I came home to open a bottle of wine, and make brownies. Raw healthy brownies of course.... you know me. But, they are delicious and I hope you will try them!

September 11, 1973 and September 11. 2001. RIP. My love and thoughts to all the families in Chile and the USA who lost loved ones......

In a food processor simply mix:
Walnuts, Almonds, Dates.

A few teaspoons of raw cacao.
Dash of sea salt.

Mix.

If too dry, add more dates, dash of vanilla extract and/or dash of rum or other tasty liquor.

Pat into a glass pan, and place in the freezer or refrigerator for 10 mins.

Enjoy a healthy-make you feel better-fantastic brownie!

Love & Peace to you and yours! xoxox

licensing my art?

2011-09-07T16:14:00.000-07:00

Autumn is here! My favorite part of the year.... until winter passes and then Summer seems to be my favorite! It's a good thing we live in Washington DC where we get all extremes of weather and seasons. From freezing cold, to steamy, humid summers.

For the last month I have painted and drawn very little due to the busy season, but mostly due to a severe pain I was having on my arm. I put off going to my chiropractor for three weeks, and wow: what a difference after I went! Night and day!

I am thinking about licensing some of my art, so I will not be listing much on etsy for a while.... although I will post here and on my Facebook page. If anything does interest you however, please contact me and I can make a "print to order" available for you.
We have a fantastic scanner and printer, and all of the pieces come out beautifully. They are shipped around the world ready to frame inside a white Matt and travels in a protective plastic sleeve with a cardboard backing to protect it.

If you have special requests or ideas of "collections" I can work on, please let me know!

irene.....the day after

2011-08-29T18:38:00.000-07:00

Our hearts go out to all the people who have lost loved ones, homes and suffered all kinds of distress because of hurricane Irene.
It bewilders me how so many people are complaining that the storm was "over rated"....what does that mean? You wish your house had been hit by a tree or see it flood????
*oof*
Saturday night Sergio and I stayed up to make sure water would not come into our home or studio. At 1:58 am ... the storm came close and it was something truly awesome --in that we stood in awe, listening and watching.
We have very large and old trees surrounding our home.
Huge Sycamores, Oak trees and Pines... they swayed in the wind as though they were made of soft rubber.... and we heard a noise neither one of us had ever heard before...it was not quite the howl of the wind, but a sound that came at a few minutes interval and that sounded more like metal being crushed.
It was strange and it made me curious; I stood at the doorway of our top deck--listening and watching--and then I saw something unbelievable..the sky turned a bright turquoise blue every so often...the trees, the metal grinding and the intermittent aqua blue of the sky were both beautiful and terrifying at the same time. At that moment (for it all lasted no more than 5 minutes)- I understood the thrill that storm chasers must feel. It really is "awe" some... the power of nature, the uniqueness of it all. Later online I saw a photo taken by NASA- the colors and composition of Irene over land and sea are striking indeed. Frightening indeed.

Sergio and I went to sleep around 4am. Thankfully, not a drop of water came into our home. We lost one small tree, and the top of our gazebo broke off... leaves and branches lay all over... but no real damage was done. We are SO thankFULL!!!

A block away, a huge tree fell on a house. Three blocks away..another...and on it goes. And this is inland... so many lives lost and homes destroyed by Irene... I find it absolutely ridiculous and in fact disrespectful to all of those suffering losses at this time that many are daring to call Irene a "non event" or an "exaggerated media" event. Crazy. Like people want tragedy in their lives???

We are thankful that after spending two days preparing...we only spent one day cleaning up because we were lucky!!..many other people, some only a block away will have to spend days, if not weeks and months.... recovering.
*oof*
This drawing was made today (Monday, 2 days after Irene)-by a 7 year old whom I was teaching two perspective to....and he was not the only one to draw the hurricane today.... it was indeed an "event"...and one I hope to not have to go through again!

My condolences go out to all people affected!

...please "Pass us over" Irene!!

2011-08-27T10:20:00.000-07:00

We are quite concerned about flooding due to Hurricane Irene.
In the past we have had major damage from flooding in both our home and our studio and thus we are taking precautions due to the predictions of massive rainfall that Irene may bring along to those of us in the Washington DC area.

We have placed all our artwork off the ground in the studio and we will place sandbags in front of it to protect it from rain that can come down our driveway towards the studio like a mountain stream(!)

Additionally, we have purchased several feet of black tubing to attach to our gutters and guide the excessive waters away from the studio.

Our second concern is electricity. The last hurricane that came through here (Isabel), left us sans electricity for 8 days. All the food in our refrigerator was spoiled, we had no water- unable to shower, cook, wash dishes and flush the toilet ...things we take for granted were a huge hassle.
But nothing compared to the damage the flooding caused.

We have lost artwork. Irreplaceable. We have lost thousands of dollars worth of art supplies and equipment. Our house insurance is worthless for such things....
We have had to toss out beautiful carpets because the cost of cleaning them to assure there will be no dangerous mold is quite costly.
We have had to spend days on our hands and knees cleaning with towels and sheets because we had no electricity to use a shop vac and generators were impossible to find.

You think we would have learned our lesson...but time can make one forget-we have not had a flood in 4 years-so, here we are, within hours of Hurricane Irene- and we do not have a generator.
We did attempt to purchase a generator once we realized the severity of Irene...but I think the temblor "DC-Quake" of Tuesday had everyone on edge already and by early Thursday all generators within a 200 mile radius of DC were sold out.

possible winds: we have secured patio furniture (wow! we have SO much for it!) using ties and bugee cords, and tape went up on the windows upstairs-"just in case"-curiously enough it was brought to our attention via facebook that a Jewish star forms in the middle of the tape- indeed it does and quite appropos as we are hoping that Irene will "pass us over" Passover(!)
For electricity/water:
We are storing filtered water in several containers and have filled the freezer with mini water bottles-he fuller the freezer, the longer it will take to defrost in the case we were to lose electricity.

and have placed a cooler outside to allow it to fill with rain water which we can use to flush the toilet. The tub will be filled for the same purpose.

*whew*
We hope that tomorrow morning we will smile and say "wow! that was a LOT of work and nothing happened!".

lacking patience, missing the DC "earthquake" and ART(of course)

2011-08-23T16:07:00.000-07:00

Today we visited the National Gallery of Art with some of our young students.

When visiting a museum I like to teach our students respect for art and the experience of admiring and learning from artwork, so I teach them to have an attitude of attunement and sobriety similarly to when one may visit a religious site or library.

I teach them that the museums belong to them-our Nation's heritage and treasures....they are to be well regarded and cared for so that we may all share it with our children, grandchildren and generations to come.

I teach them not to touch or lean on the art or even the walls and glass; not to run or talk loudly, to hold their hands behind their back to lean in to a work of art to admire and understand the details and nuances utilized by the artist to produce whatever effect is drawing them in....etc.

And they listen.
Far better than my college students.
Far better than many of the adults I often see sitting on the pedestals of art or even leaning on sculptures to have their photos taken (are they there for the art or merely using it as another photo op for Facebook??--I digress......)

Today as we walked into one of the galleries and a guard told me to "keep your children quiet" because there was a 'delegation' admiring the work, I became instantly irritated at the elitism of the moment....I had noticed the group when we had come in and recognized them...VIPs of the museum's Board of Directors coming to get a private tour.
So...our group is looked as "lesser than.." these "VIPs" simply because they are children!?

I looked at the guard and glancing back at the group that was following me I said: "they are rather quiet don't you think? They will do just fine" .... and with what was probably a look of disdain on my part.... I walked into the gallery followed by all of the children.

There they stood quietly while I spoke to them about each of the works, the materials and technique etc... and do you know what? I could hardly hear myself TALK above the "VIP group".... the children...quiet as mice, raising their hands for tiny questions with big significance... Oh these wonderFULL children who will grow up to admire, understand and support the arts! ... and the VIP group cackling at whatever jokes they were sharing whilst looking at the art.

As we left the gallery I approached the guard and said to him "..your special group was SO loud I could not hear myself talk over them...I hope you noticed our group was well behaved and quiet"...and I walked away.

The guard followed me and exclaimed "I am so sorry, please accept my apology..I am SO sorry he repeated, adding I did not intend to...blah blah blah" -I accepted his apology and then as we stepped into the sunny day, it hit me: I know this guard! (I know most of them by sight as I am there so often--but this guard in particular we have had long conversations with. His son is in art school.... he is a very nice guy)- I felt bad for my snappy retort.
BUT...it is simply something I carry with me....this very low tolerance for all things unjust. And when adults in suits are given more respect than children just because they are well...:
adults
in suits.

It just makes me mad.

We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today. ~Stacia Tauscher

Ah...the now famous DC earthquake? Well, apparently we missed it by TWO minutes. Yep, that is all. We went underground and were riding the metro when it struck.

I think next week, when we go back to the museum, I will take the guard a handmade card drawn by the children and yours truly.

.....and you were right!!

2011-08-20T09:51:00.000-07:00

Back in early June I wrote in angst in regards to the precipitous moving out of our son. At the time, he was angry at the world-which included us. I was devastated that he had left under circumstances that were not ideal as he only had 5 weeks to go in school before graduation, and I knew the move would be detrimental to his academic performance...and possible other implications.....*sigh*

Many people wrote me via email/Fb and twitter to console me and tell me to 'hang in there'. The majority of the people told me "he will be back"....

I wanted him to be back not because I am not ready for him to move on.... (though I do love having him near!) -but because I know that due to many reasons the best place for him at the moment is home. So I spent many sleepless nights and days spent worrying.

Funny thing, similarly to the "nesting" one does when waiting for our

children to arrive as babies.... I did some "nesting" (cleaning) during this time.... and underneath the sofa in our living room, I found a package.

I opened it, and inside there was this small canvas I thought had gotten lost in the mail. It is very strange and I have NO idea how it came to be placed under the sofa. I thought the gallery that had exhibited it had lost it in the mail... and it is impossible for it to have fallen and simply 'slid' under there. It is a mystery. However, at the time it was symbolic as it is a playful portrait of the three of us as the "Holy Family".

If only one could live perpetually on the wings of faith, with steadfast hope in arms and nothing but love in lieu of fear in our eyes.... ah...indeed...life would be MUCH easier.

Tuesday, our son came home after three weeks of us not having seen him.... and he is staying. Just like that.

