Strawberries...

Lately life has been crazy. We bought a house (crazy in and out of itself), we moved twice (crazy doesn't begin to describe it), I went to a conference in D.C., and another one in Vermont and took advantage of that opportunity to drive to Canada.
I have also been doing some design related work, both for a couple clients and for my personal enjoyment (which usually ends up on my Etsy store), this usually includes Pin the Tail on the animal games or pattern design, which I have been exploring a lot. Hectic is perhaps the most appropriate word to describe the last months of the author of this blog.
I have not been painting as much as I'd like, but that doesn't mean I have stopped. I finished muse #5 (which I haven't been able to photograph successfully), started muse #6 and also managed to squeeze in this strawberry study, which I enjoyed soooo much!
I shared these process pictures on Instagram as I was painting. I usually tag this type of virtual live demo with #paintingdemo so you can easily find me posting as I work.
I invite you to visit my Instagram feed (@wxstudio), as well as my graphic design blog, and my etsy store. You'll find all kinds of treasures there...

"Strawberry Trio"
8"x10"
Oil on Canvas
Available for Sale Here

Three Apples

Scrumptious apples on gallery wrapped canvas...

"Three Apples"
Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
8"x8"
Available for Sale Here

Hot Pink and the New Year

This is my last bromeliad of 2013!
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, may the new year bring you and your loved ones lots of blessings. I will be showing you muse number 5 soon... For now, just enjoy the almost scandalous colors of this beautiful flower!

"Hot Pink Bromeliad"
20"x20"
Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
Available for Sale Here 
You can also purchase it via my Etsy Shop

Apples and Honey

Just a quick study with pastel that I did to get some color in my life after all that charcoal/graphite activity...

"Apples and Honey"
9"x12"
Available for Sale Here

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

Pensive Cat

When I saw this cat, I simply knew I had to paint it. The color of its eyes and fur are simply enchanting.

"Gray Cat"
8"x8"
Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
Available for Sale Here

Le Chat

I had been wanting to paint a cat for some time. Since I don't own one and I recently discovered the awesome Paint my Photo website, the time finally came!!!
I really enjoyed this one, I decided to be "free" and not stress out with tiny details. It takes some effort and lots of practice to separate the control freak side of your brain from the creative one... I painted it with the idea that it should be viewed from afar to get the full effect of the light. I had the opportunity some time ago to see some of Sargent's paintings and it seemed to me that he used this technique, so I wanted to give it a try.

"Le Chat"
16"x20"
Oil on Canvas
Available for Sale Here

Painting Lotus Flowers

 

 

I survived the flu!!! I am currently on antibiotics and happy to report that I completed my first painting post-illness. Muse number four has been photographed and I even did a small pastel study for it, but I will save it for the next post.  I also posted the process of this painting for those of you that are curious about my technique. If you have any questions, let me know!

I thought these lotus blossoms looked like 3 girls gossiping while sun-bathing. You don't see it??? Well, it might just be the meds...

"Lotus Ladies"
11"x14"
Pastel on Board
Available for Sale Here

Dog Portrait

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

I hope you spent the first hours of 2013 next to your family, friends or significant others.
Here is the first post of the year.  My subject: Yogi, my mom's new maltese pup. He came to the family 2 months ago and he has proven to be one hyperactive doggie. He has managed to steal my family's heart and of course, my own. I am now heading to my parents' house now for a delicious Colombian "asado" (BBQ).

Take a look at the process below...

I wish many blessings upon you and your family. Here is to a year full of painting and nice surprises!!!! Cheers!!!

"Yogi"
8"x10"
Pastel on Board
Available for Sale Here

Study

Being an artist is difficult. Especially when having a full time job and other little projects going on in your daily life... But there are only a handful of other things that give me as much joy as sitting in front of the easel and "playing" with color.
This time, inspired by Qiang Huang (one of the artists I follow) I wanted to create a composition with really bright colors and see if I could pull it off. I got to use many of the sennelier sticks that usually sit there waiting to shine when given an opportunity to be part of the light or highlight of a composition. I also tried painting eggs which by the way are HARD!!!! But I want to keep painting them!!!

P.S. The third muse is already underway...

