Last week I went to see the three Rubens pieces loaned to Casa de Colon from Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. I was allowed to take photos with no flash so I thought if I put them here, you might enjoy these masterpieces too. It was amazing to see so many details on the small judgement drawing. (click on image to see it bigger). Anyway, each one of them looked beautiful and perfect. This exhibition is open till 21st of May if you have chance to see don't miss it!
Saint Augustine Between Christ and the Virgin
by Peter Paul Rubens, oil painting, 241 x 183 cm, 1615
by Peter Paul Rubens, oil painting, 241 x 183 cm, 1615
Small Last Judgement by Peter Paul Rubens,
drawing, 143 x 96 cm, 1619
Tarquinius (study) by Peter Paul Rubens, 1610-11
After I visited the exhibition I wanted to draw the parrots of Casa de Colon. These are the same ones I painted for my self-portrait social media avatar picture in 2008. (see pic below) Chicha the red male parrot was so wise, he was mostly posing for me which was unbelievable. Anyways, they did a lot walking and wondering about me but they ended up on top of a bar which is their home. I should tell you that it was not easy to draw these moving animals, so I was quite patient over two hours.
"Self-Portrait with parrots", 3.5" x 2.5" (8.8 cm x 6.3 cm)
Acrylic on paper, 2008 (Artist Collection)
Acrylic on paper, 2008 (Artist Collection)
pastel on black pastel paper, 30 x 24 cm, May 2015
pastel on earth toned pastel paper, 24 x 30 cm, May 2015
Last week we visited a close friend that she doesn't mind if I would do my drawings while she cooks. She had two cute little mandarins and an empty blue bottle which was a great trio with her new fuchsia color place mat for the table. In addition to these objects I added Ikea's artificial flower pot with pink tulips. Well, I think it came out a curious composition. I used a dark green toned pastel paper and my Cray-Pass Expressionist 50 pieces oil pastel set. (see at detail pic)
Work in progress
"Mandarins at Gemma's kitchen" by Birsen Ozbilge,
oil pastel on pastel paper, 24 x 30 cm, May 2015
Available, click on SHOP to purchase
Detail
After I finished the "Geranium with green apples" oil painting (see pic below), I decided to make my apple and walnut pastries. If you like sweet and very light pastry you can give it a try. I usually make them just before Xmas and gift them to my family, friends and clients.
"Geranium with green apples" by Birsen Ozbilge,
oil on canvas sheet, 29,5 x 42 cm, May, 2015
Available, click on SHOP
Available, click on SHOP
PASTRY WITH APPLE AND WALNUT
(20-25 pieces)
Ingredients
For the pastry dough:
2 glasses of flour
1/2 glass of cornstarch
1/2 glass of confectioner's sugar
1 egg
4 table spoon natural yogurt
75 butter softened
1/4 glass of olive oil
1 tiny tea spoon of baking powder
For the filling:
2 apples shredded
50 gr crushed walnuts
3 table spoon of sugar
1 tea spoon of cinnamon
Final touch:
1 table spoon of confectioner's sugar
In a non-stick pan put the shredded apple, sugar and cook it until it simmers its water. Move it from the fire let it cool. Add cinnamon and the walnuts, mix it well.
In a big bowl put the cornstarch and make a hole. Add the rest of the ingredients and at last add little by little the flour to the mixture make the dough until it doesn’t stick it to the hand and spear it for 4 pieces. On top of a marble surface using the kitchen roller open the dough until it riches ½ cm thickness. (Sprinkle the marble with a bit of flour each time so it doesn’t stick) Cut the open dough into round shapes, using the round cookie cutter or 8 cm. diameters of any glass. Spare the leftover pieces and use them at last to make another piece of ball. Turn the oven on 160 degree. Sprinkle the oven tray with some flour and place the round pieces leaving 2 cm space to each other. Put 1 dessert spoon of filling and fold it into half close the edges by squeezing it with fingers. (see pic below)
Cook them in the oven 180 degree approx. 20 min. until the top of the pasties changes to pinkish color. Take them out from the oven and rest them for 5 min. without covering. In a deep dish put one spoon of confectioner’s sugar and dip the baked pastries in it. Place them in a box and do not cover till they get totally cold. Later on always keep the box closed. Enjoy it!
My apple pastries
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