PAINTING FLOWERS FOR THE HORSE WITH OILS, PLUS UFO ART.

 HELLO PEOPLE!

Welcome to the post of today.

Has been a productive week as I have been painting flowers daily. Working with oils it's always a pleasure. The horse face is ready and I still have more flowers to paint but so far looks amazing, I have worn out 3 paintbrushes and Im almost done with a few more...I think this is the first time my brushes have worn out so quickly.

I've been working with a lot of turpentine, I keep some in a glass bottle that I brought in Marrakech, I paint with turpentine to make dilutions, I generally use linseed oil more and I think that's why my brushes have worn out faster.

Painting the petals is very relaxing. In addition, the oil creates layers and double reflections and the colors mix, creating dimensions. That's what I like about oil.

Lately I have really enjoyed working with black backgrounds for my flowers and herbs and applying colors over these backgrounds because they stand out quite a bit.

I'm getting closer to finishing and I'm very excited about how it's turning out.

This has been a quiet week with a lot of painting, a lot of walking, and I started running, which I'm very happy about because it's something I never imagined doing because I'm a person who has never liked running in my life. I don't run very fast. Maybe it's a fast trot, but for me that's already a gain. 

And while I was walking and thinking about all the things that have happened to me I found a message lying around that was perfect, I love when these things happens to me, God is always keeping an eye on me and this is one of many ways he speaks.

Speaking of incredible things, this month marks World UFO Day and it's all thanks to the event that took place in Roswell New Mexico. 

The morning of July 2, almost eight decades ago, something crashed on a ranch. Locals began to speculate that it was a flying object. The U.S. Air Force investigated the case for some time and concluded that it was a secret project monitoring Soviet nuclear tests, although doubts and rumors always surrounded the topic.

In 1997, the investigation was still ongoing, and it was said that the extraterrestrial bodies were "dummies" used in military tests. Despite the fact that 28 years have passed since those statements, doubts and different theories are always in the air.

SO....

TO WATCH: Don't miss the video I prepared where I talk about UFOs represented in art throughout history up to our time, super cool! (see attached video)

TO LISTEN: One of the songs I really like by Coldplay is Viva la Vida, so I brought it this week and I've been listening to it while I'm walking around when I'm exercising, I even dreamed about the vocalist who was going to play or give a concert in a hippie place like Glastonbury, but it was a very small place like a park, and the vocalist was there and he had water bottles as instruments and he was going to play the song, playing with water bottles making music with his ands, but anyway, here's the video of the song that I like, Viva la Vida.

TO EAT: This time I share with you a super simple, super easy recipe to make, which is potatoes in the air with cheese and mushrooms and it is one of my most recurring meals that I can eat almost every day. In addition to being super filling. Recipe: HERE

THE OLD ALEBRIJES AND THE HORSE IN PROGRESS

 HELLO!

Welcome to another weekly post.

This time I want to share old and new work, so I am going with the chronological order.

During 2016 I started to do wall calendars and I did a great job with them for around 4 years till the printer store closed, but let's focus in this: THE ALEBRIJES.

Out of the blue, I started to work 12 alebrijes as part of the design of a wall calendar, but at the end I decided not to go with them as they were not really my style and most of them look like little fantastical monsters (yes, alebrijes can be seen like that)...there is not good or bad, ugly or beauty, I just felt they were not into my vibe anymore and more into Valeria's super old vibe.  I think I just got along the idea of alebrijes as strange animals and the experimentation of the botanical.

Funny thing is, if I decide now to work with alebrijes, they would be a totally different style and I love the idea of it, because in my imagination I can see a big change in my concepto of design, but I will not work with that for the moment.

Anyways! I found the old illustrations and it would be amazing if they finally could find a new home. I am selling those as individual pieces, they were made with acrylic and on cotton paper, 300 grs and you can find them HERE.

I will remember them as part of my explorative art and as a memory of my process of transmutation where I started to be more discerning about what I want to communicate with my art and the way I do this.

I love the meaning of the alebrijes and I hope some day bringing them to life at this Valeria new style.

ALEBRIJES: Are vibrant, fantastic sculptures that originated in Mexico, blending elements from different animals and sometimes incorporating imaginary features. They are a form of Mexican folk art, often made from wood or paper mache, and are known for their bright colors and intricate patterns. Beyond their artistic value, alebrijes are also seen as having spiritual significance, sometimes considered spirit guides or protectors.

