Maria_Avila - Artist 24 Hours

New Year - ready to paint

2012-01-04T10:59:00.000-08:00

It is time to start painting again. After long time cleaning and organizing the atelier, I am ready to paint.

Orchid - Orquidea

2012-01-04T10:45:00.000-08:00

Orchid

Besides painting, I like to have flowers at home. Orchid is my new interest; I have some, different colors and shapes.
Last week I had a surprise: The Queen of Night bloomed. 4 flowers this year. It is a flower from Amazonas, it bloomed about midnight and died in the morning.

Rainha da Noite - The Queen of night

Flower from Amazonas

Sarkis Antikajian

2012-01-02T06:59:00.000-08:00

I started 2012 with my heart full of good emotions, happy and eager to come back to paint again in oil. I got in touch with a great painter I had the opportunity to meet in Sweet Home, Oregon, and seeing him painting made my heart sing.
Sarkis Antikajian has a style that I like, full of energy and emotions.
I hope you enjoy too.

Lichia in my back yard

2011-11-25T05:21:00.000-08:00

It is the first time the Lichia is giving fruits. I am anxious to see all fruits red like is suppose to be.

The lychee (Litchi chinensis, and also known as the leechi, litchi, laichi, lichu, lizhi) is the sole member of the genus Litchi in the soapberryfamily, Sapindaceae. It is a tropical and subtropical fruit tree native to Southern China and Southeast Asia, and now cultivated in many parts of the world. The fresh fruit has a "delicate, whitish pulp" with a "perfume" flavor. Since this perfumy flavor is lost in canning, the fruit is usually eaten fresh.^[2]

Studio - Atelier - Fowers

2011-11-25T05:12:00.000-08:00

One of the best therapy for me is gardening. I love to see my garden full of flowers and fruit trees. It lift up my soul.

View from the studio

2011-11-25T04:52:00.000-08:00

While working I can enjoy the view and the sunset show every day.

Bougainvillea in my front yard at studio

2011-11-25T04:44:00.000-08:00

Bougainvillea is a genus of flowering plants native to South America from Brazil west to Peru and south to southernArgentina (Chubut Province). Different authors accept between four and 18 species in the genus. The plant was classified by Europeans inBrazil in 1768, by Philibert Commerçon, a French botanist accompanying French Navy admiral and explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainvilleduring his voyage of circumnavigation.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bougainvillea)

Dreamcatcher

2011-11-25T04:30:00.000-08:00

Besides making art, I like gardening. Also some crafts are included. My dear husband made this canopy, as the sun id to hot in summer. So I have an excellent place to work, inside and outside the house/studio.

Thanks Lee.

Spring in Brazil

2011-11-25T04:23:00.000-08:00

After a long time without rain, we have had some lately, and the trees show their beauty. I love my mini flamboyant .

Art at school

2011-11-25T04:08:00.000-08:00

My grandaughter´s school shows every year an exhibition with the students works. This is an example of what Taís did. The students are studying some Brazilian artists and this time was about Beatriz Milhazes. I feel very proud of her.

Mandala Prata

2011-09-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

Mandala 44

2011-08-31T11:20:00.001-07:00

Mandala 44 by Maria Avila

Still life - oil on canvas

2011-08-26T14:07:00.000-07:00

Fruteira

Oil on canvas

by Maria Avila

Sunshining -mixed media collage

2011-08-26T13:58:00.000-07:00

Sunshining

This collage is part of the International Collage Exhibition, ICE in 2004,
organized by Dale Copeland.

Sunset and some thoughts

2011-08-22T10:22:00.000-07:00

All view from my studio. I am blessed.

There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly.

~ Buckminster Fuller

Consciousness is the potential for all creation. The more consciousness you have, the more potential you have to create. Pure consciousness, because it underlies everything, is pure potential.

~ Deepak Chopra

The life has many faces

2011-07-09T02:21:00.000-07:00

Um olhar

The life has many faces, it all depends how we look at it.

