Great News – I have sold two of my gold leaf paintings in Macau. But the best part of this news, is that it was in the aid of setting up the first rehabilitation centre for woman. Up until now, help was given only to men that had an addition problem and the woman were given very little or no help at all.
But things have changed – various government bodies, companies and individuals have stepped up to do there part. So on the 18 October 2010 the first centre for woman was opened up.
Galeria 57, played a huge role in the raising of funds for the organization. The ARTM (Associação de Reabilitação de Toxicodependentes de Macau) organization has been in operation for 10 years. Until now they were working with men in the area of rehabilitation and prevention of drug abuse.
It felt good to know that I have contributed in some way to this organization – ARTM – and hope that in the future I will be able to help again. Should anyone want to know more about the ARTM here is a link - www.artm.org.mo
There address is – Estrada do Campo, 16 R/C, Coloane, Macau.
I have added images of the two small paintings I sold. The frames were silver leafed and finished by me as well.

The Results of the IPL exhibition

Hi Everyone – it has been a really long time since I have written anything on my blog, and since I’m laid up with the flu, it was a good time to put fingers to the keyboard.
First of all I would like to tell you about the exhibition that I had I had last year at the IPl. That anachronism stands for Instituto de Politécnico de Leiria. In other words it is an technicon
The staff there were absolutely fantastic – especially Elisa Bento. She ran more than the extra mile and she is a credit to the institute. They do not know her value.
All the publicity was done well before the time and they had no problems with the fact that I wanted to design the catalogue as well as the invitations. Having just finished a course on Photoshop, Indesign and Illustrator.
The opening night was a great success – all my family as well as friends arrived. One of the best things about the event was that a friend of mine – Sandy allowed her daughter to play the harp at the inauguration. She played a piece that was fantastic and the crowd loved it. At least they were quiet during that time to hear the music . It was no easy thing to gat a harp to the inauguration. That instrument is really beautiful as heavy and even more expensive. It was a huge relief to deliver the harp back to it’s home. The worry and concern on their faces (Marta and her family) was very evident. I’m really appreciative of their support and value their friendship.
I also had another friend of mine and great art – Abilio Febre. He was invited to the event to say a few words on my behalf, and at short notice he did not hesitate to step forward. I wish him everything of the best in his artistic career and hope that his work (sculpture) bring him ore and more happiness. For those of you tat would like to see more of his work go to his web site – http://abiliofebra.wordpress.com .
Then, I also had a friend of mine (Inês Bernardinho) that has a wineyard. She supplied the wine and the explanations as to the making if it. The name of the farm is “Quinta da Sapeira” and is situated in the centre of Portugal in a area called Azoia. Inês does not cater for large quantities and has some clients in Northern Europe that appreciate roses and white wines. All the varieties of the farm was on display and the public could select the wine they wanted to taste.
I had to give a speck in Portuguese which was really hard for me. In English I would have been a walk in the park
The show went off with any problems and I received a lot of good reviews. Look forward to doing it again.

IPL Exhibition

I have an exhibition that is running at the moment at the IPL which stands for the “Instituto de Politécnico de Leiria”.  It is a university in the centre of Portugal in the town of Leiria.  The exhibition is in the library named after the great literate in Portugal,   “José Saramago”, and what an appropriate place for a gallery.  It has natural light from large windows that surround the library up to the 1st floor.
The exhibition will run from the 17 September to the 13 October 2010, and I have 17 painting hanging in the gallery. This painting of a woman in the wind is one of the pictures in the exhibition. The Gallery/library is open until 23h30 weekdays and is open on Saturday morning until 1pm.
The staff at the library will put many a gallery to shame.  They were incredibly proactive in promoting the event.  Special thanks go to Elisa Bento who did the university and me proud.
Without a doubt special thanks go to my family who have always been supportive of my enthusiasm for doing art.
An inauguration is of no user if there is no alcohol, so my dear friend Inês Bernardino supplied the wine from her personal wine farm – Quinta da Sapeira – and what fine wine does she have!!  She has won several awards in Europe and has an extensive client base in the north of Europe.  If anyone wants to know more I will gladly help with the information.
The  other item that made the event so memorable was that anther friend of  mine (life is rich when one has so many good friends) played a classical harp during the event.  During the solo event she played so well that the hairs on my arm stood up, and at the end, everyone applauded her.  I wish her everything of the best in her studies and hope that she does ever so well.
I more than pleased with the number of people that were at the inauguration, and am deeply indebted to the support and encouragement.

Next Art Show

The next art show or Exhibition will be held at a university in Leiria call IPL, Right next to the new and improved Leiria Shopping.  The date of the inauguration is the 17 September 2010 and the show runs until 8 October.  Marta will be playing a harp and our good friend Inês will be presenting her wines from Quinta da Sepeira. So all are invited to a feast for the eyes, the ears as well as the tongue.

The Thing

Title: The Thing

Thanks Picasso

Picasso is one of my favourite artists. Not all his work I like but there are some very powerful painting that he has done.
This one was a drawing that he did, but it lacked colour, and at the stage of painting this I was into these colours so hey presto!

Title: Thanks Picasso
Medium: Oil on Masonite
Size: 50*39cm
Year: 1997

Small African Trees

This was one painting that I did twice, this is the smaller one. The larger one is a mirror reflection of the first. Also taken from a Windsor and Newton lesson. They were very worth doing the lessons.

Title: Small African Trees
Medium: Oil on canvas
Size: 65*50cm
Year: 2000

Rubens Woman

Paul Peter Rubens is also one of my favourites. It seems that I have many favourites. Including Schiele, Modiglianni and Klimt. Anyway, this was one his drawing that I thought could be used to practice with.

Title: Ruben´s Woman
Medium: Oil on canvas
Size: 81*54cm
Year: 1998

Restful Field

This painting was done under compulsion, one of those moments that I just have to stop everything that I´m doing and try what I have been thinking about, before the feeling or mood is lost. Normally when this happens that is when I paint at my best. This was also one of those pictures that I felt very reluctant to let go, but one can not keep everything. It went so quickly that I did not even get a chance to write down its size.
Title: Restful Field
Medium: Oil
Size: Small
Year: 2006

Reddish

Title: Reddish
Medium: Mixed
Size: 30*21cm
Year: 2002