Thanks for everyone's support: especially my friends Agie and Elaine...your support has been invaluable!

Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. ~Anne Lamott

summer tomatoes for winter time!

2011-08-10T15:58:00.000-07:00

We have an over abundance of tomatoes again this summer! All grown at a local farm, a CSA (Communtiy Supported Agriculture). We have been part of this farm for the last two years. We send them money in the winter, and they provide us with fresh organic vegetables from June through October.

Last year, not wanting to cook tomatoes to perserve them, I threw them whole into freezer bags. It was wonderful to have fresh tomatoes all winter long! This summer, we bought an extra box from the farm and I plan to make some into sauce before freexing them, placing some in whole again, and dehydrating some of them (Sergio loves these as a snack).

Here is my recipe:

Get fresh well-ripened tomatoes from your own garden or farmer's market,
rinse well in cold water and cut each tomato into pieces about 1 inch square.
Using either a Vitamix or a food processor with the steel blade, puree diced tomatoes in batches and add into a cooking pot.

Place the pot over low heat and cook uncovered until the liquid is reduced by at least half of what you had originally, this can take anywhere from 5 to 9 hours depending on the thickness you want. Don't forget to stir every 30 mins or so to keep it from sticking to the sides or bubbling over.

Voila! You have fantastic, fresh, full of vitamins tomato sauce to add to all your winter stews, pastas, enchiladas....etc.

I will also be freezing Basil and Mint in ice cube containers to preserve their freshness.... and I am off now to figure out how to freeze summer squash as well!!

Enjoy this summer's bounty through the winter.... *ahh*......:D

...the world of Art Fairs

2011-08-04T10:18:00.000-07:00

Art Fairs seem to be the way many artists have gone in the last few years. It is understandable, the economy has been so horrid, that galleries have gone under. We were represented by galleries in Texas, Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia... all of these galleries are now defunct.
Selling online is just not the same, and our studio is not in a commercial area to enable new visitors to 'shop'....so we decided to join in and take our 'mini gallery' out into the streets!

We have found via trial and error that applying to an Art Fair is not as simple as we thought it would be. In the beginning, we had homemade walls and we were simply not getting into any shows, thus we finally invested in "real" walls, photographed our work to send in and applied. The trouble we alwasy run into when applying to shows is how to choose which photos/which work to send in for the jury process...can you help? My figurative pieces? My abstracts? Sergio's encaustics? We can not mix it all in, as we have heard jurors want the booth to be cohesive...

Your opinion is appreciated! Let us know by leaving a note here, via tweet, Facebook. email....Gracias and much love to all of you....your encouragement of our work is always so very appreciated by both of us!!

crazy busy,,,,,,and a dead bird

2011-07-26T19:53:00.000-07:00

Yes indeed....summer can be crazy busy. Suffice to remind you that my in laws were here for three (3) weeks visiting from Mexico. Yes I love them, yes they are great. But ...it was three weeks.

Then I heard my classes at the college were cut, and we decided to "there attack" things we never get to do during the year: painting the deck, cleaning out closets, painting inside the house (did I mention I FINALLY painted the ceiling which was still stained and horrible from the pressure cooker mishap in February? Fagor makes great pressure cookers-but they have certainly not responded to their promised warranty!) *sigh*

suffice....to say. Busy. Crazy

I have still been trying to draw or paint every evening. But instead of a painting, today I want to share with you about children.
Ah..they are wonderFULL.....

Today, a few of them came into our studio for a lesson....and while I was busy looking for charcoal, I heard them taking about a bird. A dead bird. Well, birds were on their mind because I had asked them to keep their voices down as we all shared lunch under our gazebo; only a week after we put it up, birds built a nest which weeks later resounded with the chirping of baby birds.
In this heat wave I have worried about them. The gazebo is made of metal, and with temperatures reaching over 105F and "feeling like" 120F with the humidity factor... I wondered if the poor babies would bake in there (!)-yet the other day I scooted a ladder, climbed on the deck rail, and when I peeked in I saw three little bobbing heads. They are fine.

They chirp all day long, and the parents fly in and out with various food items.
However, when there is a lot of noise, the parents stay away even though the babies call out to them desperately.... so we tried to be quiet while we were outside.

Later, when in the studio and talk of a 'dead bird' ensued, as I overhead the children, I thought they had found Sergio's encaustic with the dead bird's wing (another long story whcih involves children, birds and screaming)-it took me a few seconds to turn around--but when I did, I realized they were all looking into the woodstove.

I walked over, opened the door....and I have to admit I was the first one to scream...*arrgh* .... a dead bird lay at the bottom of the stove.
Poor thing.
Of course, after I screamed, they all started screaming. Soon Sergio came in and was ready to scoop it out--but I asked him to first dig a hole so we could bury it. He laughed but complied. The children gathered around and wanted a "funeral".... they discussed it and settled on singing a song for it. Discussion of which song to sing included Happy Birthday and a few others, but they settled on the Star Spangled Banner. A flower was laid on the "tomb"

and we set off on foot to the metro to visit the National Portrait Gallery. There, we saw wonderful art and had great "artsy" discussions about media, techniques, concepts etc. Children full of wonder can have such great comments and questions abouot art! We looked at several pieces by great artists and they sketched in their Art Journals.

When we returned we went into the pool and had a great time.

A full day indeed..... but yes, as you may have guessed: when the parents came to pick them up, what was the highlight of their day? The Warhol's we saw, Singer-Sergeant? Calder?....nope...it was the dead bird in the wood stove.

ah..... thank God for children! They teach us that the greatest things are really about the wonder of life and living.

summer ink drawings

2011-07-19T13:19:00.000-07:00

This is our last week of summer 'off' before we begin our summer art workshops!
We have continued with small projects around the house, and enjoyed our evenings of rest and relaxation.

Not having work, also means we have to "tighten" our belt a bit.... no eating out, no going to Florida to see family as we wanted to... but we are making the best of it.
I do wish I had been more devoted to my garden this year-- growing your own vegetables is a great way to save money and be healthy-but I was unfortunately still nursing my burned wrist and was worried about getting an infection (after the cellulitis on my face, I have huge respect for bacteria!). Now I simply await our CSA delivery every wednesday for farm fresh vegetables. The CSA by the way was a great investment as we paid the farmers in January, when we had plenty of work, and now that money is tight, we have nothing to pay until next year!

I have continued making ink drawings and adding bits of watercolor to them. I find it interesting to see how my work always seems to change... I devoted months to my Goddess series, then I did mini canvases for a year....my mother and child series...the whimsical watercolors of this winter, and now these. I never quite seem to know how long a "series" will last, or where they come from.

I wanted to share an image with you of the three of them together. These originals are for sale by the way ($150.- each).

Much love & light to you!

...summer day's work at our place (whew)

2011-07-10T19:30:00.000-07:00

*ugh* .... being a homeowner means work, work, work. Then, on top of that: I received a call from my supervisor....my classes have been cut due to low enrollment--sometimes it sucks to be adjunct professor :( ....money is tight!
*sigh*
So..looking at the glass half FULL...we dive into doing what needs to be done now that I have extra time. Sergio, set out to replace a nasty looking board on the side of our house... only to find out that ALL was rotten underneath. Two different contractors came out to assure us our sun room could indeed FALL (!) if we did not do something about it soon. We investigated further (removed more siding) and confirmed it to be true. So, today...we waved goodbye to $2,000.- and hello to a sturdier sunroom.
Meanwhile, trying to be positive about the 'extra time' on my hands...
I set out to paint our bedroom....

meanwhile, outside Sergio screamed for me to look out the window (he had finally caught-in a mouse trap- the pesky rat that's freaked us out these last couple of days!)...so, as I was looking out the window horrified at his excitment over killing the rat (well...some people do lvoe them as pets!)-- I didn't realize that the long brush I was holding hit the fan blade.... our $300.- fan (!) and I BROKE it!
*ugh*
What else???? Well, when our in laws were here, dad in law loved to sit in our tiny sunroom to read in the mornings with his cup of coffee.... and he realized our favorite rug is beginning to DISOLOR *double ugh*.... this is my September 11 rug...the one I bought a month after the attacks... thinking of September 11 in Chile (1973) and the USA's... and I splurged on what I had always wanted-- a really, really nice Turkish rug. It is date 1910, and not cheap.
So, now we are confused- we love to show off this beautiful rug, yet the only room it looks good in is causing it to fade....*ugh* ...... our house is so tiny, there is nowhere else to place it for now. Only--keep hoping to win that lottery ticket and put a second floor on our house (ok. so we have to buy one first!).

Anyway. That has been our week since my in laws left. Oh yes...and I have Sergio on a diet :) loads of tasty vegan-sans grain recipes I will soon share with you!
(these are photos of our room which I painted... and the chaos

our house is in as I attempt to paint a room....
we have an apartment sized house on a our own private "mini" park...we ABSOLUTELY love it...and our pool :) come join us if you are in the area... we will treat you to the pool and Pisco Sours after we make you work a bit! :D

back to painting...and norm of life

2011-07-08T10:06:00.000-07:00

Sergio's parents left two days ago. We loved having them stay with us these last few weeks...but it has been nice to have our *normal* lives back again. We now have two weeks off which we need to fix various things around this little old house.

Of course, things are never as they seem, and there seems to be one thing after another. Sergio was going to replace a board, removed it and found it to be rotten-so as I write this we are waiting for a professional carpenter.
So much to do, so little time.
But we are back to painting at night... and I wanted to share with you the watercolor I finished from my last post, and one I started.

I hope you are doing well! Please drop me a note via facebook/twitter/this blog to say "hello" .... I have missed you all!

staycation .....

2011-07-03T08:32:00.000-07:00

I have had very little time to paint/draw while my in laws have been visiting...but I did work on this piece a little bit on Friday and wanted to share it with you.

Aside from that, we have been having a great time with the in laws...visiting iconic places nearby that include New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and more. It has been a week full of fun and laughter- though I think I laughed the most watching my in laws eat crabs at a traditional Crab House in Baltimore!

It is sort of a "staycation" for us, as we usually travel during this month, but instead we have stayed within a four hour radius from home. If we had more time, we would take them out West to visit the Blue Ridge mountains.... today we will head out to Annapolis and the beaches of Delaware for a day trip.

They have only three days left with us, and we plan to make the best of them! I am so very, very blessed to have such great in laws!