Luciana´s portrait

2011-06-28T16:11:00.000-07:00

Luciana ( NFS)

Maria Ávila - Artist 24 Hours: Workshop of Biodynamic Agriculture, with João Carlos Ávila

2011-06-07T09:55:00.000-07:00

Maria Ávila - Artist 24 Hours: Workshop of Biodynamic Agriculture, with João Carlos Ávila

Maria Ávila - Artist 24 Hours: Sunset - View from my studio - the natural beauty of Brazil

2011-06-07T09:53:00.000-07:00

Maria Ávila - Artist 24 Hours: Sunset - View from my studio - the natural beauty of Brazil

Landscape - oil

2011-06-07T09:43:00.000-07:00

At night at the country

Maria Ávila - Artist 24 Hours: The pleasure of being a Grandma

2011-06-07T09:15:00.000-07:00

http://artista24horas.blogspot.com/2011/06/definicao-de-filhos-por-jose-saramago.html

Maria Ávila - Artist 24 Hours: Workshop of Biodynamic Agriculture, with João Carlos Ávila

2011-06-07T09:04:00.000-07:00

http://artista24horas.blogspot.com/p/curso-de-agricultura-biodinamica.html

Journal

2011-06-07T08:50:00.000-07:00

Pacific Coast - oil on canvas

2011-05-28T17:44:00.000-07:00

Pacific Coast - oil on canvas

It was a good time, when my husband took me for a trip in his motorhome by the shore of pacific coast, from California to Oregon. We stoped many times, so I could paint and making some skecthes.
I am fascinated by nature, and the colors are an invitation to register the moment full of emotions.
Visit also my blog in Portuguese
Thank you

Workshop of Biodynamic Agriculture, with João Carlos Ávila

2011-05-23T15:35:00.000-07:00

For those that want more information about Bio-dynamic Agriculture, based on Antroposophy, contact João Carlos Ávila: joaoclsavila@gmail.com , my beloved brother. He speaks Portuguese, Spanish, German, English, French, Italian and Russian, so he is available to give you the information and solutions you are looking for.

This is my brother João Carlos Ávila, Teacher and Adviser professionally about biodynamic agriculture.

MAPA

Still life with bananas

2011-05-19T02:00:00.000-07:00

Still life with bananas

Oil on canvas by Maria Avila

Commemoration

2011-05-05T13:16:00.000-07:00

Garrafas = Bottles

Era do Medo / Era of Fear

2011-04-28T10:38:00.000-07:00

Era do Medo / Era of Fear

The danger is everywhere, even in the air.

O perigo está em todo lugar, até mesmo no ar.
Make art, not war, and so make better use of your precious time.

This work makes part of THE DEFENSE D'AFFICHER PROJECT, created by MattHew Rose, France.

i appreciate all comments.

Reaching out

2011-04-27T12:11:00.000-07:00

Reaching out

Make ART instead of war. Be wiser to use your precious time.

Transition = Tansição > from inside out

2011-04-16T06:19:00.000-07:00

Transition = Tansição

It started at 1984 when I painted my first abstract painting. I didn´t want to look for outside the theme for my paintings. I preferred see what would come from inside me, and then the abstracts paintings showed up.

Este quadro foi feito na época em que comecei a questionar a vida de artista. Muito trabalho, muita meditação, muita busca interior...uma jornada de dor e prazer.

The wheel of life

2011-04-15T17:34:00.000-07:00

I have been working on this painting for a long time, and finally I got a conclusion. I used different mediuns in order to give some textures, and I like the effect and colors.

Besides my art paintings I also like gardening what take me much time, and a lot of pleasure too.
I have already almost 18 fruit trees in my back yard, plus flowers that let the garden full of joy and call hummingbirds, butterflies, and many others birds that live in this area.

This white flower we call " LÁGRIMAS DE CRISTO", and the other in a vase is known as " Chifre de veado".

