I came up with the idea as I saw for the first time the Sous-Bock Art from Kronenbourg. This french brewery printed during years sets of beercoasters with pieces of famous painters. It was then that I thought: “One day some of my paintings will be printed on beercoasters...” Today that's no longer a dream. These beercoasters exist, they are real.

In March 2005 I happened to enter the homepage of BarbaRoja brewery (Argentina) and decided to ask if it was possible to get the sets of beercoasters which were still missing in my collection. Immediately I received an answer from Antonio Mastroianni, General Director of BarbaRoja. He congratulated me on my homepage and informed me that he would send the missing beercoasters, in this case, and as an exception, cost-free. After a couple of weeks the beercoasters arrived in Switzerland.

The motifs from 4 beercoasters were paintings of classical artists somehow “adapted” to brewery themes: Mona Lisa with a bottle of beer, a Van Gogh a little bit drunk, etc, etc. As I saw the “artistic” style of these beercoasters, I decided to make a step forward towards my goal.

I offered Antonio, with whom I had from the very beginning a pleasant communication, to put at his disposal photos of my paintings, so that BarbaRoja could print new beercoasters with them. In return I wanted only my name written on the beercoasters. The proposal was welcomed!!!

Which paintings were more suitable for beercoasters?

They should have some relation to Argentina: “Tango” and “Tango Begleitung” were just perfect. But nobody makes a 2-pieces set. So I decided to paint, specially for BarbaRoja, “Zum Wohl!” and “Frisch vom Fass”, in this case brewery motifs. Once the 4 paintings were accepted, we agreed about the conditions and I sent photos with a better resolution.

In Octuber 2005 was launched the set of beercoasters BETTINA COSTA. As we were planning with Toni to come to Argentina in February, we told Antonio not to send the beercoasters by post. We would pick them up once in the country. So long I had to wait!

February 5th, 2006: In BarbaRoja brewery we had the pleasure to meet Antonio. He showed us the premises and we “enjoyed” a pleasant talk and the different varieties of beer that they produce there.

I returned to Switzerland with my beercoasters and a fulfilled dream, whereas the paintings “Zum Wohl!” and “Frisch vom Fass” found an excellent home in BarbaRoja. What a better place than there!