....re-imaging the demon

2011-06-22T10:22:00.000-07:00

Sergio's parents arrived here in Washington DC from Mexico a week ago.
We only see them once a year, and we like to make the most of our time with them. This visit however they have had to be patient with us as we have been dealing with our son's graduation and the court date with 'the ex' on Friday.

Said ex has done the usual harassment via telephone, has gotten our son involved-telling him lies and trying to turn him against us....

I have *mostly* stayed calm and at peace.

Friday I will again face "The demon in my beautiful life" (I did a painting of this a few years ago).

This 'demon' in my otherwise beautiful life should know:
If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything!
Mark Twain

I know that my ex will never be out of my life because of our son... we still have graduations, wedding, shared grandchildren *argh*... so I know that I must change in how I view him. Lose the anxiety that he produces within me.

In the very beginning I sought a shared custody and upbringing of our son. Soon he made it apparent he only sought to make my life miserable. Unfortunately he never realized than in making my life miserable, he was doing the same for our son! Each time he took me to court, yelled at me, harassed me in one way or another...- my son felt "in the middle".

For me, court was always fraught with fear as I was concerned for my son; now that he is now older, I am no longer as worried about such things as I hope and pray he is old enough to see things for himself and not suffer through it all as much.

On Friday, I plan to see this spiteful angry man 'the ex' in a Kafkasque manner. Thus I started an ink drawing to help me with the process.

I have only just began, and I am doing it without any preconceived ideas...just allowing it to flow... I plan to finish it tomorrow night- the eve before the court appointment.

I plan to arrive to the court appointment full of peace, and to use my artistic imagination to indeed re-imagine this man as no longer a demon...but what he is: a weak man masked in anger and bitterness.

Anger is a killing thing: it kills the man who angers, for each rage leaves him less than he had been before - it takes something from him. ~Louis L'Armour

Someday, I hope to be able to forgive him. I hope to be able to see him through eyes of kindness.
It is too early for me right now, the abuse of so many years is still ringing in my ears after his latest telephone call only yesterday.... but someday I will. I will forgive. Not for him, but for my son, for me.

Never does the human soul appear so strong as when it forgoes revenge, and dares forgive an injury. ~E.H. Chapin

ufos

2011-06-13T19:27:00.000-07:00

Here is the "in process" drawing from the post below.

I have thus far only added some brown China Ink. Sergio saw it and said "it looks good, once I crop the ufos on the top it will be a great piece".

He was dead serious.
(he crops and matts and frames all our work)

Actually, he thought I was joking when I said I like the ufos in the piece!

When I actually looked at the whole piece, I saw life in all its forms... plant life, animal, human, angels...and extraterrestrials. I didn't do it consciously....which makes me like it even more!

What do you think about ufos? What about colors -do you think I should add some (other than the brown) to this piece....?

As always I deeply appreciate your input!

love & light always!

Ink drawings- and the artist and the viewer.....

2011-06-11T15:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I posted a drawing and sought advise from friends via Facebook and twitter on whether to add more color or not.

Sergio had stated it neeeded much more color, my good friend Claudia felt it should be kept in black and white.

I was quite unsure as most of the drawings I make in this style I keep in my sketchbook and never consider as "finished pieces"...however, since I have had trouble lately with inspiration, I decided to develop the piece further.

I was absolutely delighted with all of the feedback I received! Thank you! It is fantastic to have the thoughts and opinions of others in regards to my work-I think most if not all, artists will concur that we seem to have an innate need to share our work with others.
Actors will quickly tell you that they perform best when they have an audience that 'responds' (laughs when appropriate, claps ...etc)- musicians need total silence and much applause as well. Visual artists, we bask in knowing that our art holds the interest of the viewer.

The world -you- are my muse!
The responses I received from everyone varied from "leave it as is" ..to add more color--specifically red. This was quite interesting to me as it was the only color I had considered adding. Nobody said yellow, or purple or orange.... fascinating!

I have now started on a second piece similar to the first. I always work without any preconceived idea of where the brush or pen will take me... quite like the automatism of the surrealists: the art leads me to where it wants to go. In this instance, two UFOs appeared in the image. Sergio thinks it is hilarious and keeps asking me where the "ovnis" (ufo in Spanish) came from....!

I am still working on this second piece... but I would love to know if you have any opinions on color now that you are seeing them both together? Post below and let me know! And as always: thank you for being my muse! (my gods and goddesses who inspire the creation of my art).

.......natural healing for third degree burn.

2011-06-04T10:22:00.000-07:00

It has now been a month since our son moved out.What a difference time makes.....!
I still think he would be better off here: with us, close to his school, friends and activities.... but alas, he is not. For now. I am learning to 'give time, time' and we are greatly enjoying him each time he visits...as well as enjoying our first time alone as a couple.

My hand is also needing time to heal. In the meantime, I have learned many things about treating burns naturally and I wanted to share the information with you.

1. Do not put ice on the wound. This can cause tissue damage. Instead, run cold water on the burn for at least 20 minutes.

2. Clean your wound daily with saline solution.

3. Dab on DMSO (highly controversial, but my medicine cabinet is never without this wonderful

elixir from nature. Google it, and if you decide to buy it- only do so from sellers who package it in a dark glass bottle so it is not contaminated by plastic). DMSO is used topically to decrease pain and speed the healing of wounds, burns, and muscle and skeletal injuries. DMSO is also used topically to treat painful conditions such as headache, inflammation, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and more! I love DMSO and have been buying mine for the last 5 years from this online seller.

4. Apply Medicinal honey. It is an antibacterial which prevents infection and promotes tissue growth. Manuka honey can be found on the web and at your local Whole Foods. Prices vary, but you want the highest UMF- 20. It is expensive at $50.- a bottle but it is well worth every penny! It is good for wounds, ulcers, flu and more.

5. Top it off with Castor Oil. Make sure you buy only hexane-free & Certified Pure, Cold Pressed Castor oil. This oil is widely used because of its moisturizing, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, it is a thick, amber liquid rich in fatty acids that benefit the health of our skin.

6. As the wound closes, you can also add Aloe Vera gel from the fresh plant (I alternate one day Castor oil, one day Aloe Vera).

Place a non stick gauze pad and wrap it up. Always keep your wound moist and covered in this mixture. I have been changing my dressing twice daily since I burned myself. In three days it will have been 3 weeks since I burned myself....I think my arm is healing very well and I am hoping and praying that this 3rd degree burn will not scar at all! I will keep you posted....let me know if you have other good advice and/or experiences in healing with nature!

update....

2011-05-23T07:44:00.000-07:00

As I have tried to adjust to the situation with our son, we received in the mail-a week after he left-a notice from my ex's lawyer citing me to court for child support issues. Crazy, but then again, it was to be expected of him.

Earlier that same day, as we prepared to leave to hang our art for an exhibit here in Washington DC, I spilled boiling hot water on my arm. It looked bad enough that Sergio sped his way to the ER blowing past red lights-thinking himself an ambulance (thankfully we live less than 5 mins from the hospital!). I have both first and second degree burns from elbow to wrist of my left arm.

It was quite painful, yet, that very afternoon we went on to hang the show. That night, neither of us slept well, my arm hurt from the burn, Sergio was in pain because his shoulders were sore from hanging the entire show for us and the other three participating artists.

As we go on with our lives in spite of challenges.... and as we adjust to our home sans our son...for now, because we know he will soon come back home...we also seek out the positive aspects of our 'empty nest'.

We attend gallery openings, visit friends...stay up late, eat while watching the news on our laptop, have a mid day 'romp'...and other things we did not do when our son was home.

We still miss our son and were delighted to spend the day with him this weekend and I hope and pray that time is as a soothing and strengthening balm to him in this time of personal change and growth!

Absence diminishes small loves and increases great ones, as the wind blows out the candle and fans the bonfire. ~François Duc de La Rochefoucauld

... it is not just aboout an empty nest...

2011-05-11T09:11:00.000-07:00

I have been reading about the "empty nest syndrome"... and honestly, I can not relate for various reasons.

Sergio and I are still young, most of the people that these books/blogs and forums address are older. I was the first to have a child in my family, and I was quite young when I became a mother. It is only now that all my cousins are having babies, the older of my nephews are still in the first years of elementary school ... same goes for many of our friends, we have only a few friends who also have teens and can thus relate to what we are going through.

The other issue is that our son left not for college, or to live with a girlfriend... he left suddenly and in anger to live with his dad; a man who spent my son's entire life trying one way or another to make my life difficult... endless false accusations, fabrications, angry emails and constant threats were tiresome and painful to our little family-they took my time, energy and patience. There were many times I could have spent with my son in joy and peace, but instead I was stressed and embroiled in endless unfounded accusations and court battles built upon lies.

So I am dealing with not only an "empty nest" but also with sadness and anger at the fact that my son went to live with the very person who made it difficult for us, who robbed us of peace and joy whilst my son was growing up.

I miss him every day. My son and I have always had a very close relationship, and I miss that tremendously-yet
I understand his need to "spread hiw wings and fly".
I have not forgotten my own flight at his age...

Still, I have this hole in my heart...It is a loss I must grieve for... I miss him every day.

It has only been under two weeks...and like any grief process, I know it will take time. I also trust in my son and believe in the end, it will all be for good. I believe the great relationship we have always had will survive this separation....but this does not fill the void in my heart today.

Small children disturb your sleep, big children your life. ~Yiddish Proverb

getting personal.......

2011-05-07T08:52:00.000-07:00

A few days ago a family member informed me that they 'have been told I post about personal issues, and I should stop'. I can imagine who it is who may have said this... I can hear the jarring judging tone in that statement.

I know I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve and I have been told on more than one occassion that this is both my strength and my weakness. Yet, I have seen time after time how some of my more personal posts help others.

I like that!

I like knowing that I am helping someone else just like so many times I have found solace in the writing of others.... I like the sincerity and healing that sharing openly brings. The internet can be a wonderful community.

Thus I blog not only about our Art and our Artventures.... but also about our life. Because we are not only artists, but parents, partners, communtiy members etc...

I share with my readers both our joys and our sorrows...and I treasure each comment/email/Facebook response that I receive from you my dear readers. Thank you!

Knowing that I am helping by sharing, or when you reach out your helping hand to me...both are equally rewarding and this is what keeps me blogging.

I love and esteem you all.....and just wanted you to know!

