Carlos Ortega Delgado is a Colombian painter who specializes in the art of watercolors. Much of his education was received in Guayaquil, Ecuador, although he currently lives in Bogota. This painter often participates in the most important exhibitions of paintings in Colombia.

Toonari Post (TP): Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career.

Carlos Ortega Delgado (COD): Well, I am from Cali and I’m 37. I studied art at various sites, not only here in my city, but also in the neighboring country of Ecuador where I grew as an artist with many efforts. Due to my immediate needs to live in a foreign country when I was 21 years old, I began to paint in the embankment of the beautiful city of Guayaquil.

Once back to my country, I started to study graphic design at the prestigious Academy of Professional Drawing, where I learned many things, and currently I’m teaching what I learned during almost three years of stay in Ecuador.

TP: How did you find your passion for painting?

COD: Since my childhood, when my parents began to notice my penchant for artwork and manipulating the clay. I made incredible things like Christ paints and religious images. Somewhat surprising for a child of 7 years.

It was at that moment, when my parents decided to give me unconditional support to a successful career.

TP: Which painters have been the greatest influence in your life?

COD: There are several painters, but the most influential have been the great Colombian artist Luis Caballero. Another is the great Spanish artist Joaquin Soroya from the nineteenth-century, and now I have a significant influence from many watercolor artists who are the major figures in watercolor in the world, such as Steve Hanks.

TP: What kind of painting do you prefer?

COD: From watercolor, which is my specialty, I make all kinds of themes such as nudes, portraits, landscapes and so forth.

Commonly, I try to leave a message of reflection about the problems that weigh down our country.

TP: Why do you like the style of watercolors?

COD: Once in the school, I had the opportunity to meet a great teacher who introduced me to this lovely art. He told me that I had a lot of talent to be a great watercolorist. From there, I began to deepen into this technique, then I started to investigate its secrets and its greatest exponents.

TP: How do you know when an artwork is done?

COD: Never a work of art will be completed. Well, personally, no matter how beautiful that I see a painting; I will always have a “but,” and for that reason there will always be something missing to make this come to perfection.

TP: It is well known that Colombia is a country where the activity of artists is undervalued by society. Tell me, how have you developed your profession this type of situation?

COD: Actually, it was not easy. But I’ll tell you; sometimes you have that angel and destiny, even if you are not the best in the guild to achieve transcendence in this profession. But my merit, I think, is not giving up to my job, no matter how difficult the circumstances.

Another detail is to know how to look up contacts and sell.

TP: What advice would you give to young people who want to develop their art?

COD: Well, if they feel it in their heart; they need to have perseverance, and never give up for the difficult conditions in our country. Anyway, there is a famous saying that says: “There is no evil that lasts 100 years, there’s no body that can resist it,” and in the future in our country, conditions will change; and those who have managed to stay on the road to their dream of being great artists will achieve the greatest success of all. If it is not to achieve a work of art, it is making their lives art for art’s sake.

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Kristen Stewart, the famous Twilight starlet, recently topped Forbes’ highest-paid actresses list. She made an estimated $34.5 million from May 2011 to May 2012. $34.5 million may seem like a lot of money, but women in the acting business are paid less than men. The women who made it onto Forbes’ highest-paid actresses list only earn a total of $200 million, compared to the $361 million that the top men rake in. There are many factors that determine who ends up on Forbes’ list. Upfront pay, profit participation, residuals, endorsements, and advertising work are all considered. Agency fees and expenses related to having a celebrity lifestyle are not included. Managers, agents, lawyers, and other people who are in the Hollywood loop helped Forbes to come up with their estimates.

At 22, Stewart is the youngest actress on the Forbes list by 16 years.

Needless to say, Stewart’s reoccurring role as Bella Swan in the Twilight saga has helped her to reach the peak of her career and the top of the Forbes’ list. Her latest role as Snow White in “Snow White and the Huntsman” has also helped her revenue.

Veteran actress Cameron Diaz ranked second on the Forbes list. Diaz raked in $34 million over the same time-frame as Stewart. Her 2011 comedy, Bad Teacher, made $216 million in global ticket sales, which is more than double of what its budget was. “The Green Hornet” and “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” also helped Diaz to be ranked second.

Surprisingly, Sandra Bullock trailed $9 million behind Cameron Diaz. Bullock raked in $25 million. The 47-year old actress is still earning revenue from her 2009 Oscar winning hit, “The Blind Side”. The film earned $310 million.

During Christmas of 2011, Bullock’s film “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” only earned $48 million. Bullock is currently working on a big-budget sci-fi film directed by Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity. The film also stars George Clooney. “Gravity” is scheduled to be released in 2013.

Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron rounded out the top 5 on the Forbes list. Jolie raked in $20 million while Theron raked in $18 million.

Kristen Stewart may be snatching the number one spot again next year on Forbes’ list of highest-paid actresses. Stewart has the highly anticipated last installment of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn– Part 2 to look forward to later this year. She is currently working on the film Cali, which is scheduled to be released in 2013.

Image Courtesy of  Gage Skidmore

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