Swan (Lake Geneva)

Swan (Lake Geneva)

Watercolor on paper

I miss the elegant swans and the beautiful springs in Geneva....

Purple & white (Iris)

Purple & White (Iris)

Watercolor on paper

The cherry trees are blossoming and many new plants are pushing through the soil in my garden. Spring is here! It's my first spring in this house, after we returned to the USA, and I can't wait to see what the previous tenants planted in my garden while we were away. By the shape of the leaves, I can tell that I have a lot of irises but don't know the variety.... the wait and expectation are killing me!

Studies of human figures

I've been painting several studies of human figures, like the ones above, for future use in larger paintings...

Masquerade

Masquerade

Watercolor on paper

Carnival is just around the corner and I know this because my sister is coming to visit from Brazil (yay!) where the whole country stops for a whole week to celebrate this wonderful festival. As for myself, I decided to update my neglected (sorry!) art blog with this watercolor that I just finished painting. With "Masquerade", I tried to depict the more enigmatic carnival of medieval Venice, Italy. It was fun doing the detailed work....

The Art League at the Torpedo Factory Art Center January Exhibit

Chateau de Choully Peony

Watercolor on Paper

105cm x 80cm

I'm so happy to announce that “Chateau de Choully Peony” has been juried into The Art League January exhibit at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA. I hope you can visit the exhibit if you visiting or live in the Washington D.C. area.

The Art League December Exhibit

Sunny Magnolia I

Watercolor on Paper

My early watercolor “Sunny Magnolia I” has been juried into The Art League December exhibit at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA. This is a highly competitive exhibit with an average 600 submissions and 130 pieces of work accepted per month. This is also the exhibit that I have visited for over two decades, as a collector, even before I became a painter, so you can imagine how honored I am to be one of the selected artists for the exhibit. The Gallery also has an installation of small works titled “Greetings from…” in which two of my post card size original watercolors are on display. I hope you can visit the exhibit at The Torpedo Factory Art Center if you visiting or live in the Washington D.C. area.

Dusk at The Mall

Dusk at The Mall

Washington Monument

11" x 15" (inches)

Watercolor on paper

Early evening with the Washington Monument towards the west end of The Mall in the Nation's Capital... the skies were unbelievably beautiful!

Autumn Promenade

Autumn Promenade

10" x 14"

Watercolor on paper

The fall foliage in the Washington DC area is stunningly beautiful. Last weekend, my family and I went to Rock Creek Park in Washington DC to view the yellows, oranges and reds of the fall colors and we were not disappointed. Today, the cold rain started falling and soon the colorful leaves will fall, too. The ephemeral quality of the colors of fall makes them that more special for we can only enjoy them while they last.

Back in the USA

A view from my new studio ....

Fall foliage in my new neighborhood......

I've been back to the US since the beginning of September but have been so busy settling back in... I just can't believe I've "neglected" my blog for so long! Not all is lost, though, for I have been painting and will start posting my new paintings again, soon. I've been greatly inspired by the beauty of the fall foliage in the Washington DC/ Northern Virginia area - the abundance of deciduous trees around the neighborhood results in a fantastic show of reds, orange and yellow colors in the fall - an awe inspiring sight. What a wonderful time to be back in the USA!

Chambesy, Switzerland

Pregny-Chambessy, Switzerland

Watercolor on paper

10" x 7.5"

I have been busy with the move but have also been painting... this is the last one I'll be posting from Switzerland... Au revoir!

Harvest I

Harvest I

Watercolor on paper

11" x 15"

Wheat harvest in Commugny, Switzerland. This is the little chemin that leads to my house (not depicted.) Les Voirons the French Alps in the background...

Nyon Tower II

Nyon Tower II

Watercolor on paper

11" x 7"

I just can't get enough of Nyon, of this charming town by Lake Geneva...

Poppies and Wheat Fields

Poppies and Wheat Fields

Commugny, Switzerland

7" x 11"

Watercolor on paper

Poppies grow beautifully among the wheat in the farm fields just outside of our gates. I am wondering if the farmer puts them there to keep the bugs away from his wheat crop... assuming that poppies ward off bugs, of course. No matter what the reasons are, it's wonderful to see the beautiful and bright warm reds against the cool blues in the landscape. Misty Jura mountains in the background....

Venice, Italy

Venice I

Watercolor on paper

7" x 11" approx

A singing gondolier in Venice, Italy

Chateau de Chillon, Switzerland

Chateau de Chillon

Watercolor on paper

11" x15"

Chateau de Chillon is the most visited castle in Europe, made famous by Lord Byron's The Prisoner of Chillon. It's located just 40 minutes drive from our house, so we take our guests to visit the Chateau a lot. Come to visit us and we'll take you there... except that we only have a few weeks left before we move... so hurry!

Les Perdtemps, Nyon, Switzerland

Les Perdtemps

Nyon, Switzerland

Watercolor on paper

7"x 11" approx

One of the many beautiful little streets in old town Nyon, Switzerland.

Les Perdtemps is a wonderful little restaurant at the Hotel des Alpes, just around the corner from the bakery where I shop for the most delicious bread in town...

Aigle, Switzerland

Aigle, Switzerland

Watercolor on paper

7" x 11" approx

Village of Aigle, on the way to Villars.

Cloudy Alps in the background... it rained later on that day.

Wow, I just noticed I have 99 followers here. Thank you all for your support of my work!

Roses I, II and III

Roses I

Watercolor on paper

6" x 6" approx

Roses II

Watercolor on paper

6" x 6" approx

Roses III

Watercolor on paper

6" x 6" approx

My favorite back street behind the Chateau in Tannay, Switzerland,

when the roses are in bloom,

where I got my inspiration for the series of roses, above.

They smell beautiful, from distance....

Budding Peony

Budding Peony

Watercolor on paper

6" x 6"

An inspiration from a flower garden around the corner from my house...

Autumn, Collex-Bossy, Switzerland

Autumn, Collex-Bossy, Switzerland

Watercolor on paper

6" x 6" approx

After the wheat harvest with the enchanting Swiss Village and Jura mountains in the background...