So now...to get personal:

My latest sorrow..... is that one week ago, my son decided to go live with his father. He is old enough to make that decision, but what makes it difficult is that he made it in anger, because he knows he will get less restrictions with his dad. I know, there are thousands of stories like this. It hurts. He will always be my baby...and I miss him.

It is not only feeling the "empty nest" ... but also grieving over the fact that we have had such a wonderful life together, and he left carrying only negative feelings. Our restrictions over computer time were the largest issue.

I have given myself this week to do "whatever I feel like". Ate lots of chocolate, tried to paint but could not. Bought new bedspreads for his room and ours. Drank wine and cooked delicious meals for Sergio and I every evening. We tried to "go out" one evening...but ended up coming home.

I am trying to accept what this moment may mean to us as a family.
I am praying and believing that it is all for good, though at times I see the truth in this quote by Wilde: The basis of optimism is sheer terror.

But seriously, I am beliving that
The best path to happiness is learning to change as rapidly as life does.

as stated by Don Miguel Ruiz)

Here is one of the ways I cheered myself up this week...making this calorie ladden treat and one of my favorite drinks.... I remember my father making it for my sister and I.....so delicious!

2.03 oz Oporto
•1.01 oz Chocolate Liqueur (I skip this and use raw cacao instead)
•1.01 oz Cognac Or Brandy
•2 - 3 Tblsp Powdered Sugar (I used Stevia)
•1 Egg Yolk (I use the whole egg)
(

Blending Instructions:
•Put all the ingredients in a blender with ice
•Serve in a red wine glass and shake powdered cinnamon on top.

Enjoy!

Art Fair Adventures

2011-05-02T07:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Sergio and I gave another Art Fair a try. It is I believe our 4th time 'doing a Fair' ....and we are still unsure if this is something we want to continue doing with our art. It is fun when the crowds come and we sell a few pieces, yet very different than the gallery setting which we are more accostumed to- and which is not as much work.

There is the loading the car the night before, waking up early to set up at the site.... all the set up...and then break down at the end of the day when we are both hungry and tired.
We do meet loads of people we would otherwise not meet-both artists and visitors...and we always manage to sell a few pieces. However, it is not at all a venue where we can exhibit the large format pieces we both like to work on. So we will see how this continues to develop.
One thing for certain...if we continue...we do need better walls, and more comfortable seating!

The ones we are utilizing now are some that Sergio built thanks to an idea i had for ease of transportation and set up-- it was inexpensive, yet does not do our work justice.
As soon as we can afford it- we will probably purchase nicer panels for our walls, and sell our homemade wall panels "for cheap" :)

Claudia and Claudia

2011-04-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

Only two weeks ago we were in Chile.... such a shorty stay!
We truly hope in the future to be able to visit for longer periods of time-live there part of the year and paint.

On our last day there, one of my best friends came over with her guitar: Claudia Abatte; I took out the painting I had started on the year prior, and we spent the day together with my beloved family on the patio. Talking, drinking wine, one Claudia painiting, the other Claudia singing....

We were joined in by my uncle, aunt, cousin, and the housekeeper/chef who has been with the family since my three cousins were babies...

Sergio made 3 separate videos and is working to edit all into one... meanwhile, I will share them "in the raw"...
One has mostly me painting, the other, mostly my friend singing... I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

..... organillero" = love and laughter

2011-04-22T17:04:00.000-07:00

It is thought that near the end of the 19th century, as part of the substantial German immigration to Chile, the "Organilleros" arrived, with their grinding music, talking parrots (in this case: a fortune telling parrot).... and for the delight of young an old alike. These beautiful large music boxes were called Harmoni-Pans, and most were manufactured by Frati & Co. in Berlin.

In this video...you can see that beside the fact my mother's heart has been a bit broken...lovely family and friends have had me on the mend. and this organillero was indeed: heaven sent"! My uncle heard him playing from inside the house, and he ran down the street to have him come and play for us...gracias tio Oscarito- te amo mucho!!

Enjoy (yes, go on and laugh at my over the top-yet from the heart- silly faces)!

busy, busy good times.......

2011-04-09T14:21:00.000-07:00

We were contacted a few weeks ago by a woman interested in our art who is finishing her museum studies at nearby George mason University and wants to do her thesis on our work.

We have met once with her already, and will do so again today.

It will be interesting to read what she will come up with.

Meanwhile, here we are within only days of our trip to Chile, and surrounded by so many projects, it is difficult to think about packing. We are excited at the thought of

seeing our family and friends in Chile! Our two cats will be well taken care of by a family friend who will come and stay in our house.... everything is ready..except our suitcases!

But having to leave assignments ofr subs and students takes time...and Sergio is at the end of his semester at the college so he is studying intently and non stop- so that leaves...well, guess who to do all the shopping, cleaning, cooking and packing?
And, on top of it all, I have been subpoenaed to testify as a government witness in a case (more on that after the case is over)...*ugh*-- and I have to appear in court the same day we leave the country!!

Ok..but enough complaining...because all these things are actually very good things (well,except for the court thing....but it has nothing to do with me...so I will chalk it up to experience as it is the first time I will be a witness on a case).
I am grateful things are going well for us! As we are also busy preparing for the three group shows we will be in this Spring.... we are hoping to get our work to "move" so we have space in our studio for new work!

What do you think of this little watercolor? ----->
I am not sure what it is ..or what to name it!

A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely. ~Roald Dahl

Mi papa....

2011-04-05T15:49:00.000-07:00

Today marks the anniversary of my Father's death.
I miss him so very much... and think of him everyday. He and my mother were divorced when I was a young child, and I wasn't able to visit with him often because while we lived in Chile, he lived first in Mexico City and then in New York City as a diplomat for the UN. However, although he may not have been privy to the day to day of my life... he was never absent.

I spent many wonderful times vacationing with him at the beaches in Chile and Mexico.... to this day, a "real vacation" for me has to include the beach. Also, it is in the sounds, sights and tastes of Mexico that I think of him.... just as in the streets of New York City.
Mi papa.
He was also a painter, and a poet.

He took my sister and I to museums and galleries and the theater... as well as clam digging in upstate New York, shopping at the mercados in Mexico-strolling through Chinatown or Chichen Itza, browsing through the street wares of artists in the streets of Mexico and through the treasures found in the weekend street fairs of New York. Life with my dad was always interesting and fun. My father, Luis Olivos Ruiz de Gamboa, had a huge influence in me, and in how I spend my days in my present life.

When he died, I felt the whole world had been pulled from under my feet. I was just graduating from high school, and had plans to move in with him and study up north. I was devasted. Lost and broken.

It has been many years since he died, still- I miss him.

I think of him often. And I believe it was he who brought Sergio to me- he knew the joy that Mexico brings to me and that it brings me close to him...so what better way to bring Mexico to me in DC than via a Mexican painter/partner? It is funny, yet I deeply believe that it was my Papa who orchestrated our meeting...

Papa, te amo y pienso en ti...siempre.

more angels......

2011-04-04T10:31:00.000-07:00

I finished the three angels I started last week:

And here is another angel piece I painted (eventhough on Friday, when I was put "under" for a colonoscopy (*ugh*)- I was told that upon awakening I said "I don't want to paint angels anymore..."
Funny... and weird. I love painting angels.

Finally, here is a page from my sketchbook... these are small watercolors I plan to finish this week ...and will share with them later in the week.

Do you believe in angels? I do and agree with John Milton who wrote (in Paradise Lost):
Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth
Unseen, both when we wake and when we sleep.

sketchbook...

2011-03-31T08:44:00.000-07:00

Thank you for all the well wishes I have received!

I have not been painting as much this week, but hope it will pick up today.
These are the pieces I have worked on a bit this week.

These are three separate drawing on each page. I will finish them, separate them, and mount plus matt them for sale as originals and scan to use for selling as reproductions.

feeling blue....

2011-03-30T16:03:00.000-07:00

These last two weeks have been difficult in so many different ways and due to many different reasons.

I feel blue.

Like in this painting.... I feel boxed in and alone-perhaps too large for my own skin. Boxed in and apart from the rest of the world.

I know this will lift in time... but today, I wanted to share a little bit of my life with you-- as I wait....for the light:

No matter how fast light travels it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it.

~Terry Pratchett

painting in progress.... on the other side of the continent

2011-03-29T10:22:00.000-07:00

I am so looking forward to our trip to Chile.
It will be only for a week... but well worth it to hug and spend time with those family members we love and only see once a year!
Unfortunately, because outside of our art, we must teach..it is difficult to fly when we have time off, as this is when fares are the highest (around $1,300.- per ticket!). However, we work all year to accumulate miles with our credit card, and thus will fly the three of us for only $700.- (total) for this trip.
We continue hoping that in a few years time we will be spending a few months out of the year in Chile, painting. This is our goal.
For now, we are happy to go and spend a fantastic time with loved ones.... and I will be painting! Finishing up this painting I started a year ago

nuclear fears....

2011-03-23T12:08:00.001-07:00

Today I received a phone call from The Washington Post, asking for a phone interview regarding my thoughts about Obama's visit to Chile.
The most important thing to me (and we will see how and what gets printed of what I said)...is the new agreement signed on Friday with Obama for a new Nuclear reactor in Chile.
Frightening.
It sadness me that even after the tragic events in Japan, and taking into account that only one year ago Chile suffered a massive earthquake of the same scale as Japan... Nuclear power has been accepted by the Chilean Administration. Greenpeace and other activists marched in peaceful protest... but again, the voice of the people- as in so many places, was not heard.

Technology can increase safety, but there will always be risks with nuclear power. The Japanese reactors at the center of the current crisis use old technology that increased their vulnerability. Next-generation reactors will be “passively cooled,” which means that if backup power fails like it has in Japan, meltdowns will be avoided more easily. (Passive-cooling systems vary, but their common feature is a lack of dependence on external power.) Other lower-tech improvements, such as stronger containment structures, have also mitigated risk.

But what happened in Japan reminds us that unanticipated vulnerabilities are inevitable in any highly complex system. Careful engineering can minimize the chance of disasters, but it can’t eliminate them. Operators and authorities will need to make sure that they’re prepared to deal with unanticipated failures even as they work to prevent them.

Most energy sources entail risks. In the past year, we’ve seen an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, fatal explosions at the Upper Big Branch coal mine in West Virginia and now the crisis in Japan. The American public will need to decide whether the risks of nuclear power — compared with those of other energy sources — are too high.

