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The Truth in Us Artists

"I paint my own reality. The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration." - Frida Kahlo

Have you ever found yourself deep in thought, wondering why in the world you paint? There are millions of other things to choose from but yet we painters choose to pick up a brush and paint. Each artist may have his own answer to this question but I think the single truth in the core of it is this: because we need to. As an international watercolor workshop instructor, I meet and get to know hundreds of participants in my courses all over the place. I find it quite interesting that we may come from so many different backgrounds and lifestyles but somehow we all have discovered and fallen in love with the same thing: painting. And we all share the same need: painting.

Last week I was with 21 Mexican and Costa Rican painters who attended my workshop in Mexico City. I don't speak Spanish but we got connected right away thanks to the shared love of watercolor. It was the shared need that motivated us to spend the time together painting in watercolor. I would like to thank each of the participants for taking the time to study with me. It was really a fantastic week as we painted at the National Museum of Watercolor in Coyoacan, at the Fonoteca Nacional, in the beautiful canal town of Xochimilco and at the lovely El Convento Restaurant. It goes without saying that my workshop wouldn't have happened without the kind invitation and generosity extended to me by the National Museum of the Watercolor in Mexico City. Special thank-you also goes to Ms. Mayus Chavez, who volunteered to assist me each day, by bringing her expertise in languages and technologies. Muchas gracias y hasta la próxima !