Rediscovering your inner artist

2011-03-08T07:04:00.000-08:00

Rediscovering your inner artist

March 8, 2011

Dear Maria,

Yesterday, Darryl Daniels of Montgomery, AL wrote, "I lost my 'inner artist' over a period of years when I was taking care of my grandparents, trying to run a business and dealing with the challenges of marriage, etc. I stopped thinking about art and was knocked off course. While I now have art magazines, books and other forms of stimulation, I can't begin again and I have persistent feelings of failure. When I think about what I have not done, the work ahead seems like an overwhelming mountain. How does one recover from this condition?"

Thanks, Darryl. I'm willing to bet that every artist in the history of art has suffered from your condition. Some suffer for months or years, others weekly, others several times a day. I'm suffering from it right this minute, but there's a good chance I'll be back to work as soon as I get this letter written.

Generally speaking, books, magazines and other stimuli don't work. You have to steel yourself up and get yourself busy. It's the work itself that rocks the mountain. If there ever was such a thing as an "inner artist," it's something like a pile of loose bricks that you have to form into a small monument every day. This is the simple difference between dreamers and doers. I call it the "worker's edge."

A goodly part of the worker's edge is the knowledge and understanding that your personal creative processes are their own reward. Painting, for example, can be a parade of minor defeats and failures, but nevertheless the personal and individual working process is more positive than negative. Up here in Canada we call it "beavering away." Beavering can start at any time, even with old beavers. Our national animal serves us well. Beavers pay little attention to the overweening mountain. Simple accumulation changes the course of rivers.

What happened to your inner artist? Your inner artist has just been temporarily out of action. Your basic human instinct to invent, create and build is still just below the surface. To flourish, you need to exercise. Ready or not, you need to start. The philosopher Lao-Tzu(604 BC--531 BC) said it some time ago: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

Best regards,

Robert Genn

PS: "Just keep going--no feeling is final." (Rainer Maria Rilke)

Esoterica: Failure is a basic ingredient of success. Simply accept the notion that failures are the stepping stones to your greater self-realization. Looking at art magazines will only show you how imaginative others are, and how well some of them are doing. The time to look at magazines is after a busy day in your workplace. You need to know your inner artist will come to life only when you start. Now is as good a time as any. "Boldness has genius, power and magic. Engage, and the mind grows heated. Begin, and the work will be completed." (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

Read this letter online and give Darryl some further ideas on accessing his long lost inner artist. Live comments are welcome. Direct, illustratable comments can be made at rgenn@saraphina.com.

Flowers

2011-03-05T12:28:00.000-08:00

Gardening has took me a lot of time, and also give me inspiration to do some artwork, one way or another; with oil, acrylic, tissue, fiber , even some decoration in my home/studio.

Follow your Heart

2011-03-05T12:25:00.000-08:00

Stairs to the studio

2011-03-05T12:20:00.000-08:00

Fernando Avila plays Fantasia Brillante e Facile - Luigi Legnani

2011-02-28T09:04:00.000-08:00

Mandala

2011-02-25T15:08:00.000-08:00

Mandala

2011-02-25T15:03:00.000-08:00

Floresta - Forest

2011-02-22T00:12:00.000-08:00

Foresta

Oil on canvas

Poem - Bons tempos de criança

2011-02-02T10:42:00.000-08:00

Juiz de Fora - MG - Brazil

2011-02-02T05:26:00.000-08:00

Maria Avila started painting in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, where she lived for 32 years

Juiz de Fora through the times

Click here to see more interesting photos of Juiz de Fora, MG.

Thank you

Objects from a chemical engineer

2011-02-02T04:49:00.000-08:00

Objects from a chemical engineer

Private Collection

Oil on canvas

I painted this canvas in 1980, to give to my children´s father, on Valentines Day.

It contains his objects of working.