Gratitude and daily sketches

2011-03-21T11:06:00.000-07:00

These are the sketches I have been working on these last two days.

I wanted to share them with you before I paint them.

I am also beginning to think about our trip to Chile to visit family...only a few more weeks! I am so excited to see everyone. It is a bit frustruating that we can only go for 6 days... it is so far to travel, but I know that one day soon, we will be able to travel there for months at a time!

For now, I appreciate frequent flyer miles... which allow us to visit Chile for a fraction of the cost!

Gratitude is merely the secret hope of further favors. ~François Duc de La Rochefoucauld

suffering

2011-03-20T09:17:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share with my readers the finished version of a watercolor I posted on the previous post.
Truly, our world is going through such turmoil right now.

Last night, we attended a small reception honoring our work at a local wine bistro. It was quite fun, and one can not help but think of how very blessed some of us are- when so many others suffer. Not only in Japan, but all over the Middle East.

Some claim it is the end of the world as we know it...some even point to the Bible or to the up and coming 2012 date.
I believe that we have often gone through times in our history where the world goes into chaos: wars, plagues, natural disasters.

Yet, we continue to live, love and laugh in spite of the tears.

The beauty of the world has two edges, one of laughter, one of anguish, cutting the heart asunder. ~Virginia Woolf

Japan... it continues

2011-03-17T13:42:00.000-07:00

Today, I was contacted by someone wanting to use my "Elpis-The Goddess of Hope" for their campaign of hope for Japan. Indeed, it is a very fitting image, Elpis herself looks a bit like a red headed Japanese woman, comforting a suffering person....

I am glad they will use the image...yet, on a daily basis- I continue to try to paint more hopeful scenes, but the news bring me back to the horror everyone in Japan is living this moment.

This page from my watercolor pad is a bit telling...the first image: on top- shows the suffering of a people whilst the "rest of the world" continues to party and live a good life. I think it is in part Japan, in part my teen who has been struggling these past few months with his own hardships.Below, a very silly looking couple...I drew and painted this as I spent some time with Sergio, both of us wanting to relax in front of a funny movie.
Yet, quickly, I was brought back to drawing suffering images, and I ended up with what I think is the best (and not yet finished) of the three (at the bottom).

My heart is with Japan, the people, the animals..the beautiful land...

japan and teen angst....

2011-03-15T15:13:00.000-07:00

My heart still with Japan..... these are the two pieces that came forth between Sunday and Monday night.

Yet, at this moment...my heart is with my son...teen angst and the blues.... a mother's heart suffers when her children suffer.
My heart aches for him and oh... how I wish for a magic wand to make things better.
Sometimes I wish he was a little boy again, skinned knees are easier to fix than broken hearts.

I want my son to know that :
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

*sigh*..yet they never really do want to hear it from mom.....*sigh*
A glass of wine.... and we will see what will come forth from tonight's daily watercolor.

And.....appropriately enough... I will repost this quote I posted a few weeks ago:
When the Japanese mend broken objects, they aggrandize the damage by filling the cracks with gold. They believe that when something's suffered damage and has a history it becomes more beautiful. ~Barbara Bloom

My heart is with Japan during these trying times. 2011 Earthquake & Tsunami

2011-03-14T08:59:00.000-07:00

I darkened the bottom of my first Japan Easthquake/Tsunami watercolor a bit. I think I will also darken the ocean underneath the top watercolor as well.

Last night, I also started a new Japan earthquake/tsunami watercolor, inspired by a photo of the aftermath that I saw. Here is the ink drawing of it, I will paint it in tonight.

Japan earthquake

2011-03-12T06:15:00.000-08:00

My heart is with the people of Japan. An earthquake the same magnitude as that which hit my own Chile last 27 of February 2010...has hit Japan on March 11 2011.

This morning, I woke up to the news which I thought were inevitable: explosion in a nuclar plant.

I think of all the human suffering, loss. Animals and people dying, losing loved ones, losing everything.

last night, when I began with my daily watercolor...suffering is all I could paint.

As I finished it and showed it to Sergio, he mentioned he liked the juxtaposition of the one I had done the day before (a woman with her back to the viewer looking at a beautiful landscape) with the one below, of an earthquake.

Thinking of it in this way, it shows the strength of human spirit....

(btw: I am not sure I am finished with it...I think it needs darker colors.
what do you think?)

The sun shines and warms and lights us and we have no curiosity to know why this is so; but we ask the reason of all evil, of pain, and hunger, and mosquitoes and silly people. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

International Women's Day

2011-03-08T09:51:00.000-08:00

Happy International Women's Day
March 8 is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future.

In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women's Day is a national holiday.

Suffragettes campaigned for women's right to vote. The word 'Suffragette' is derived from the word "suffrage" meaning the right to vote. International Women's Day honours the work of the Suffragettes, celebrates women's success, and reminds of inequities still to be redressed.

Celebrate the women in your life!These waterocolors are for sale! High quality reproductions for only $15.- (plus shipping) can be purchased via paypal. Please specify which watercolor you are purchasing. Originals available for $40.-. Please email me if interested at olivosartstudio(at)gmail.com

mini 'scapes'

2011-03-02T07:29:00.000-08:00

These are some tiny whimsical 'landscapes from everyday life' I have been working on these past weeks.

Sergio loves them... I hope you will too!

They remind me of the drawings I used to make as a child.

Made to order reproductions of these watercolors are only $15.-
Originals are $40.- if interested in the original send me a message at OlivosARTstudio(at)gmail.com

share your gift....

2011-03-01T14:50:00.000-08:00

We love teaching children.... especially since what we get to teach is what we love: ART!

Some students I have had since they were 5 years old...now they are in high school and they continue to take our studio classes. It is such a privilege to be part of their lives and it is so rewarding to watch their development not only artistically, but also into wonderfully intelligent young people.

We are always saddned to hear of cuts to art programs throughout our Nation, when we see on a weekly basis how art helps children's development.

Luckily, we live in Washington DC, where many people have the financial freedom to sign up their children for art classes, however- my heart goes out to all those who miss out. This is why, whenever we can, we go to the community and offer art workshops free of charge for those unable to afford regular classes.

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. ~Dalai Lama

In these difficult economic times when giving to others in a worse situation than we are is crucial--yet may be a great sacrifice to your own pocket-- remember that giving your TIME is also valuable.

Whether you help out in a soup kitchen, help the neighbor with their yard... no matter what you do to help others, it is important. And what's more, you can give in ways that give you joy...do you knit? Begin making scarfs to give away to a local shelter next winter. Are you and avid gardner? Many retirement homes are having to cut back, you could both do some gardening and enlist the help of residents who would love to be involved. Think about what you love to do...and go out there to share your gift with others~

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. ~Plato

These waterocolors are for sale! High quality reproductions for only $15.- (plus shipping) can be purchased via paypal. Please specify which watercolor you are purchasing. Originals available for $40.-. Please email me if interested at olivosartstudio(at)gmail.com

mark your calendars for March 19/2011

2011-02-26T14:24:00.000-08:00

Today we had some wonderful visitors to our studio..they were picking pieces to include in a show this month.
If you are in the Washington DC area--please mark your calendar-Opening night Reception will be on March 19!

Our pieces on exhibit as part of an exciting new project named SWIRL where art & fine food and wine are 'swirled' together to allow for a wonderful experience of the senses.
In partnership with the now well known ArtDC- Twisted Vines, an elegant wine bar and Bistro will be featuring original artwork each month. March will be our exhibit,with the opening night being on March 19.
We hope to see you there!.
This is all thanks to our dear friends and fellow artists Deidree Bennet and Jesse Cohen with ARTDC, as well as Twisted Vines owners Sibyl and Josh Robinson.
Man will begin to recover the moment he takes art as seriously as physics, chemistry or money.~Ernst Levy

Whimsical watercolors....more Rousseau and Chagall inspired

2011-02-23T11:02:00.000-08:00

Here are the last two pieces from my Rousseau inspired whimsical watercolors, and the first of Chagall.

I am having so much fun with these whimsical watercolors, I am actually beginning to think about licensing some of the images!
Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. ~Author Unknown

Rousseau inspired #2

2011-02-21T09:02:00.000-08:00

I have gotten a bit sidetracked whilst doing my "20th Century Masters' Inspired" series. You can see many of these "distractions" in my etsy shop

But still, I did create these two pieces inspired by Rousseau which I really love!I hope to make at least two more inspired by him..then I will move to Chagall, then Matisse and Picasso (not necessarily in that order)- but I hope to make three watercolors inspired by each... hopefully allowing it to inspire me to create oil paintings of the same later.

I hope you love these as much as I do! A whimsical take on my favorite Masters...

my birthday party

2011-02-15T10:42:00.001-08:00

February 13 was my birthday .... a week before, and quite last minute: Sergio and I decided to have a small party to celebrate.
I usually have not been too much into having birthday parties for myself. We usually only invite a few family members and spend it quietly eating cake.
I now have learned the benefits of having a birthday party.

Because it was only giving people one week's advance notice, I was expecting a few visitors. Instead, we had 31 people join us to celebrate! the party began at 5pm..and we ended at 2am with belly dancing and loads of laughter.

I learned a few things on that day:
1.-Sergio and I tend to over estimate for food. We now have enough leftovers to host ANOTHER party for 30 people!

2.-Cooking with friends makes the whole experience more fun (thank you Connie)

3.- Though it is fun cooking with friends...never, ever...take your eye off of the pressure cooker.
Yes, it "exploded"..although the top stayed on, it jumped about 6 inches into the air, and left us stranded in a rain of beef broth. Beef broth dripping from the ceiling as we waded in beef broth on the floor... laughing as we cleaned up, I only regret there was not a video camera on!

4. I have wonderfully fun friends.

5. I am loved.
THANK YOU ALL for your frienship and love.
The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship. ~William Blake

Friends are kisses blown to us by angels. ~Author Unknown

The Dream on a whim...Rousseau inspired

2011-02-12T14:41:00.000-08:00

Last night, I painted a little watercolor reminiscent of Henri Rousseau.
As a child, I visited museums often with my father, who was also a painter and lived in New York. And, much like my own son has complained of *being bored* when visiting museums... I remember also not really appreciating looking at art as I love to do now.

However, I remember with much clarity a few paintings that had a huge impact on me as a little girl.

