Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Barrueco - Shanxii II


Shanxii II, a painting (based on Chinese mythology) we've been living with for a few years, finally found a permanent wall in the beautiful home of Manuel Barrueco. Manuel has an art collection gathered from his travels around the globe, including quite a few pieces by contemporary Cuban artists. I was thrilled when he took a liking to this one, and I think it might be used on another CD cover (see this post). It's hard to describe what's it like for me having the opportunity to spend some time with one of my all-time heroes. And what happens when you have lunch at Applebee's with the world's best classical guitarist? Every waiter that plays guitar runs out to the parking lot to grab his axe for an autograph. I would do exactly the same thing. (all I signed today was the check!)

18 comments:

Anders Andersson said...

So great Nick!

joel said...

wow! i have that track of his ("Odeon") on my ipod. He is sandwiched in between "Manhattan Transfer" and "Maria Callas".

But he gets a lot more "ear time" than those chaps...

Nancy Standlee said...

I saw on Facebook today about the internet radio station Pandoradotcom and the post said look for Manuel Barrueco so I've been listening to guitar music while I'm on the computer. Congrats to you both. BTW, getting ready for a Robert Burridge and a Skip Lawrence workshop.

David Burge said...

Breathtaking!

Anonymous said...

Hi Nick,
Congratulations on your paintings new home! Excellent post too!

Unknown said...

Nick, Kudos! ps I would have asked for your autograph had I been there! ;-)

Nick said...

Anders - thanks, hope to see you in France, 2011

Joel - Odeon wipes me out, no painting I've ever seen compares to something like that, Sargent, Rembrandt, nobody. Hard to believe that's a piano piece when you hear him play it,just as with all the Albeniz stuff. He really is "the man."

Nancy - You can check out some of Manuel's latest CDs here: http://www.tonarmusic.com/
Say hi to old buddy Skipper!

Dake - you know what this means to me!

Peggy - I don't make a practice of announcing sales, but this is different, not your average buyer.

Amanda - better start practicing your own!

Nancy Lee Galloway said...

This painting is so much bigger than I realized. Funny how you just can't get a feel for the size even when the dimensions are printed until you actually see it framed and hung with people standing close by! It looks even stronger on the wall between you two guys - nice one Nick! Nice to see it has found a worthy home. And it sounds like lunch with Manuel is an adventure even at an Applebee's.

Sandeep Khedkar said...

Wonderful! Great news! Congrats!

Tonya Vollertsen said...

Congratulations, always so great when your painting finds a home but even better to find such a compatible home of a friend and fellow musician!

RH Carpenter said...

Nick, I just learned that the Greater Cincinnati Watercolor Society wants to have you come and do a mini-workshop for us! Let me know if there is anything I can do to expediate that :) Sounds like hot fun in the summer with Sandy's hosting a 4-day for you and then this, too :)

Lori Barton said...

Sometimes the universe aligns and the light shines bright. It seems to be doing that for you quite often recently, here's to hoping that continues to infinity!

Nick said...

Nancy - Applebee's hardly seems appropriate for man of his stature, but I wanted a burger that day! I know what you mean about the size of paintings, really helps to be able to compare to something.

Sandeep - thanks tovarish

Tonya - I hesitate to regard myself as a "fellow musician" in the company of the man who changed the course of the modern classical guitar...but I appreciate the vote of confidence!

Rhonda - not sure about that one yet, haven't heard from them directly. If I can't make it, I'll send my alternate, RHCarpenter!

Lori - people seem to think it's been smooth sailing all the way, but I've probably taken as many hard knocks as anybody in this biz. I don't mind the up front honest stuff, it's the behind the scenes politics that leave a bad taste, and the w/c world has more than its share of that. Maybe I should post the darker stories, some are actually pretty funny....will change the names to protect the guilty. ;)

RH Carpenter said...

Don't tell us the dirt, Nick, save it for your tell-all book!

Nick said...

RH - Kitty Kelley is writing that, keep in mind it's completely unauthorized.

lupus said...

¡Congratulations, Nick! They are good news.... It's for me a plaisir knowing your success with your art...you're a master.

A big hug, my friend.

Enrique.

agus said...

Hello Nick!!!Thank you for adding my link, my name is Agustin Vaquero...a gretting, Nick!!!!!!!!!!

Nick said...

Enrique - gracias, it was a proud moment!

Agustin - I'm very happy to know yet another amazing Spanish artist! (I hope you know Enrique ^^^!)