Going Back to the Comfort Zone...

I'm sure fellow painters can all relate to having some moments when you feel you have forgotten how to paint. One feels down and depressed and that usually causes you to avoid painting some more. What a vicious cycle!!! It is not very different from trying to lose weight and then giving in and eating whatever delicious treat comes your way (believe me, I know...) So! I have discovered that one of the best ways to get back into full gear is painting a subject that comes natural to you, that gives you back the confidence you need to get back on the saddle (I have not discovered the strategy for the losing weight part, if you do, let me know). For me, bromeliads are that subject.

I named this one thinking that it was almost obscene to pack sooo much delicious color into one painting. My original thought was in Spanish: "Descarada!" Oh well! It was just what the doctor ordered. Especially, after having a horrible cold for the past week...

"Daring Bromeliad"
16"x20"
Pastel on Board
Available for Sale Here

Close to Venice...

I wanted to take a little break from my muse paintings. My hands and eyes were craving the rich, colorful pigments of my pastels. They were calling to me from the end of my work table, where I keep them while I work with the oils.
This painting was created from a photograph I took during my honeymoon. This is the small island of Burano (Not to be confused with Murano). It is incredibly charming! You can take a "vaporetto" (water taxi) from Venice or Murano to reach it. All of the houses are painted different colors and it is just a magic place!!! If you are ever in the area you must not miss it.
In reality, the tower in the composition is leaning (Pisa is not the only city with leaning tower in Italy). For the sake of the painting, I made use of my "artist's license" and made it straight.
Ci vediamo dopo!

"Burano"
16" x 20"
Pastel on Board
Available for Sale

Double Portrait

I have been working hard on this double portrait that features my cousin and his fiancee. They plan to get married next year...

"Luis Albertico & Monica"

18"x24"
Pastel on Board
-SOLD-

For Yvette...

Just as a small break from my thesis, I created this colorful bromeliad... This time I experimented with quartz crystals in order to create my own surface for the pastels. I learned this technique while I studied with Daniel Greene... I applied it to masonite board, and I have to confess I missed the "bounce" that you get when you work on something softer, so next time I will do this same experiment on canvas. I'll let you know how it goes...

"Polychromatic Bromeliad"

10"x10"

25.4 cm x 24.5 cm

Pastel on Masonite Board

Available for sale here

Wisdom Owl

As I mentioned before, I was working on a medium-sized pastel painting; it took me a little longer than usual due to my lack of time... In any case, I used my sister as a model, and the idea for it came from a little exhibition called the Scavenger Project, in which the organizers gave the artists a couple of words and they had to interpret them... The theme for this one is wisdom, the owl being one of the animals used to represent this concept in mythology...

"Wisdom"
25-1/2" x 19-5/8"
Pastel on La Carte Paper

Commission

Happy New Year everyone!!!

I want to apologize for not posting my plein painting from the Deering Estate. I really love it! But I have been waiting for a little sunshine and less cold in order to get out there and photograph but... as I am writing this post, it is 38 degrees Farenheit outside (but feels like 30 because of the wind)... It has not been like this in Miami for 7 years!!!

I have been painting though, and today's painting is the result of a commission I have been working on. Also, I am about to begin my internship so I know it will be a hectic schedule!!! Please forgive me if I don't post as often; I will try to do it as much as I can.

Enjoy!

"Italian Garden"

22"x19-1/2"

Pastel on Sennelier La Carte Paper

Private Collection

Portrait

I took out my pastels to work on this commission of Fernando Sanz's portrait. He will be getting it as part of his present for his 50th birthday... One can only hope he likes it!!!



"Fernando Sanz"

12"x17"

Pastel on Paper

Private Collection