One was Picasso's "The Lovers"...the other was Rousseau's "The Dream".

Both are romantic scenes- although both with very different colors and 'tension'.
Picasso's painting is soft and gentle, showing an innocence of the lovers, whereas Rousseau's is mysterious ... even voyeuristic.

The other night, I made this little piece without even thinking about what I was doing. When I finished, I realized I had translated Rousseau's piece into a whimsical watercolor-- I like it!
I feel that working with watercolor helps me to remain "loose" as opposed to when I work with oil paints. I think I am going to do a series of these pieces-looking at my favorite painters which include: Picasso, Modigliani, Chagall, Rousseau, Matisse, Kahlo, and more.
I will do a small series first in watercolor, and perhaps as the weather gets warmer and I visit the studio more often, I will perhaps do them in oil.

Is there a particular piece you would like to see done in this way?
If so...let me now!

babies and brides

2011-02-07T11:44:00.000-08:00

Must be Spring! Lately I have been making whimsical pieces of babies and weddings.

Also, three of my cousins are expecting-and I am so very happy for them! And I also recently received the happy news from an old friend that after many years of trying to get pregnant--they are now expecting twins!
Most of these expecting parents are around our age.... however, as they expect little angels to be born... we are ready to celebrate the graduation from high school of our "not so little" angel!

Parenting is exactly as they say: "the hardest job you will ever love!"

Here are some of my paintings (let me know if you are interested in the purchase of one-most are available in my etsy store!)I can make these custom-with the colors you need (clothes/skin) etc....

Family Systems

2011-02-05T10:26:00.001-08:00

I have again been reading quite a bit about family systems this week (this is why I studied Psychology-I am always fascinated by human behavior)

Families, as wonderful as they are-always carry some inherent dysfunction.

The family - that dear octopus from whose tentacles we never quite escape, nor, in our inmost hearts, ever quite wish to. ~Dodie Smith

Do any of these "characters" play out in your family system?
If so--who are you?
Being aware of the "role we play" in our family system can be quite healing as we can begin to move away from an unhealthy pattern.

1) The Hero:
The Hero is the member of the family who is
the focus of positive energies. This individual "plays" or is
"appointed" to be the one everyone admires. His or her
achievements are always elevated while their mistakes are played down.

2) The Enabler:
The Enabler is the one who is always
helping others at great sacrifice to themselves, to keep things settled
down. Enablers work to keep the lid on anxieties and to help shield the
system from internal breakdown through compromise, repression, etc.

3) The Lost Child:
The Lost Child is a loner who never
finds themselves. Always in the midst of the family and looking for love
and acceptance, the Lost Child is accommodated but not loved. The Lost
Child is an emotional orphan neglected, uncured for, and left to take
care of himself.

4) The Mascot:
In response to the fear of being left out
(as the Lost Child) and a dread of a guilt-ridden loneliness (as the
Scapegoat), the Mascot is marked by visible behaviors which draw
attention to himself. Positive Mascot behavior is marked by the ability
to joke around, provide fun, humor and release of tension in the family.
At other times they will be the "cute" one or clown that
people point to and enjoy. Whether the Mascot’s behavior is constructive
or destruction, one thing is sure: the Mascot will be hard to ignore.

5) The Scapegoat:
This family member is the constant
recipient of unfair and hostile projections, many of which may be
undeserved. As steam needs to be released from a boiling keg to keep it
from bursting, so family and relationship systems need a release valve
to ease the "pressure" of family. The Scapegoat is that
release. Scapegoat (or: the black sheep of the family) is a fairly common phenomenon. Many families have one. Someone who the others might complain about or devote a lot of energy discussing when they’re not in earshot. Someone they’re generally concerned or angry with. Someone the family is united in their difference from.

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. ~Desmond Tutu

What can you do to break from a system that may not be working for you?
*Speak for yourself as much as possible, using ‘I language’ and explaining your own thoughts, dreams and hopes to others.
*Remember that that wherever you "fit" into the system is not about you specifically, as painful as it might sometimes feel, but that it’s a pattern that the family learned in order to deal with problems, anxities and general tension.

Remember that underlying this cast of characters, and within every human being is the true Self that is wise, calm, open and loving. Be that someone-that person who you truly are...!

What are your thoughts? What’s worked for you?

Mimi's Crafts

2011-01-29T09:42:00.000-08:00

Our postman has not been making us very happy.
Three items that we know of have disappeared between the post office to our home.Who knows how many other things may have gone missing...?

One of our missing items was a self portrait I painted of our little family for an exhibit in New York. I loved the piece, and unfortunately as the deadline was upon us, I didn't take the time to document it. I depicted the three of us as the "Holy Family": I was the virgin Mary, Sergio, Joseph and our son Julian was of course, Jesus. Sergio and I held paintbrushes in our hand, and our son a book (he is an aspiring writer). It was a sweet yet humorous look at the three of us.

Where did that painting disappear to? Our home post office shows the package arrived safely to their office, which means it must have been delivered to the wrong address. Is it possible that somewhere in our neighborhood someone has our personal painting in their living room?

Another item that was lost was a great little ID purse I had ordered from Mimi over at etsy.

I had seen ID cards/purses she had listed, but I wanted one with two windows, one for my pass card (for the college where I am adjunct at) the other for my metro card. The two are not to touch one another nor my cell as they can cancel each other out-as I learned the hard way when I lost $20.- on my metro card (!). She added a pocket in the middle for some cash etc.
I was also able to choose the fabric from among a huge selection she has available.

I was SO disappointed when I found out it had gotten lost between our post office and home.
When she wrote to ask me if I had received it, I told her what happened, adding that I knew the loss was not her fault... yet she offered to send me another free of charge and only for the cost of shipping!

How sweet is that!?

It arrived two days ago and I am not only grateful for the kind gesture...but I am delighted by the quality and craftsmanship! It is just what I wanted and worth the wait!

Stop by her shop and check out all her handmade bags, ID cards, cool purses and hobo bags...even eyeglass holders!
Lovely work and lovely person!

The boys in the band

2011-01-26T10:05:00.000-08:00

"The boys in the band/Boys night out" .....oh they are just so cool!
This is an original 5"x 7" Matted watercolor on heavy weight watercolor paper. Original $40.- (plus shipping).
Only $15. for a high quality reproduction

sisters...friends

2011-01-26T09:56:00.000-08:00

Sisters...best friends.
5"x 7" Matted watercolor on heavy weight watercolor paper. Original $40.- (plus shipping). High quality reproduction available for only $15.-
These waterocolors are for sale! High quality reproductions for only $15.- (plus shipping) can be purchased via paypal. Please specify which watercolor you are purchasing. Originals available for $40.-. Please email me if interested at olivosartstudio(at)gmail.com

Amigas/Girlfriends w/collage

2011-01-26T09:34:00.000-08:00

Watercolor collage (page from a book). 5"x 7" Matted watercolor on heavy weight watercolor paper. Original $25.- (plus shipping)

The Heart's Code

2011-01-21T10:04:00.000-08:00

My painting: "The Heart's Code"way the paint (mixed with beeswax) travels all around as though it has a mind of its own... The encaustic measures 6" x 6" and comes framed in this handsome handmade by Sergio wooden frame. It is only $90.00!

I recently have been reading a book called "The Heart's Code". It is an incredible concept, to think our hearts have their own "code" and cellular memory. I am fascinated by the many reports of interesting experiences people go through when receiving a donor heart and this book by Dr. Pearsall is an investigation of leading researchers in the field recognizing the heart-brain connections in human thought processes and memories.

I have always felt our heart is too often overlooked and instead our brain is given all the credit....yet- have you not ever had a "heartache" where you actually feel the pain physically? When you fall in love do you "give your lover your brain..or your heart?", weh we are hurt we claim we have a "pain in our heart".... They are simply metaphors...or are they?

Reading this book has been very interesting as it is scientific before it is overly sentimental and yet it reveals that the unanimous conclusion of leading researchers is that the heart thinks, feels, remembers, and there is a subtle yet very powerful energy that connects everything and every person.

I chose this painting for this post as the white are reminds me of something "otherwordly" and wonderful.....like our hearts.

This is one of the encaustics I painted a month ago. I love the

live life with passion and imagine your goals/dreams coming true!

2011-01-14T16:07:00.000-08:00

We are midway through January.... how are you doing with your New Year's resolutions?
Did you set a 'goal' for this New Year?
Do you have a plan a hope, a dream or wish to fulfill in the coming year?

If so...here are a few tips in practicing to "imagine it" ..there more you imagine: the closer you will be to your goal/hope/dream coming true.I know in my own life, I have done this on a few occasions...about things I really wanted...and they have come to pass.

The process of using your imagination in this way has much less to do with figuring out "how" you will do it, and much more on focusing your imagination on how it will "look" when it manifests itself.

You must first let go of memories that will stump you. Anything that "tells you" you will fail, your wish is silly or unattainable...etc. Leave these behind as 'forgotten memories"... and live in eternal hope and expectation!
This is an encaustic (pigment with beeswax and found objects-it is a great reminder to leave your stumbling 'memories' behind-and focus on a bright future! It is only $90.- and measures 3" x 4". It comes framed as the piece below (but in brown stained wood).

For example, a few years ago, when I was still a single mom.... I used to rent out a space in our little house to a student. It was great extra help financially, but -though our house is very cute- it is very tiny; it is a typical house in this part of what used to be Washington DC.: very small.
I love living here in Arlington, only 5 minutes away from the Potomac river, Arlington is the smallest county in the USA, yet it hosts not only the Pentagon, but Reagan (National) airport and our nation's prestigious: Arlington Cemetery.
Yet..with all it's wonderful grandiosity, homes tend to be quite small (like in most cities). Thus, my dream was always to make our tiny two bedroom house into one that would be welcoming to my son's friends once he was a teenager.

I spent many nights as I drifted off to sleep imagining how I would redecorate our renter's room. Where I would place the sofa, what kind of flooring etc.

I am happy to say that as I write this, our son is in that space now, enjoying the warmth of the fire with two friends as they cozily watch movies on this chilly January Saturday night. I hear the laughter drift upstairs, and my heart is grateful for a dream fulfilled!

I have many other stories like that...of goals/dreams/manifested.... and I have a few I am *brewing* right now. Some which I hope will come to pass this coming year...some which have no timetable- just a hope on an angel's wing...

