Maria Sanchez

I was commissioned to do a painting of La Virgen de la Paz, patron saint of San Miguel. Is based loosely on a painting from the year 1682 of an image that was found according to tradition in a sealed wooden trunk that washed up along the southern coast of El Salvador. The villagers were not able to open it. It was taken by donkey into town and the donkey layed itself down in front of the church and there they were able to open it without any problem. The image of the virgen has since been honored and is the patron saint of the town of San Miguel, El Salvador. It was by no coincidence that she washed up on the shores of El Salvador during a time of war. The tradition also states that when the various soldiers and waring parties saw her they laid down their weapons and peace prevailed. The image above is basically my version of the painting. A reproduction, but infused with a little bit of my love for saturated vivid color. (Spanish) En El Salvador, en la iglesia de San Miguel, se venera...

Been shopping around for dining chairs. I threw out my old 80's set a few months ago (which now I regret) and have no chairs in my dining room. We've been using an old oak table that I refurbished and stained.. but no chairs. With the holidays soon approaching and family get togethers and parties, I really need to get on the ball and find some chairs. I've seen some nice ones at different stores around town and online... but today this one caught my eye. Not because it would go well with my table, but just because...I love it. I love red and well it's just a beautiful fun chair....an accent piece. source: Rococo Side Chair manufactured by Artistic Frame Architectural Digest

Painted her this weekend... she seems very peaceful in her tightly wrapped rebozo. Rebozo's are like comfort food they just make you feel good and warm inside when you wear them. she's 12x16 inches on canvas, acrylics.

I love this room! from Nuevo-estilo (Spain). Ring of fire art on the wall ...that's hot!

ACEO Flores Series: Pink and Apple Green Medium: Acrylic on Bristol paper ** Available on Etsy ** ACEO Flores Series: Pajaro Medium: Acrylic & Interference paints on Bristol paper ** Available on Etsy **

Well it's not really a man cave...but it's my cave. Saturday I read a book I picked up years ago called "Where Women Create". After seeing these beautiful spaces I felt so sad that I didn't have a designated space where I could create. So today I spent the entire day carving out a space in my garage to set up my own little painting, creative studio. It feels so good to have a designated space. For years I've been painting in the dining room or on the island in my familyroom/kitchen area. Which made it hard to focus because of all the distractions. Then because I'd have to put stuff away ... projects I was excited about, would more often than not...get put on hold or forgotten all together. The saying "out of sight out of mind" is true... especially for artists I think..if you don't have it in front of you, or easily accessed, you forget it or the excitement simply goes away. At least for me it did, the thought of lugging things in and out ...

Elsa Mora... fabulous artist and fabulous stylista....see her blog at : the hidden seed

This is absolutely incredible to see a painting to come life in 3d!

Great little movies pieced together with many live images of Picasso.

You just have to love this! Painting by Analee Fuentes You can read more about her at http://www.analeefuentes.com/ recent article: http://ethos.uoregon.edu/online-only/embracing-death/

A little peak into mi casita (pic #2)... that's my favorite green painting in the back (by Sally Rodriguez) a very organic look and feel to it. I have pretty simple color scheme right now... green/ brown and a few pops of color with flowers, trays. I think I'm going to start keeping a photo diary of the rooms in my house...just to see how they evolve. I wish I had kept one a long time ago. I miss some of the old places we used to live. I don't have many pictures of them.