Fairy Dust by Madalina Andronic

Last Wednesday evening I enjoyed one of my favorite events since I started university in Bucharest: "Fairy Dust" book release. It is a beautifully illustrated little treasure... created by Madalina Andronic. She is one of my favorite illustrators and I was very very glad to meet her at Acuarela (the place of the event). The room was filled with discreet flower perfume, scent of tea and everybody was welcomed to taste delicious cakes and cookies. In other words, Acuarela was the perfect place to be in a rainy and cold November evening. 

I fell so directly interested in such an event because I love illustrating too.... even more, I love inventing new stories, giving them life. That is why I admire Madalina so much, because she managed on her own as an artist and she is earning money doing what she loves. "So you are an art student... and what are you going to be? A painter...? How are you going to earn a living?" They always say that. Well, I am going to do what I love. Just like that... and see what happens.

I love Madalina's work and I can't wait to see more! Maybe Santa will bring me the book ... If I'm a good girl and paint more... hehe You can purchase this work of art here.

That is why I love Bucharest. It gives so many opportunities. I want to see, to explore but.... the weather is so cold and cloudy. It's been so long since I've seen the blue sky... What's this? Maybe a lack of determination?

A foggy day is a perfect day

This Saturday was foggy and cold... so I decided to spend it with one of my new friends. Where? In museums, of course! We visited The National Museum Of Natural History "Grigore Antipa" and then The National Museum of Contemporary Art. 

I was glad to find out that the first one is the perfect place to make little sketches of birds, animals, insects, rocks.... and skeletons. I saw the most beautiful butterflies and a huge and astonishing whale skeleton. Oh and I mustn’t forget to mention those jars they keep fishes and snakes in. Unfortunately, I don't know how they are called.  I loved it! It is interesting, well organized, it has a nice souvenir shop and UnArte students visit for free anytime. hehehe

After a four-hour visit, we made our way through the fog to The National Museum of Contemporary Art. I enjoyed it so much! I even liked the fact that we were almost the only visitors... so it was silent unlike Antipa which was full of screaming little children with their teachers, parents or grandparents.
Even thought we expected a much wider variety of exhibitions, I wasn't disappointed at all. 

   At a point we ran into a room dedicated to the senses.... an interactive exhibition actually. We had to walk thought a dark corridor, dance on shiny floor.... and then we miraculously reached a chamber full of colorful pillows which made different sounds when you touched them.... so cute !

I can't wait for my next visit at MNAC! Now let's spend more time in the studio and less at the museum... what do you say?

My first Artmark visit. Autumn Auction: Masters of Romanian painting

This week I visited the painting exhibition held at the Artmark building. Those beautiful works of art will be auctioned this month on the 19th at Athenee Palace Hilton in Bucharest. I enjoyed every masterpiece along with my gorgeous classmates and we spent a nice and artistic afternoon together. We visited Artmark, then Galateea Gallery (on the other side of the street) and part of the National Museum of Arts. Of course, I got home exhausted but very very happy. 

I wish I had the money to participate at the auction and buy art. Maybe someday I will be part of that world. The world of luxury, art and comfort. But until then, let me enjoy myself spending as much time as I can visiting galleries and museums. There surely must remain time to work and explore my own creative world.

As I was saying, this month Artmark will auction masterpieces signed by Tonitza, Grigorescu, Piliuta, Caltia, Ciucurencu, Pallady and many others. Don't miss the exhibition. We won't have the chance to see those paintings very often if they will be part of private collections. 

So here I am surrounded by art and friendly people.... having the chance to absorb so much information in a single day. Is this a dream come true or what?

Don't you think that this is all! Oh no! Stay tuned because the best is yet to come. I promise at least one post for the next week. :-) I am thinking of writing a review including all the art museums in Bucharest.... that, of course after I visit them all... hehehe

Weekend Trip

Yes, this is also a post about my weekend.... a two-day trip to Constanta. It was nice returning home but I felt very tired and nostalgic. I slept and recovered and time passed so fast... At least I had the chance to spend a few moments on the beach. I missed it so much. The sea is part of my inner soul structure. I will always return wherever I go, no matter how far. The smell of the sea is the smell of home.  Nevertheless, I felt like there is nothing left for me to do in Constanta. Now I am busy making Bucharest part of me, part of my art, my life and my soul. This is a wonderful adventure. I love my new friends, I love the hours spent in the studio. I don't have much time to think about what's happening because it all happens so fast! A month has already passed since I started university and I still feel like a newcomer with no experience. Yes, there are many goals waiting to be accomplished. I wish I had the time to post daily... really....

And still, the sea is always in my heart . White seagulls fly through my mind.

Bucharest Art Weekend

The most magnificent thing is that now I can visit as many art galleries and museums as I want.... because they are all around, waiting for me. Last weekend I realized how much I actually love to spend my time in galleries. It's a delight! Last weekend I drew all morning in the studio, then ran in the street and searched for the art exhibitions which composed the event called Bucharest Art Weekend. The booklets they spread all around the city center contained a tiny map and the exact address of each gallery. This was very useful!

It was just like a treasure hunt race. I hadn't ever visited any of those places.... and as you may know, discovering new places is one of my favorite activities, or should I say hobby...? It's all about finding the mysterious and unknown in the daily routine and making each moment a unique one.

So Saturday afternoon I visited three galleries: H' Art: "Dulce et Decorum" personal exhibition by George Anghelescu, Visual Arts Center: "Bucharest International Print Biennale" and Dalles Hall: "Enchanting Views". Pay a visit as long as you can! It's worth it believe me! I recommend them all and I won't express nor my positive neither my negative opinion. Go and make your own artistic discoveries! It's great and magical!

"Enchanting Views" hosted at the Dallas Hall is really nice.... and nostalgic. It's about the changes that took place in the structure and architecture of the Romanian Black Sea shore resorts during the 60's and 70's. It was actually a multimedia exhibition: photos, newspapers, magazines, documentaries, videos, statistics and postcards. Looking at those old photos I just couldn't believe my eyes. Was this really Constanta, my hometown? Was this really Mamaia? It's hard to believe they had ever looked so good.... Well that was a really nostalgic half an hour... "Enchanting Views" makes you want to go back in time and see with your own eyes clean, wide beaches, tidy hotels and colorful, fresh flowers all around.

 And Sunday I visited The National Museum of Arts, the Arts Collections section. It's just wonderful! It's so big I couldn't visit it entirely. I will go back as soon as I can and visit the second floor.  

So I had a great weekend... a full one for sure! I got home dead tired... but that's an everyday issue already. Oh my god I am so busy these days :)) Stay tuned! My artistic appetite is huge so... museums, galleries, exhibitions... here I come!