Of course, it is important to keep in mind that not all our goals/wishes and dreams are meant to manifest. Sometimes, we may think we need/want something to manifest, but God/Higher Power/The Universe- knows our heart better than we do. It may not be the best path for us.
I have often found that when something does not manifest itself, after the initial disappointment--not much time passes before I realize it was not the best thing for my life.
Sometimes it is a matter of timing. Sometimes it is a matter of what is best for our future.

Trust in the power of Love...trust in the power of God/Universe/Goddess--whatever you wish to call the Higher Power.
Simply Trust, Love and Hope.... and live every one of your days with passion and gratefulness!
Blessings and Love to you...and may all your dreams and wishes come true!!!

.....everyday love and blessings

2011-01-14T09:58:00.000-08:00

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. ~Robert Brault

This mini canvas is available for only $95.- plus shipping ($7.00 in continental USA, please email me for international mailing!)

Angels have no philosophy but love. ~ Guillemets

Adan & Eva

2011-01-12T11:57:00.000-08:00

One of my mini canvases Adan & Eva... Framed with handmade wooden frame by Sergio.The canvas is only 3" x 3" (not including the frame-though frame is included in the price).This is a scene of the Garden of Eden with a bit of wit. What story do you read into the image I created? Coquetry whets the appetite; flirtation depraves it. Coquetry is the thorn that guards the rose - easily trimmed off when once plucked. Flirtation is like the slime on water-plants, making them hard to handle, and when caught, only to be cherished in slimy waters. ~Ik Marvel

(This piece just sold! ...will list another later-thanks to all who love my work enough to make it your own!)

Tea and a confession

2011-01-06T12:13:00.000-08:00

This is a story written by my friend Michelle. She is a terrific writer, gifted oracle reader and a wonderful blogger over at GreenWoman.

2 years ago you sat at my table while I made you tea. You didn’t see, but I slipped a love potion in your cup. Imagine my surprise when it worked.

Tonight there’s a small velvet box in your pocket. It’s supposed to be a surprise, but your room mate let the secret slip when I called for you yesterday, and now I guess I should tell you the truth.

You walk in with flowers. You bring flowers every Friday, always something sweet smelling. Freesia, Roses, sweet little Stephanotis that fades to brown by morning. Tonight the heady scent of Casablanca Lilies envelopes me when I open the door, and I find a vase while you slip off your heavy wool coat and step out of your muddy shoes.

“It’s very January out there,” you tell me, “and traffic was terrible.”

I love you more every day. I love your laugh and the way you smell and the way you sing Bruce Springsteen tunes off key in the shower. I love the way you examine the innards of your sandwich before you eat it and the way you check the locks three times before you leave for work. And today I have to tell you the truth, and I have to tell you before that box comes out of your pocket. Because I want to marry you, and I know if I don’t tell you now I’ll never be able to tell you after you put a ring on my finger.

So you sit down and I make you a cup of tea, the same kind I made for you that night, the tea you said was the best cup of tea you ever drank right before you pinned me against the wall in the hallway and kissed me.

You toy with your cup, looking guilty. I stare at my hands, feeling guilty. Finally we both blurt at the same moment: “I have something I have to tell you.”

We laugh, but my heart is pounding.

“You first,” you say, and for the first time I wish you weren’t so considerate.

I take a deep breath.

“Okay,” I say. “I know you think you love me. But you don’t.”

“But I do,” you say.

I wave at your steaming mug.

“It’s not real. That night--the first time you kissed me--I put a love potion in your tea.”

You stare at me for a few minutes, and I expect you to be angry, but you laugh. You get up and hug me.

“Maybe I should have made my confession first,” you say, and my fear returns, stronger than before. Now that my secret is out and you haven’t left me yet, I wonder what you could possibly have to reveal.

“Go ahead,” I say.

“I hate tea. All tea. Every kind of tea I’ve ever had.”

“But you said . . .”

You laugh again, apologetically.

“I lied to you because I didn't want to hurt your feelings. I never drank that tea. I fed it to your ficus when you excused yourself to answer the phone.”

Now I remember walking away from the table that night, coming back to find your cup empty. I offered more, and you said no, you were watching your caffeine.

And the ficus tree grew more lush and enormous over that severe winter, in spite of frequent power failures and even more frequent watering failures. Until you and I went away together for a week, to Vermont to visit your parents, and when I came back the tree was dead, though I’d hired someone to water and all the other plants were thriving. They replaced my ficus; who would believe my tree died of a broken heart?

And you loved me for two years while I swam in guilt. I blink at you, and you are smiling but you also look a little nervous, like I might be mad at you.

“So how many cups of tea have you wasted these past two years?” I ask, torn between relief and embarrassment.

You shake your head and kiss me.

“I say we’re even,” you say, and I laugh.

“Right,” I answer. “Even.”

And I hold my breath as you reach for the box in your pocket.

Cielito Lindo

2011-01-02T12:39:00.000-08:00

We spent New Year's Eve with friends in our little love and art filled home.... here is a video we made of us singing "Cielito Lindo" led by our VERY talented friend, Alex Albuquerque- a professional singer and actor in the Washington DC area.

New Year wishes ...painting on the road

2011-01-01T11:20:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone!!!
We wish everyone a wonderFULL joyFULL and peaceFULL year, overflowing in LOVE & Laughter!
We spent a week visiting friends and family in Florida.
We drove back on the 30th of December to spend the 31st with some friends in our home.
It is a 17 hour drive.... and lucky for me, Sergio decided to drive the whole way (5 years ago, it was I who made the drive there and back!).
Whilst he drove, we sang to tunes on the radio, and I drew and painted. Here are a few shots of my 'impromptu studio on the road'.

My sister and I would always spend New Year's in New York City with my father (where he lived)and where his tradition was to eat Chinese that evening. I have always followed that tradition...so last night we made 'homemade Chinese' and stayed home to watch the ball drop with friends by our warm woodstove.

It was a great time as we shared in laugher, song and dance until almost 5:am!
Sergio and I wish you and you loved ones much Peace, Joy and most of all Love..this 2011-may this year be full of love, laughter, song and dance for everyone!

.....a fairy and ginger/cinnamon tea

2010-12-14T14:12:00.000-08:00

Two things to share with you as we head into a New Year... my "Fairy in the Flowers" painting..to bring you wishes for peace & love in the New Year.... and a health warming recipe for tea.

It is already freezing here in the Washington DC area...most of the USA and the UK is under a blanket of snow. Winter has come early all around!
I wanted to share my favorite drink for winter:

Fresh ginger and Cinnamon tea!

1/2 cup fresh ginger, peeled if non organic, and sliced thinly
2 cinnamon sticks
6 cups water
Stevia or raw honey to taste

Directions:Prep Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 25 mins
1 In a saucepan (I use my clear glass whistling kettle) simmer ginger, cinnamon, and water for 20 minutes. Simmer longer for stronger tea.
optional: You may add lemon.Strain tea and serve
Add honey and/or Stevia to taste

Enjoy! Not only is this a great tea for your health...it will also make your home smell delicious!

Did you have trouble finding my little fairy? Here is a close up...

Cinnamon and tea are both known for their curative powers. You can see the benefits of cinnamon here and the benefits of Ginger here

Mulled Wine recipe...Vino Navegado

2010-12-08T11:20:00.000-08:00

The encaustic to the right is available for $80.- plus shipping.
In Chile it is common to drink warm red wine in chilly weather,In Chile, this is called a "Navegado"

It can be simply warm red wine with oranges and cinnamon... or a more German influenced Navegado like the one I like to make:

2 bottles of red wine (Concha y Toro)
1 cup brown sugar (you can also instead add honey to taste)
2 cinnamon sticks
3 whole cloves
1 tsp grated nutmeg (I grind it fresh on my coffee grinder)
1/2 tsp toasted whole black peppercorns
1/2 tsp whole allspice
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 star anise
Juice of 2 sliced oranges
optional: Pisco/cognac or brandy (we did not add it this year)

You can set all this to simmer. I make it in our percolating coffee maker the morning of our pARTy and simply leave it plugged in and warm. If you make it in a pot on your stove, be careful not to overheat it- the alcohol will evaporate...

ENJOY!

studio tour

2010-12-05T09:55:00.000-08:00

A little tour of our studio...ready for our pARTy!

..clean up and clean out!

2010-11-28T12:58:00.000-08:00

Every year whilst getting ready for our Open Studio Winter pARTy, we have to make an effort to clean up and clean out... between both of us we create a lot of good...and sometimes 'not so great" work.

When I have created something I am not happy with on canvas, it is easy to paint a new painting over it. I have done this on several occasions-sometimes years after I have finished a piece. With works on paper, it is not so easy to 'recycle' ... sometimes I cut them up an make them into greeting cards, other times they go into our "collage" drawer. Here, they are free for any studio participant to cut up and use in art much as one does with a magazine collage.

Lastly, every December, we go through all our pieces on paper- and toss them in the fire.

It is not an easy process...and sometimes we disagree on what should go and what shouldn't- there are pieces that Sergio has taken and matted and framed which I was getting ready to throw in the fire!

This year, I cut several of them up into tiny Holiday gift name cards... still, there were several that made it into our wood stove.

...raw cranberry sauce

2010-11-25T11:58:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

I am so very grateful to all those of you who follow us on our artistic path...one step at a time!

Today, while Sergio is in the studio making frames, I am in the kitchen getting creative with raw foods!My approach to cooking has always been similar to my approach to painting: I do so intuitively. I read recipes or taste dishes I like, and then experiment with flavors in my kitchen. Raw foods is the friendliest of all "mediums" for this...as you can really taste as you go-- no need to wait until flavors meld together whilst a dish is cooking-- in this way, you can add/subtract and otherwise modify until you are happy with the result.

My latest creation (only a few minutes ago!) is a raw cranberry sauce. It is so good,
It is a very healthy alternative to traditional cranberry sauces- and I think it would go great with turkey or ham (though I don't eat either).

I think I will be having it for dessert tonight!

Remember-- taste as you go!
Cranberry "Sauce"
Half a bag of fresh raw cranberries
Several oranges (I used tangerines)
2 sweet apples
Raw organic agave nectar
4 soaked dates
Cinnamon

Put cranberries, oranges and one and one half of the apples in the food processor and run until fairly well chopped up.
In a blender, add dates (remember to remove the pit!) and the remaining half of your apple.
Give it a whirl...and add the blender mixture to the processed portion.
Add agave nectar and cinnamon to taste.