Sunset - View from my studio - the natural beauty of Brazil

2011-02-01T12:56:00.000-08:00

I always feel very blessed to have a new sunset everyday from my studio.
The nature is perfect. I am glad to be able to enjoy the beauty that the nature offers me, freely.

The pleasure of being a Grandma

2011-01-26T13:46:00.000-08:00

Rodrigo Avila and his son Pedro Augusto

Pedro Augusto and Luiza

Pedro Augusto

Caio - Taís - Pedro Augusto

Cabo Frio Beach - Rio de Janeiro

2011-01-24T12:28:00.000-08:00

Favela, Rio de Janeiro

2011-01-13T16:11:00.000-08:00

Favela by Maria Avila

The FAVELAS, in Rio de Janeiro, are something that always intrigued me, as people live on the most beautiful hills, enjoying the most beautiful landscapes, sometimes, a better view than the ones who live in apartments.
The houses are made from cardboard, and other materials they find, but they seldom come down.
It was a reason for architects from different countries to research the structures in the favelas.
At night the favelas light up like a Christmas tree.
People who live there are general workers, but it is also a place where the drug dealers live and hide, as cars can't go up there, it is difficult for the police to go after them.
The fights we usually see on TV are between the chief of gangs who want to keep the domain in some areas.
It is one of Brazil's big social problems, but there are many honest workers living in the favelas.
When carnival time comes, they all mix together to be in the parades, rich and poor, in one peaceful and unique party.
We have some VIP persons that grew up in favelas. Inspired by what I know, I wanted to show the beautiful part of a favela, where the solidarity never fails.
..............................................................
This work was one of the collage I sent to Dale Copeland in 2005, when she hosted the Bakers Dozen, now ICE - International Collage Exchange, in New Zealand. At that time this collage went to Mexico under Cecil Touchon care, at Museo de Collage in Cuernavaca.
Is it still there?

Paper Maché

2011-01-09T10:04:00.000-08:00

Maria Avila - The Portrait of the Artist book

2010-12-10T15:28:00.000-08:00

116 portraits, by 76 artists from around the world.
48 pages (b/w front pages & index of artists not shown in these photos). 116 full-colour illustrations on good glossy stock. A5 size.

Self Portraits

2010-11-30T14:35:00.000-08:00

A must see exhibition - December 2010

The Portrait of the Artist exhibition shows 116 portraits from 76 artists. A few of them are assemblage constructions. I am in........

WHAT REALLY MATTERS?

2010-11-22T05:09:00.000-08:00

WHAT REALLY MATTERS?

Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days. All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.

Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed. Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear.
So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists will expire. The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away. It won't matter where you came from or what side of the tracks you lived on at the end. It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.

So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured? What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave. What will matter is not your success, but your significance. What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught. What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence, but your character. What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone. What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live in those who loved you. What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident. It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice. Choose to live a life that matters. It really matters.

( Unknown author)

Paper Mâché hanging lamp

2010-11-15T05:33:00.000-08:00

Paper Mâché hanging lamp

Craft using a coffee filter

2010-11-15T05:17:00.000-08:00

Crafts I make when I need to relax my mind.

Coffee filter craft

2010-11-15T04:50:00.000-08:00

A Arte

2010-11-14T13:06:00.001-08:00

" Em tempos longínquos o Espirito Humano suplicou ao Espirito Celeste:

" Sei falar a lingua dos homens, mas peço dar-me aquela lingua pela qual o coração do mundo ( Cosmo) fala ao coração do homem".

Foi então que o Bondoso Espírito Celeste deu ao homem A ARTE."

Rudolf Steiner

Momentos - life and death

2010-08-05T11:27:00.000-07:00

"Moments"

For the last 5 years I have been facing the death of some members of my family. I always believed that we do not die, we just change the dimension. This gives me some comfort. Each of us has our own time. Like R. Tagore says : "The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough."

This period of time I have been making a lot of things, like I have managed the construction of my new house, what has given me a lot of trouble and joy. It is also another way to make art: gardening, interior decoration and so on...

