"I look and I see"

My "portrait period" was a time of material deprivation. So what a joy I felt when one day the owner of a gallery in Valencia called me: "I just sold your painting, that portrait of a girl with an intense gaze! A man passing by my gallery window saw it, fell in love, and bought it without a second thought. He didn't haggle!" My joy was immense! Back then, 15 years ago, painting was still appreciated, prices were high, and I could easily support myself for the foreseeable future. It also confirmed for me that I was meant to paint.