They symbolize rebirth, healing, and the vibrancy of Latino culture, and are believed to guide souls in the afterlife. Alebrijes, especially the monsters, have gained a reputation for "scaring away bad spirits" and protecting the home.

And now back to the new...

I am so pleased so far with the advances, the color palette and the composition, Although the color palette is not very much my style of the colors I used during the summer, I feel that this painting would have been perfect for October or November because of the types of earth colors, oranges, and browns, it would go more with the fall season, but well, for the moment I am happy with what I am doing and I love it.

Also, this piece came at an opportune moment, which was Father's Day, it was what connected me with my dad. So, this is the horse that made me work on memories with my dad and that's why it's the result of this image more than with a season of the year or a color palette. 

This week I have been working with pressed nature for guitar picks and also earrings, I did these earrings with samara seeds from maple tree, I think they look like little fairy wings. I have sold several pieces and I just have one pair left. I have many more designs of floral earrings HERE

I have retaken the walks around the neighborhood, and I found the perfect duo color leaf while I was walking, isn’t this amazing? love it! Also I can't  get off my eyes of juniper every time I see it, this time it was beautiful with the dew drops.

TO EAT: Last Saturday finally I did sushi, the last time I did sushi rolls was maybe 2019, so I went with the easiest vegetarian recipe, CALIFORNIA ROLLS and you can find it HERE.

TO LISTEN: I like the song "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi, but I just found the cover by one of my favorite violinist DAVID GARRETT, and turned out amazing like every song he plays.

Have a fun weekend and amazing new week, see you in July!

Love! ❤️ 

Valeria.

SKETCHING A SWAN AND VISITING LAUMEIER SCULPTURE PARK

 HELLO EVERYONE!

This week has been go by without notice and I have been organizing part of my life around.

If I could put it into one word would be CHANGE.

What make us change? several things for sure, in this case I felt the need to make changes due the lack of space and wanting something fresh. I have notice that I have been changing many aspects of myself and I am always happy to embrace the best ideas and moves as possible, because no matter how scary or excited change can be I will always focus in the positive.

I will share the change from an artistic lense and the factors that made me change some things.

First, I want to start saying that I am very excited with my new sketch!

Im working with a swan, I like swans a lot, they are so beautiful, full of grace and a symbol of love and partnership. And what does change has to do here? Well, my next painting was not supposed to be a swan, but I have to postpone my first idea as I will work in a different canvas for that one.

Here Some images of the first doodles. I will be working with acrylic and oils, stay tuned!

Last weekend I visited Laumeier Sculpture Park for second time, was a good walk with some interesting pieces but not my hit.

Here you can see the most “excuse me, what?” Sculptures, many of them not in my photos Avelina Lesper would understand why😂🧐🫣 

My favorite is La libellule by Arman Fernandez and also I have enjoyed the Triangular bridge over water by Dan Graham. But I don’t like the bridge 😂 I liked the double exposition it creates when you stand there, so cool. 

"Founded in 1976, Laumeier is one of the first and largest dedicated sculpture parks in the country. In 1968, Mrs. Matilda Laumeier bequeathed the first 72 acres of the future Laumeier Sculpture Park to St. Louis County in memory of her husband, Henry Laumeier. In 1976, local artist Ernest Trova gifted 40 artworks, with an estimated market value of approximately one million dollars, to St. Louis County for the formation of a sculpture park and gallery. Laumeier Sculpture Park opened as part of the St. Louis County Department of Parks and Recreation system on July 7, 1976. One year later, Laumeier Sculpture Park was officially incorporated."

Also I have good news!

My small paintings are now available in our local coffee shop The Glendale Grind!  

Also my hand painted and botanical mugs, these will be displayed in a few days as the owners are building a special display for them.

Yes! this is a good thing, it means a good change as my art will have more exposition to locals and not  just my online sites.

If you are in Glendale, MO you have to visit, the drinks and pastries are delicious, they have available also work from other local artist, so this coffee shop it's full of goodies.

Changes can start in small or big amounts, I'm still working with more changes but I will share about it on my next post,

By the way, you have...

TO EAT: I made potatoes with chili and cheese, so delicious! the recipe HERE

TO LISTEN: I have listened a lot of music as usuall but something that I felt like I wanted to share is the song of "Sleeping Away" by Moby

Stay bright and beautiful! Embrace change in the best way because it's happening JUST NOW!

Love!

Valeria