Enjoy!!!

Open Studio Winter Holiday pARTy 2010

2010-11-21T15:05:00.000-08:00

You are cordially invited to our
Annual winter Open Studio pARTy
Please join us!evite

When: Saturday, December 4, 7:00PM -
Location: our studio-OlivosARTstudio
1830 North Quintana Street
Arlington, VA 22205 US
Phone: 703-237-7562

Come peruse our latest art work, enjoy conversation, mulled wine and hors d'oeuvres
bring your friends and family
...we are conveniently located within walking distance of the East Falls Church Metro...
We look forward to spending time with you!
Claudia & Sergio

ClaudiaOlivos.com
SergiOlivosM.com
www.OlivosARTstudio.com

no sleep, lots of paintings!

2010-11-21T14:02:00.000-08:00

We usually stay "late" in the studio. That is usually until 2 or 3 am.
However, in these last two weeks we have stayed there until 4 am a few times!
We are so excited about our pieces, and we are having so much fun making them... we forget how important sleep is!
When I went to bed near 5am this morning... I knew it was taking it's toll. Today I have been exhausted. and have spent most of the day sitting at the kitchen table drinking tea and trying to make sure "the word gets out" about our Open Studio pARTy-- it seems that most of our invitations have been lost in the world of "spam". *ugh*
This is the part that is difficult for most artists: marketing, promoting our work.
We are excited to share our work with you.... and look forward to finding a home to all the special pieces we have been making...."getting the word out" takes so much time--and it is so much more fun to be out in the studio painting!

....if you are in the Washington DC area: we certainly hope you will join us here on the 4th!
Here is one by Sergio, it is about 10 x 5 inches-isn't it wonderful?
I did post a video yesterday so that you can see what it is like in the studio...the camera was wobbly as I tried to walk around all the things we have in the studio.

..free shipping for the Holidays!

2010-11-18T10:05:00.000-08:00

With the holidays just around the corner, I wanted to remind you that art is a most wonderful and unique gift to give to friends and relatives

Starting today and through December 20... we will have FREE shipping within the Continental USA for all works on paper.This includes prints and originals. You can see many of our pieces on etsy and on our websites.

If there is a print you would like of one of my paintings, just contact us and we will make a print to order! These make fantastic Holiday gifts: they will not make you gain weight, do not wear out, do not go our of style--lasts a lifetime!

Art is also the best gift for that person in your life who seems to already have “everything.”

Art make the most wonderful gifts! Pick up some cool unique gifts from our studio or buy from us online (we take paypal and major credit cards).
Be an original and a supporter of the arts and artists.

...when time flies

2010-11-13T13:43:00.000-08:00

...I have heard it said that when you feel that time has "flown by" ...you do not age for that period of time in your life.

It is about living in joy and living in the moment.

Well last night must not count for us in terms of time passing...for we had so much fun in the studio with our dearest friend Angie... that though we started chatting, painting (& drinking) in the studio at 6:30 pm... nobody noticed the passing of time- until it was 4am! We left behind this awful mess

Today, with only three hours of sleep..we feel energized and happy!

I was able to finally resolve my Mermaid painting (started over a year ago)-- The painting is about 4 x4 feet and I finished it with oils and encaustics....

Here you can see some of the beaded wax on the tails of the mermaid and her merchildWe had a fantastic time- and only wish we could enjoy our lives making art full time every single day of the year (hear that universe? that is my wish!)

...it's all about beeswax now

2010-11-08T18:27:00.000-08:00

We are having so much fun playing with wax.... a medium that is one of the world's most ancient and archival painting mediums, predating oil paint-the Fayum portraits from Grego-Roman Egypt, circa 100 B.C.to 200 A.D., have survived through the centuries. However, painting with wax, better known as Encaustics was a lost art until Jasper Johns brought it back from obscurity in 1954, exposing it to a new generation of artists.
The fact that I am now as obsessed with encaustic paints as Sergio always has been has come at a complete surprise to me. After all, I have been watching him work with wax in our studio for the last 5 years... but suddenly, I too am in love with this soft pile of molten beeswax and damar resin. It is also appealing to be working with encaustics now that the weather is getting cooler.
We fire up the woodstove and melt our wax paints right on our stove.Here are some images of pieces finished this past weekend, waiting for frames

It seems so right to be working with paints made of a natural medium (we just bought 25 lbs of beeswax from a beekeeper in the area) and to be using our studio's source of heat to help us paint. Sergio painting one of his large pieces (here he is using acrylic paints mixed with sand)

Additionally, the process is much more immediate than the usual oils I work with, the wax dries within seconds. It is also more forgiving, if I am happy with my results, I take the blow torch and melt it into our coffee can of "brown in the making."
The process is very tactile, and sultry.The wax is soft and pliable...versatile beyond belief (though I am still very much at the starting line for understanding how to utilize it with my figurative pieces).

For now, I am having fun making small pieces while I play with texture, scraping into the wax,
embedding objects into it, embossing it with Chinese paper,drawing into it with oil sticks and pastels...it seems like there are endless possibilities for fun creations!
Our studio is now a much 'messier' place and my need to have everything in its place has to be ignored for at least a few hours. We are blessed with a large space, but when we are in there working it gets claustrophobic with all of the materials we pull out and get crazy having fun with!

....of stolen purses and what is lost is sometimes found

2010-11-08T07:10:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, as Sergio and I shopped for objects to utilize on our encaustic paintings, my purse was stolen from "right under my nose". I set it down for a second, and it disappeared as if by magic.

We searched frantically for 15 minutes, and as I knew I had 'just had it' I decided to immediately cancel my credit card. While I was on the manager's phone doing that (my cell was also in the purse)-I asked an employee to please call the police. He said he would. I felt that if the police came,the thief would be less likely to walk out with the purse, little time had passed and I felt the thief may still be in the store.
As I continued to look for my purse many people in the store as well as several of the employees began to help. Sergio stood at the door waiting for the police and scrutinizing everyone leaving for bulk underneath their coats.... after 30 minutes and no police, I asked the employee when he had called-and he stated he had not because he felt it "unnecessary".

Anger began to simmer within me ....
I called the police myself and then looked for the employee to "give him a piece of my mind"-when he saw me, he briskly walked into the back room and closed the door. I walked in right behind him-and for the first time in my life: yelled at a complete stranger.
I couldn't believe he had not called the police after he had said he would. I truly felt that the police being there would help in my purse not being carried out...and why would he not call????

I later cried more because of my disappointment with people than anything else.

But, the whole afternoon and into the evening, even as I cried over the whole thing, I kept thinking it would be found. I even imagined someone throwing it in our yard-sans the money of course- but with all Ids. Sergio kept telling me "just let it go". He would smile and tenderly try to soothe me.

The phone rang with a number I did not recognize, and right away I thought it would be the thief telling me where they had disposed of the purse. I just couldn't stop thinking of scenarios like that. Maybe because once before it did happpen, but I only heard the voice of a friend on the other end. About 10 years ago I had my purse stolen with wallet, car and house keys. That time I did not have as much cash as I did last night...but I was worried about the thief having my car/house keys and my address. Not 15 minutes later, a guy on a bicycle rode up and handed me my purse. The thief had only taken the cash. lipstick and blush I had inside.

And although I can still hardly believe it...late last night, the phone rang a second time with a number I did not recognize-and when I heard "is there a Claudia available?" I KNEW my purse was coming back to me!
Indeed, it was found hidden in between the racks!!!!!!!!!!

What a miracle..I am SO thankFULL!

The police believe the thief got scared with all the fuss Sergio & I made about calling the police, our standing by the door watching everyone leave with scrutiny.... etc. Never mind my yelling at the employee....

Big sigh of relief. This time, my purse was found with everything: cash, cards, cell.
It is the third time I have had my purse stolen. A few years ago I had it stolen from right under my nose (like yesterday)-- also with lots of cash. That time, it never reappeared.

Lesson learned: I will have to learn to like huge purses. I like tiny wallet sized ones. The police have informed me that it is too tempting to just grab and go with tiny ones.

My heart is full of gratitude!I like living believing that inherently, (wo)man is good.
Have no fear of robbers or murderers. They are external dangers, petty dangers. We should fear ourselves. Prejudices are the real robbers; vices the real murders. The great dangers are within us. Why worry about what threatens our heads or purses? Let us think instead of what threatens our souls. ~Victor Hugo

enjoy the process...like a child

2010-11-06T10:39:00.000-07:00

Encaustic is now a love for both of us. I am at the stage of discovering it.... and Sergio is at the stage of re-discovering it..

I am as an inquisitive child, experimenting, not having any expectations -simply enjoying the process. When a 'good' product results-I am elated.

Conversely, Sergio is so familiar with the medium... so committed to this "his" medium, that he is intently focused on the product/his goal: one of his usual fantastic encaustic pieces.I see him get frustrated as he works and I have found myself reminding him to enjoy the process!

I was led to think of this yesterday as I had a 4 year old join me in the studio. I encouraged her to look at trees differently (ie: not the common lollipop shape children tend to draw)- and to mix her colors for the leaves and trunk.
She was excited throughout the process...never questioning how it looked, simply immersed in trying white over green, pink over yellow, making circles and swirls of paint on the paper.
Not once did she pull back and actually look at the piece.
She was truly engaged with the process, living in the "now".

This I believe is what happens to all of us, not only in the creative field--but in life itself.
We can become so easily focused on: the next vacation, the weekend, the 'perfect' weight we want to be at, the 'perfect' mate we want to find.... we totally forget about the process: living each minute of the day fully engaged.

We focus on the goal rather than on the process and we become overwhelmed. Stress builds and, if not careful, we can become angry and frustrated with ourselves for not having the ability to attain the goal right now.
We forget what is most important:
The process is the journey. It’s all the small steps, experimentation and learning curves that we go through in order to achieve the end result.
The journey is your life. If you are not enjoying the journey, then what is your life about?

Instead of expecting only to be happy when you reach a your goal enjoy the process (ie: living your daily life), this way, even if when you reach your goal it doesn't make you as happy as you expected, you will have enjoyed the process. Think of Christmas.... all of the anticipation, decorations, invitations.....isn't the process of Christmas just as (if not more) exciting than the actual day?