Spectra Artists September Exhibition

This month's exhibition will run from September 11 to October 8, 2015.  Participating Artists Include the following:

Norman Gabitzsch
Cyril Maza
Lorna Maza
David Stein
Karuna Rajanayakam
Yoshi Romero
Lou Sprecher
Tatsiana Saleh
Brian Harig...
Thais Kruse
Maria Kellar
Ryan Hollaway
George Daniels
Cedric Akue
Marguerite Baldwin
Pat Waughtal
Maryann Lucas
David Mortenson
Maureen Mo Huddleston
Suzanne Buckland
Shida Rad
Yvonne A. Ybarra
Nan Toole
Lorena Fernandez

Galerie Spectra is located at 303 Memorial City Way Suite 822, Houston TX 77024.  It is in the north hallway of Memorial City Mall, between The Limited and Visible Changes, next to Dillard's and across from Camille Bridal Store.

Spectra Artists 2015 Summer Art Contest

Congratulations to the winners of the Spectra Artists 2015 Summer Contest Winners!

Lorna and I have joined this contest, and are pleased and honored to have our entries ("Boy Riding a Carabao" and "Picnic in the Farm") make it to the top 50 finalists.

The top 50 pieces, as selected by the panel of judges, have been included in the ongoing exhibition at Galerie Spectra, located at 303 Memorial City Way, Suite 822, Houston TX 77024.  The exhibition will be from July 10 to July 29, 2015.  

The panel of judges were Salli Babbitt, Mitch Cohen, and Walter Wagner, all prominent artists in Houston, Texas.

Entrepreneurship

In order for our nation's economy to grow, we should encourage entrepreneurialism rather than vagrancy. Entrepreneurs are a driving force that moves our economy forward. They are the people who dare to step outside their comfort zones, bringing innovations, new products and services to the market, taking the risk of losing, while creating jobs and opportunities for other people.

Most people prefer to stay in their comfort zones, having stable jobs and receiving monthly pay checks, without worrying of going bankrupt. But, all that are made possible because somebody, an entrepreneur, has spent time, effort, and resources, long before they even got their jobs. The sacrifices made by entrepreneurs that went ahead of them made it possible for them to live comfortably today...

A good example of entrepreneurs are the independent artists.  They spend time and resources on their works, long before their works are even recognized or appreciated.  Just like other entrepreneurs, they create jobs and make it possible for other people such as these craftsmen and women to make a living…

Imagekind - Workshop from Imagekind on Vimeo.

When you buy something from an artist, you're not only buying a small piece of their heart, soul, and life; you are also contributing to the growth of our nation's economy, by keeping people like them employed.

Let us support entrepreneurs who are bringing in new innovations, new products, and new services to the market, by promoting and patronizing them. Their success is our success... Their success is the key to our future, to the future of our children, and to the future of our children's children.

Boy Riding a Carabao

A Caucasian boy named Isaiah, from Houston TX, went to the Philippines to spend a vacation with his family. He was visiting the Philippines and his relatives there for the first time. He had a wonderful time, playing with his cousins and meeting new friends.  He really had a lot of fun back there.

This painting shows Isaiah riding a carabao.  It is an acrylic painting on an 18" X 24" canvas.  It was completed on December 21, 2014.

For those who have not seen or heard what a carabao is, a carabao is a swamp type domestic water buffalo found in the Philippines. It is considered the national animal of the Philippines.  Carabaos are used for farming and for pulling carts in rural villages in the Philippines. They are also a good source of meat, milk, and hide. Carabao hide was once used extensively to create a variety of products, which include the armor of pre-colonial Filipino warriors.   Also, according to Wikipedia, "the carabao is considered a symbol of Guam. In the early 1960s, carabao races were a popular sport in the island, especially during fiestas. Today, carabaos are a part of the popular culture. They are often brought to carnivals or other festivities, and are used as a popular ride for children."

Below is a series of photos I took while I was working on this painting.

No. 1

No. 2

No. 3

No. 4

Bayanihan

I just finished another painting today.  It's called "Bayanihan."

"Bayanihan is a Filipino term taken from the word "bayan", referring to a nation, country, town, or community. The whole term "bayanihan" refers to a spirit of communal unity or effort to achieve a particular objective. 

The origin of the term "bayanihan" can be traced from a common tradition in Philippine towns where community members volunteer to help a family move to a new place by volunteering to transport the house to a specific location. The process involves literally carrying the house to its new location. This is done by putting bamboo poles forming a strong frame to lift the stilts from the ground and carrying the whole house with the men positioned at the ends of each pole. The tradition also features a small fiesta hosted by the family to express gratitude to the volunteers." - From Wikipedia.

Unfinished Painting

The painting is a 18" X 24" acrylic on canvas.  I started this painting last month (November 2014).  

The picture on the right shows how it looked like on day 1.  I worked on this painting little by little, sometimes in the evening and sometimes very early in the morning (just a few minutes before taking a bath and leaving to work in the office).

I finally completed this painting this morning, December 6.  It's Saturday, but I got up early to work on it.  I really wanted to finish this painting today, so I can start a new one.

Bayanihan

CSMaza Artworks Jigsaw Puzzles

New jigsaw puzzles featuring Cyril and Lorna Maza's art pieces are now available for purchase online at http://www.zazzle.com/csmaza*.  

The puzzles come in two sizes: 10" x 14" (252 pieces) and 8" x 10" (110 pieces).

The 8" x 10" puzzle includes  a gift box with the image printed on its lid.

Made of sturdy cardboard and mounted on chipboard, these puzzles are printed in vivid and full color. For hours of puzzle enjoyment, give a custom puzzle as a gift today!

For more details, just click on the images below:

Beautiful Morning in the Farm Puzzle by CSMaza
View more puzzle designs from Zazzle.

Harvest Time Puzzle by CSMaza
Check out more Zazzle Puzzles

Hills by the Lake Puzzle by CSMaza
Browse another Puzzle

Two Sisters Puzzle by CSMaza
View more Two sisters Puzzles at zazzle.com

Summer View Puzzle by CSMaza
See here for Puzzles

Harvest Season Puzzle by cyrilmaza
View more puzzle designs from Zazzle.

The Artist Puzzle by cyrilmaza
Find more Csmaza Puzzles at Zazzle

Homework Puzzle by cyrilmaza
Look at Student Puzzles online at Zazzle.com

Playing Melodies Under the Shade of Trees Puzzle by cyrilmaza
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Summer View

The title of this painting is "Summer View".  It is a painting of two cousins resting after a hard day's work on the top of a hill, overlooking a vast area of rice fields below.  They had been having fun, playing a guitar, and singing their favorite songs, while watching the sun, as it sets in the horizon.

My wife, Lorna, and I finished this painting on the 30th of April 2014.  It is an acrylic painting on a 30" X 40" stretched canvas.