"Apples and Eggs"
8"x10"
Pastel on Board
Available for sale here

I'm alive!!!

Here is a painting I have been working on for quite some time... I have been dealing with life lately... the latest news is that I'll be getting married next January (:D) and so all the paperwork and the respective courses at the Church have been taking up most of my attention. However, I squeezed in a little bit of painting and I am FINALLY able to reveal this one...

And, even better, I already began the next one!!!! You will see it soon, I have a good feeling about it...

"Bromeliad Trifecta"

30"x40"

Oil on Canvas

Quick Study

I went to meet my friend Doris last Saturday at her studio at Lincoln Road's Art Center. We hung out for a while, had some wine and many laughs. I got to paint this quick study since we had to get back home and it was getting pretty late...

Good times...

"Memories of a Night at Doris' Studio"

9"x12"

Pastel on Board

Onions

Today when I got out from work I felt a sudden wave of inspiration, so I drove to the local supermarket to find my next "victim." After looking around for a while I decided to pick up some onions. The spot lights from the store made me see colors I had never seen on them.

I got home and started setting up my composition (the glass of water is supposed to help in reducing the amount of tears you shed while cutting them -it has never worked for me-).

Hope you like them!

"Tres Cebollas"

11"x14"

Pastel on Panel

Lotus Flower

Here is one of the paintings that debuted in the show I did at Marce's at the beginning of the month. I got the idea from a photograph I took while visiting the Fruit and Spice park in the Redlands.

The "pushing and pulling" I had to manage in order to achieve the effect of depth in this piece was quite the challenge! Every painting is a learning experience :)

Compositions where there are lots of elements trying to capture one's attention require a great deal of deliberate decisions. Gotta keep painting to get better!!!!

Special thanks to JC and Giovanna for the canvas ;)

"Lotus Flower"

16"x20"

Oil on Canvas

Mission Accomplished!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Here is the completed painting commission that I got all the way from my homeland: Cali, Colombia!!! It was sent to its new home last Monday. Hopefully I will get a picture of it framed in its final destination so I can share it with you...

I love the colors and the composition. You can see a picture of it in process in the previous post.



"Hide and Seek"
40"x50"
Oil on Canvas
-SOLD-
Private Collection

Studio Update

Soooo... here you have it! Studio update as promised!

I would say I am around 85% done with the orange bromeliads and 70% done with the green ones. I love them both!!! You can probably guess why I have had so much fun with them: I have been able to use lots and lots of colors! Especially those I don't usually get to play with when painting other subjects. I couldn't be happier :)

I don't think I can call this work!!! It can be more accurately described as similar to the action of eating one delicious, decadent dessert.

End results to be posted soon...

Work! Work! Work!

I am working on several paintings at the moment. I decided to post this picture of my studio to show you the beginnings of a commission I am working on, and two figure paintings with the same model, my friend Sharon. I am only missing two elements to make this a complete studio: the A/C and the model stand. I can't wait!!! (All of the paintings on this picture are available for sale except for the orange bromeliads on the easel).

I will be beginning a very big oil bromeliad that will keep me busy for a while, but I will keep you posted ;)

New Surface

I present to you: the newest addition to my bromeliad series. This time I experimented a little bit and used pastelbord as my surface. I thought I was not going to find anything better for pastels than Sennelier's La Carte Paper, but I am happy to announce that I was wrong!!! :)
I'm looking forward to using this wonderful board many, many times in the future!

"Blushing Bromeliad"
11"x14"
35.5x28 cm
Pastel on Board
-SOLD-

Pear Trifecta

I looove this one. The colors, the chubbiness of the pears, the composition... Yummy!!!!

"Pear Trifecta"
12"x11.5"
Pastel on Sennelier La Carte Paper

More Bromeliads...

In keeping with my idea of creating a series exclusively of Bromeliads, I painted this one with the hope of it being full of one of my favorite colors: green... I was also aiming at creating a semi-abstract composition by choosing to capture the image from up close rather than the whole plant seen from a distance. Just as an update, this piece will be part of the Spring into Art Auction that will take place in the Lowe Art Museum of the University of Miami, March 11th at 7:00pm.

"Green Explosion"

Oil on Canvas

24"x24"

61cm x 61cm

Private Collection