Besides, I enjoy reading. Lately I have been interested about Dr Elisabeth Kubler-Ross`s life and work. Eckhart Tolle also is in my list of my prefered authors. These books have helped me to understand life and its meaning, and they keep me living with joy, love and hope.

I dreamed a dream

2010-04-16T14:44:00.000-07:00

I dreamed a dream

"But the tigers come at night,

With their voices soft as thunder,

As they tear your hope apart

As they turn your dreams to shame"

By Victor Hugo - Les Miserables

.............

If you want or not, sometimes this happens.

Mask - The life is a theater

2010-04-16T14:20:00.000-07:00

Red Mask

Mixed media collage

Sold

The other side of the wall

2010-04-16T13:06:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we want to see what is on the other side of the wall.

We look for the unknown: the secrets we can´t see or listen; then we give us a little break and we find what we are looking for is just beside us, or in front of us. We need to live with intensity the present moment - THE NOW.

Pedestal

2010-03-31T05:54:00.000-07:00

Pedestal

Although sometimes we feel like we are on a pedestal, and we also want to escape from it.

We always can change the way we look at life. Stand still or go to action - make art.

This is one of the collage I prepared for the 12th ICE, and I was not able to finish all 13 collages on time, so I am showing some of them here, but you´ll see more.

C lick here.

Digital collage

2010-03-31T05:43:00.000-07:00

This is a digital collage that I made for my youngest son that is a professional diver. He always liked to practice triathlon and mountain biking. It is my way to express my love to him : making some art for him.
I am still learning how to do digital collage.

Mandala

2010-03-29T16:48:00.000-07:00

This I made for my daughter´s family

Love them all

"Não quero faca nem queijo, quero fome" , by Adélia Prado

Mandala

2010-03-29T15:27:00.000-07:00

The Two Boxes

by Stephanie Hansen

I have in my hands two boxes
Which God gave me to hold
He said "Put all your sorrows in the black,
And all your joys in the gold"

I heeded his words, and in the two boxes
Both my joys and sorrows I store
But though the gold became heavier each day
The black was as light as before

With curiosity, I opened the black
I wanted to find out why
And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole
Which my sorrows had fallen out by

I showed the hole to God, and mused aloud.
"I wonder where my sorrows could be"
He smiled a gentle smile at me.
"My child, they're all here with me."

I asked. "god, why give me the boxes,
"Why the gold and the black with the hole?"
"My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings,
the black is for you to let go."

Mandala

2010-03-29T07:19:00.000-07:00

I have been working with MANDALAS.

I need concentration and activities that empty my mind to give me more space for my criativity. It has been an exercise for more focus.

My goals are the same.

This one I made for my son´s family. Another grandchild arrived. I am very happy. They are a blessing in my life.

HeART

2009-10-10T04:54:00.000-07:00

HeART

Sometimes I feel like my heart is going to melt, but always I felt a HAND of opportunity that gives me some relief. We are not alone.

Natural Drawing

2009-10-05T06:30:00.000-07:00

Wherever I am I see the beauty. This is part of my flowers arrangements. The art feeds my soul. I can´t live without it. For me as an artist is not easy to write, I prefer to show what I do.

Follow your HeART

2009-10-04T06:50:00.000-07:00

"You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true.

You may have to work for it, however." Richard Bach

Paintings - slide

2009-09-30T13:36:00.000-07:00

Portrait - Adriana

2009-09-06T06:26:00.000-07:00

Adriana - Stand still
Adriana,my daughter used to pose for me.

It was possible at that time. The life changed. I keep painting my feelings.

This is my daughter portrait. She used to be my model, so my two sons and friends .

Being a Grandma - A Great Experience

2009-09-06T06:21:00.000-07:00

A Great Experience

It was a great experience when I had my 2 first grandchildren stayed with me for one week in July 2005. The time is gone, but the memory still keeps alive in my mind. Forever. They inspired me to make this collage.

