The Typical Brazilian

Brazilian Beauty

Today's vast ethnic and cultural mixing began in the colonial period between the portugese settlers, native Indian tribes and African slaves. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries Italian, German, Spanish, Middle Eastern and Japanese immigrants added to the diverse populace and Brazilian identity. 

What does a typical Brazilian look like?

Is he dark-skinned like soccer icon, Pelé?

Or is she blond and blue-eyed like supermodel Gisele Bundchen?

Actually, there is no typical Brazilian - only mixtures that have produced a people overflowing with hospitality, warmth and happiness. 

See more of my paintings at the museum until Aug 15th in "Featured Events" in www.mdiggsart.com

Immigrant´s Son    

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amazon Youth

   

Brazilian Cowboys from the South - Gauchos

The gaucho cowboy culture is very much alive today in the south pampa region, shared with Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. They are known for using baggy pants, ponchos and boleadeiras (three balls tied to leather cords) to hunt or for sport. 

When gauchos are thirsty they sip mate tea made from tree leaves, through a metal straw, from a cured gourd.

Maybe you have been to a Brazilian steak house (churrascaria), like my favorite - Fogo de Chão - and have had meat cooked in the traditional way and brought to the table on skewers to be sliced at your plate. The waiters are dressed like gauchos. In some of these restaurantes you can ask for chimarrão ( gaucho tea served in the cuia) like you see in the painting.

Both of these paintings are on display at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center until Aug. 15th. (see link above).

Gaucho and his Horse

Gaucho Drinking Tea

For more paintings, go to "Featured

Events" at http://www.mdiggsart.com/

The Bahian is a beloved Brazilian figure

Here are two of my paintings included in MARILYN DIGGS BRAZIL exhibit.

The Bahian Lady

The Offering

Although slavery was abolished in 1888, the legacy of plantation days still exists in this beloved figure from Bahia state. Every carnival parade reserves a space for the Bahian ladies with swirling skirts.

While Brazil claims to be a Catholic country, the African influence is undeniable. Their gods and goddesses mesh with Catholic saints. 

Here a Bahian lady offers flowers to the most popular African deity - Iemanjá, Queen of the Sea. At New Years Brazilians and tourists alike throw flowers into the ocean for her to bring them good luck.

For more information on my paintings presently being exhibited in USA , visit "Featured Events" at  www.mdiggsart.com

Marilyn Diggs Brazil - Exhibit

Presently, I have a solo show called MARILYN DIGGS BRAZIL at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center. This exotic theme was chosen, since I´ve lived in Brazil for over 25 years. Besides oil paintings, display cases hold artifacts and souvenirs seen in the pictures. 
Some people won´t make it to Duncan, Oklahoma before the show closes on Aug 15, so here are some paintings for them.

Known as "the Marvelous City" Rio has inspired songwriters, poets, artists and visitors since the first European explorers landed there on January 1, 1502. There is no place like it. A Brazilian writer says it best: " I woke up in Rio and found the sea, sky, sun and mountain fighting to see who was the most beautiful."

In "Rio Panarama at Sunset" tropical sun sets on Guanabara Bay - the picture postcard of Rio. Corcovado Hill with the Christ the Redeemer statue is on the left. To its right, Sugar Loaf Hill basking in sunlight, separates the bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

For more info, go to Featured Events at http://www.diggsart.com/

It's Time to Blog

Here I go with my first blog post. Recently I joined Facebook and began reconnecting with old friends. About 20 of us who hadn´t seen each other for over 35 years got together for lunch. Afterwards, I took them for a sneak preview of my painting exhibit at a museum. As I related stories about the paintings the group seemed genuinely interested and  commented on how much more meaningful the pictures had become. 

Last night I sold a still life painting. The buyer was thrilled to learn that the sterling silver sugar bowl was Swiss and had belonged to my daughters´ great grandfather. And, that I´d bought the frame at a quaint shop in France. Encouraged by these reactions, I have decided to share some art tidbits through my blog, both about my paintings and art in general.

My world is art, and it revolves around painting, drawing, teaching art classes, giving art lectures and museum tours, and writing about cultural events for the newspaper or on-line sites. I hope to give readers an insight into art and its many facets through my life experiences.

Here we go...