[M y W e b s i t e]

[t h e T V i n t e r v i e w]

[m y i s s u u]

[l i n e a f r a c t a l] my blog in Spanish



Hello everyone.
This is not going to be a cheerful journal entry. Nor a lengthy one. I decided to write it to let you know how things are in my life right now. And they are not good.
Some of you may remember that I work as a book translator, free-lancing for various Spanish publishing houses. I've been doing this (in combination with my artistic work) since 1991, so I am not what you could call a newbie in the field. And now, after all those years, I came across an untrustworthy publisher.
I was approached last year by one of his collaborators (a personal friend too) because the publisher was interested in the translation of a Greek book. A fat one. We agreed on the price and I started the translation, a bit worried by the fact that the contract never seemed to find its way to my hands but also thinking that it was because the publisher went through major surgery in February and was behind in his duties.
I finished the translation in May and was told I would be paid at the end of June. I finally received the contract by mid-May so I felt everything was in order.
But I was not paid at the end of June and the publisher now states -by e-mail- that he won't pay me till September. He also disagrees with the price I set and his partner accepted months ago.
So basically, I haven't received any money since the end of March and I now have to wait two more months. I'm not a millionaire and this is an extreme situation for me. Things are now at the hands of a lawyer.
I am stressed and very, very angry. I am anxious about the immediate future and frantically trying to find the money I need to spend the summer. I stopped painting because I can't concentrate on art -or anything else. Suddenly and very unfairly I'm in deep crisis.
I'm sorry to communicate such bad news but I have no idea how things will fare and I didn't want to disappear from dA without notice. Being optimistic is next to impossible right now.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and lots of love to you all.

[M y W e b s i t e]

[t h e T V i n t e r v i e w]

[m y i s s u u]

[l i n e a f r a c t a l] my blog in Spanish



I hope my recent "Post It" entries didn't annoy you too much

Did I ever say I had lots of artistic work to do, what with the exhibition, the hotel commissions, etc.? Well, now I have more! This morning I sent in the formulary to participate in the coming Fair for Artists and Artisans that will take place in Valderrobres on the 18th and 19th of July. It's a biennial event and this is the first time I'll be part of it. I'm not sure at all I can produce tens of extra paintings for the Fair, so I'll probably sell photographs (the ones I've been posting recently) and maybe prints of the watercolours I am making for the exhibition.
There are several Fairs a year in the area and they are a nice way to make one's work known. I wish I could share the stand with someone because a hot July day in the street can be hard but I'll take it as it comes and see what happens. Hey, I could become a popular artist around here!
The stalls will run along the streets of Valderrobres, those old cobblestoned streets that appear in my photographs. Many tourists come to spend their summer holidays in the area too, potential buyers, babies! I must get hold of a large umbrella and bottles of water, the usual temperature at that time of year can easily go up to 40ºC (that's 104 F). But I've decided to promote my artistic work and I'm willing to suffer the tortures of the campaigns. Up to a certain point.
The next Fair will be in a village called Rafales in November. Rafales is even smaller that Beceite (where I live). One of the attractions in the area is what they call The Tour of the Prisons. Medieval prisons where the Spanish Inquisition and the local lords locked up the criminals -and their opponents. Visiting them is a hair-raising experience. Tiny cells with no light or windows, thick stone walls, heavy iron shackles, dumb and cold. Some cells are so small that the prisoners could never stand upright in them. And some you cannot even call cells. They are holes in the earth, about 50 cms (20 inches) in diameter, where the prisoners had to stand and stand and stand... till they crumpled on their own articulations, I guess! Horrible!
A hot day in the streets of Valderrobres doesn't sound that hard anymore.
And now back to painting. As it turns out, I really like painting trees. Tall, stylish aspens and beech trees. Results are not so good when I try painting the characteristic flora of the area, olive trees, oaks and pines. They are glorious to see, big and luscious and impressive. But difficult to paint, mainly because you can hardly see their trunks and branches. You get leaves, leaves and more leaves. Tough!
By the way, "Valderrobres" means Valley of the Oaks

[M y W e b s i t e]

[t h e T V i n t e r v i e w]

[m y i s s u u]

[l i n e a f r a c t a l] my blog in Spanish



That's what a friend told me yesterday when she dropped in to see how I was doing.
She found me sinking in a sea of watercolour papers, sketch blocks with their pages torn out, reference books, printed copies of some digital paintings I want to turn into traditional artworks, and cat hairs. Fluffy, swirling, flying balls of cat hairs.
I was in my pajamas and barefoot, my sneakers lying quite apart from each other on the floor. I complained I felt overwhelmed and she picked up my sneakers and said: "These shoes are made for walking. Get out of the house and breath some fresh air!"
She was right. What with the watercolours I am painting for the coming exhibition in August, the rough layout of some ideas for the hotel bedrooms, a bit of translating work and trying to promote my website, I forgot there is a world out there, beyond the computer and my painting desk.
A wonderful world too. It rained a lot in Spring and now everything is green and luscious. A treat for the eyes. The weather is very hot though and the best time of day is 6 o'clock in the morning. Hmmm, coooool! But I'm not an early bird and you won't catch me walking my shoes at that shocking hour. On the other hand, my cats enjoy it. I think they spend all night long out on the balcony.
Oh, I forgot. There is still another project I want to work on. I want to make myself a nice printed portfolio over at Blurb. In spite of sharing my life with the computer, I am still very fond of books and physical materials. I want a book to show to potential clients, apart from giving them my web address, etc. More hours of work!
And then, of course, there's dA. I can't believe I still find time to be here, updating my journal and everything. I am writing this entry while waiting for a watercolour background to dry. Trees! I love painting trees. And the human figure. Nude, if possible (if I can find a model, I mean). After the exhibition is over I'd like to work on a new series of watercolours, something in the line of "Eleonora di Toledo"

Ok, I think the background is dry now. I'm off to add some tree trunks and leaves. And to have some iced tea. Hugs, everyone!