Collage Art

2009-08-26T11:42:00.000-07:00

Today is another special day for me. I did something good that pleased me.

As I have been doing during my career as an artist, I have been donating my works for many different institutions in Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil.
We left JF; my husband and I came to live close to São Paulo city, but I keep in touch with artists in USA, where we lived for 3 years.
I donated a collage for ART NOW FOR AUTISM, that goes straight to Autism Speaks that is dedicated to facilitating global research into the causes, treatments, prevention and an eventual cure for autism.

Listen to your heart and write to Claudine Intner, the organizer of Art Now for Autism, an annual exhibit benefitting autism awareness and research.

View from my studio

2009-08-23T13:56:00.001-07:00

I really enjoy looking at the sunset; it is a free show from nature, everyday.

Sunset - View from my studio/atelier

2009-08-23T13:47:00.001-07:00

This picture was taken from Maura, my sister, who lives in France; it was when she came to visit me last year. I really enjoy the new place I am living now. This is the view from my house / studio.

Flowers at window

2009-08-18T13:15:00.000-07:00

I love flowers. This one I painted at the window glass.

Jadineira

Landscape of Minas Gerais

2009-08-18T13:11:00.000-07:00

I love painting mountains and rural areas.

The contact with the nature is an inspiration for me.

A Farm in Minas Gerais

2009-08-18T13:09:00.000-07:00

Rural area in MG

2009-08-18T13:05:00.000-07:00

Painting Minas Gerais

2009-08-18T12:58:00.000-07:00

I am from Valença, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, but it was in Minas Gerais that I started painting. The State is very inspiring by the colors, mountaings, and small cities where people used to play cards under the tree on the public squares

Minas Gerais-Brasil

2009-08-17T12:50:00.001-07:00

Last year I moved from Minas Gerais to São Paulo.

This painting, oil on canvas, was inspired by the small cities around Juiz de Fora, MG. A very inspiring state, where I started painting, and lived for 32 years.
Then, it was time to move - a new life ahead.

I still miss the friends there.

Masks - collage

2009-08-15T02:58:00.000-07:00

I am very curious and I like to try all different ways to express my feelings.

Some people don´t understand why I like to keep so much junk that is considered garbage. My intuition tells me " keep this", and I promised myself to follow my heart, always. Then, once in my studio, I looked around, sometimes I don´t know where to start, but as soon as I start working, something happens. I have been making ART for 30 years, I have made many exhibitions, in Brazil and abroad, I am still looking for my style. Do I need a style?

Did Picasso have a style? He painted in so many ways that he was unique, he was Picasso. And he said, " It took me 93 years to learn how to paint as a child".

I know life has taught me many different ways of living, and each day is a new day, and I am not the same. I am better as the time goes by. I feel I am happier now than when I was 20 y/o. I feel more confident and more tolerant than I used to be, I understand much more the "messages" I get now than the ones I got when I was younger. With age we learn to manage our time and life. Here is the ARTIST 24 HOURS: night and day I think about how is going to be the next work, painting or collaging. And I keep working...

It is much better being RED once than yellow all life.

I used to paint the papers before I am going to work with them. I try different colors and textures.

Biodynamic agriculture

2009-08-11T13:27:00.000-07:00

As painting on the wall, the flowers also gives us some "frame" in our house. I love gardening!

Besides being an artist, I like everything that is natural and organic.

Biodynamic Agriculture is a form of organic cultivation developed by Rudolf Steiner. I have been preparing the compost folowing the instruction as outlined by João Carlos Ávila , respected as the greatest expert in biodynamic agriculture in Brazil.

Carnaval - Joy

2009-08-10T13:43:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it´s very hard to smile all the time in life, so I make a smiling collage, or planting some flowers, or go outside take care of my garden. The most important is being positive and always looking at the bright side of the moon, the earth or even imagine so many stars behind the clouds. This is the way I live my life.