Círculo de Bellas Artes

El Círculo de Bellas Artes is a building located in Madrid city center, on Alcalá street. It holds numerous art exhibitions all year around. It also has a famous Café and Restaurant.  For more pictures, check here.

Dutch Cow

I love cows, and there was a time in my life when I kept making  small pottery cows . The one above is a Dutch cow which we got as a gift. Simply beautiful, and inspiring.

Tita And The Butterflies

This is my first commissioned painting for Tita's owner. Size 24 x32cm (A4)/9.4 x 12.5 inches, weight 370 gr/13oz. Papel Basik

Acrylic paint and markers. See the real Tita.

Museum of Decorative Arts

The Museum "de Artes Decorativas" is located inside a small palace from the 19th century. Above, views from inside de Museum, which is in the Retiro neighborhood (Madrid).

Kitchen from Valencia.

Kitchen from the 16th century.

Tiles

Tapestry

I hadn't been there for a long time, and it was very pleasant to come back. Want to see more pictures of this museum? Check here.

Tita's Bookmark

Remember my cats bookmarks? I have just made one for Tita's owner, with a small addition; I have included Tita's paws at the bottom. Want to see the real Tita? Check here.

100 Years of German Design

Last weekend, I went to the museum of Decorative Arts of Madrid to see an exhibition about the Werkbund, a German association of artists founded at the beginning of the 20th century.

I love the simplicity and quality of  any design; and German design certainly meets these requirements.  It's very similar to Scandinavian design, which I adore; so I was delighted with the exhibition.

I thought, though, it had more information than works of art. More photos.

Cutie

I saw a photo of this cutie and I had to draw him. Love French bulldogs.

September Hues

Weather changes in Madrid are extremely sudden. There was a cold breeze in the morning, and I went outside for a walk. I was absolutely dazzled by the colors I saw.  You can never be sad if you look at the beauty there is around you.

Patrick Commecy

Some days ago my uncle sent me a powerpoint presentation of a wonderful French artist, Patrick Commecy, specialized in wall-painting. I actually think of it as "trompe d'oeil". I was so impressed with his work that I had to write a post about him and show you this beautiful example, an incredible bakery. Please, visit his site to see more of it. It's just amazing.

Spanish Omelette

Spanish Omelette is made with potatoes, eggs and, sometimes, some onion. Here you have the recipe. I love it.

Watercolors From Lanzarote

My trip to Lanzarote left many reminiscences. Above, some beautiful watercolors depicting Lanzarote's landscape.

Kettle

I saw this kettle on a magazine. It talked about an exhibition on German design in the Museum of Decorative Arts, in Madrid. I wish I could go and see it. I haven't been there for ages.

At Peace

This kind of scenery gives me peace. Love, Mónica

Waste Bin

Can a waste bin blend into the landscape? I bet many of  you would say no.  But now look at the drawing above and the photo below of the same waste bin.

When we visited Cuevas  de los Verdes, I had a chance to make a picture of one of these iron waste bins that were all around the island of Lanzarote. As you can see, it's perfectly blended into the landscape. This is the work of the great artist César Manrique. Even the most neglected objects can be beautiful. Don't you think?

César Manrique

Sometimes artists change the world. This was the case of César Manrique (above), an artist who changed Lanzarote, his hometown, in an amazing way.

Location of the Canary Islands on the map.

This is his house, which was built on 5 volcanic bubbles in 1967.

Above one of the openings left by the volcano.

A corridor leading to a living room.

Lounge, very much sixties.

Studio

Views from his house

Gardens.

Couldn't agree more with what he says (picture above): "Everybody looks, but to know how to see things it's to begin to know art."

Nice swimming pool.

Gardens inside his house

The barbecue, wisely placed next to the swimming pool.