Waters of California Painting

I was not born in Brasil, but since I moved here in 1949, this country and its beauty has been my inspiration. Its cultural richness, its beautiful nature, the happiness that the Brazilians exude had an enormous impact on my favorite way of expression - the watercolors. I always loved to draw and paint using pencil, oils, guache and then I discovered watercolors. It was love and challenge at the first stroke of the wet brush on a pristine white paper. The color would thin out, the water running down presented me with inspiration, with a change in plans, with a new creation. I would let it take me where it wanted, and I succumbed to its beauty and fluidity. From that day in the early seventies onwards, watercolors became my way to express all the beauty I see and feel around me. Watercolors are very compatible with my personality, they are light, happy, fluid and quick to change directions. Because of its speed, the watercolors give me immediate results, feedback, and enormous satisfaction. The lightness of the paper allows me to turn a painting upside down and see yesterdays creation in a new light, a new suggestion, made by the painting itself. I am always in awe of the endless possibilities presented to me by this medium. Although I had the teachings of great artists, furthermore developing my own style, techniques and handling of watercolors offered me the opportunity to exhibit and have my work recognized internationally and throughout Brazil. I did take lessons with very renowned artists and they paved my professional road with invaluable advice and knowledge, I am eternally grateful for them for sharing their gift with me. This gratitude prompted me to start giving lessons in my own studio. The willingness to share and spread the joy of working with watercolors, not to mention the social setting - I love being around enthusiastic people, gave me great satisfaction as a professional and as a human. Many of my students are now accomplished watercolorists themselves and continue the tradition of passing along what they learned from me to their own students. I am flattered and happy to know that my art and my teachings are continued in this circle of generations past and ahead.