April 2020

Dear friends,
 In these difficult times, my thoughts go out to all of you. Social isolation must be so hard on so many, the elderly, the sick, people who are single come to mind. This virus challenges us in the way we have related to each other and expressed affection and concern forever. The generosity, spirit of community and solidarity are some of the encouraging things happening right now.
 I am grateful for the sacrifices grocery store employees and other workers are making enabling us to stay safe at home. I am grateful for the sacrifices nurses and doctors are making fighting for us to stay alive.
Please, stay safe, stay at home as much as possible! Thank you for social distancing!

Thank you for you reading my blog!
My family and I are doing well.
My hope is that the same is and stays true for you!

Molly, oil, 16 x 24"

Molly is the portrait of a dog who was so loving that I felt touched by it, even though I saw her only once. She had a fondness for confetti lantana.

Song of Solitude, oil. 12 x 16"

Song of Solitude is a piece I started in 2012 and was glad to be able to finish recently. The red hill remind me now of the fires in Australia and the lonely tree makes me think of the present time.

Adventures in Magic Realism, oil, 16 x 20"

Adventures in Magic Realism was another unfinished landscape. The foreground is a foreign element in this painting which is somehow satisfying to me. I am considering returning to this theme and seeing how I can play with a foreign part and integrate it or part of it.

Cipo and the Alamo, watercolor, 11 x 14"

Cipo and the Alamo is the portrait of a beloved cat for an Italian friend of the Alamo and Texas.


Shea Daniel Youngblood raised $1664 for the San Antonio Food Bank with her art auctions! Her art can be seen by appointment at Kapej Gallery and Cafe, 415, Camden Street SA TX 210-838-8681.

Cindy Morawski is and Maren Phillips was raising money for the SA Food Bank. All three are impressive artists. Check out their work at
www.sheadanielyoungblood.com; www.CindyMorawski.com and Maren Philips' Artlines-Home page on Facebook.

Every Wednesday, Linda Simone makes a watercolor painting on a recycled teabag, inspired by a photo in her Facebook feed. She sends the completed mounted art as a gift to the person who posted the photo. Her work can be seen at @teabagartsa on instagram.

As for me, I want to help the Society for Animal Rescue and Adoption (SARA) www.sarasanctuary.org. Starting right now and for the next 2 months 40% of any of my original pieces of art bought directly from me will go to the Sanctuary. On www.verasart.com there is a collection "originals for sale", with "click here to contact the artist". Shipping of the framed painting in the continental US is included in some of the prices!
If you would rather buy a print, a tote bag, a coffee mug..., I will donate 40% of my proceeds to SARA as well.


 

Feb/March 2017

The exhibit at Viva Vegeria closed at the end of February. It went very well: 12 originals were sold! The documentary at the art opening was fascinating, introducing us to women many of whom we had never heard about. Thank you to my family and friends who came despite the weather! Thank you, Fred for your support of artists!

In March, my art is at Twin Sisters Bakery and Café in Alamo Heights and Four Kings in Universal City. Whimsical cats are on display in Twin Sisters and landscapes in oil and watercolor in Four Kings.

Mission Conception Cat, watercolor, 11x18"

Orange Eyes or Connections, watercolor, 9x12"

Mission Espada Cat, watercolor, 11x15"

West Elm in the Quarry gives me space for a pop-up table on weekends. Due to the high volume of commissions, I will be there only one day every other weekend; the next one will probably be Saturday, March 18th from 11 till 3.
 The Say Sí exhibit is going on till the 24th. I have the pencil portrait of Belle in it. It is just great to see so many small scale works together.

Belle, graphite, 7.5x10"

Proust's À la Recherche du Temps Perdu is what I am listening to right now, and it got me motivated to look through my old work. Yesterday, I was asked how I got started with my whimsical cats.

When I was a teenager, I told all my secrets to my kitty Murik (Moerik), and I did a drawing of her.

Murik, First Whimsical Cat

In 2006,  I pulled out the old drawing for inspiration,  added color, and a landscape to the new version. I have been experimenting with the old model ever since, giving the little kid in me all the freedom it wants.

Sold at Twin Sisters so far:

the Orange Alamo Cat, watercolor, 8x9"

Blossoms Tortoise Cat, Thistle Alamo Cat and Siamese Cherry Blossoms, watercolor, 2x3"
Of the three, Blossoms Tortoise and Thistle Alamo sold.

Andy, the Warhol Cat, watercolor, 3x5"
the warhol cats are inspired by Andy Warhol's cats drawings