Muse...

I made some final changes to it and muse number four is ready to go!

If you compare it with the last picture I posted of it, can you spot the differences?

I cringe at the sight of the last one!!!


"Calliope"
36"x30"
Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

1/4 Done...

The workload is piling up, the e-mails don't stop, the stress is ever-present, but when I come back home and I work on either my paintings or illustrations everything else just "dissolves." I thank God for giving me the grace of finding something I love; a place where I can get lost in, where I can forget about the not-so-pleasant bustle of daily life...

Here is a process picture of muse #3. I would say she is only 1/4 done. I still have to work on some anatomy problems as well as the "pushing and pulling" of the different planes. I think she has lots of potential... I thank my friend Sharon for posing for this one! Gracias Chicharrin!!!!

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

Muses

After hours of hard work, struggling, wanting to give up, starting again, learning new things about anatomy, morphology, among other things... I introduce to you the first two muses: Melpomene (tragedy) and Urania (astronomy).
Ancient Greeks believed that inspiration was brought to humans by these female personifications of music, astronomy, dance, poetry and other arts. Moreover, many words in the Western lexicon are derived from these deities' special powers. You hardly think of these things, but ever wonder why a museum is called that? How about music? Or the saying in spanish "se le despertó la musa" (or its variations)?
It is really cool that by studying art you can learn about history, etimology, geometry, anatomy or morphology (among LOTS of other stuff). That is another reason why I am so passionate about pursuing this profession. It is interdisciplinary in nature. As I like to say (basing my concept on my dad's teachings), "Art is like math, you first need to learn the basics to move on to the more complex concepts." And I feel I'm just getting started...

"Melpomene"
36"x30"
Oil on Canvas

"Urania"
36"x30"
Oil on Canvas

Color!!!

I follow several artists that have blogs just like this one; some of them paint in pastel, others in oil.
Pastel-wise I am drawn to (more like in love with) the work of Margaret Dyer (take a look at her paintings here). She paints in a gestural manner and has a wonderful way of handling color. I painted these pears thinking about her creations...

This pastel illustrates how the most important thing to make an object look realistic is the value and the proportion, not necessarily the color. Although you know pears don't necessarily have these hues, they still read as pears and have dimension. I had lots of fun putting lots of "unusual" color down!

"Multicolored Pears"
8"x10"
Pastel on Board
Available for Sale Here

How to paint an egg... -SOLD-

The most important ingredient needed while painting eggs (besides the actual eggs) is PATIENCE. Lots, and lots of it. After that, it is a matter of reviewing some of the basic principles of art and visual phenomena: value, proportion, light, reflected light, shadow, texture, color temperature and edges.
I know, I know, it sounds simpler than it is doing it. But, pardon the cliché: "practice makes perfect."
I think I still have a lot to learn, but I believe this painting looks very nice.

"Cracked Under Pressure"
8"x8"
Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
Sold

A Pair of Granadillas

This is my second granadilla painting. These fruits are the cousins of the passion fruit. They remind me of my childhood in Colombia and of my recent trip to Cali last December when my aunt used to buy them for me :)

I used two completely different reference photos for this one, something I have never done before, but I really like the result.

I hope you enjoy the roundness and the colors as much as I do!


"Un par de Granadillas"
24"x36"
Pastel on Board
Available for Sale

Pear Pear Pear

This is my second attempt at painting from my imagination. I love the fact that I have free reign to play with all the colors, especially those that many times get neglected to the "back" of the pastel box. I think this worked out really well. What do you think?

"Sexy Pear"

15 3/4"x12"

Pastel on Sennelier La Carte Paper

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

Japanese Anime Anyone?

The following is a portrait of my sister in which I decided to give a subtle reference to Japanese animation by using this typical pose of "damsel in distress." I really enjoyed this piece...

"Viviana"

24"x30"

Oil on Canvas

Rural Pear

This is an example of what a burst of inspiration can do. I just took out my pastels and did it! I wished every painting would go this way...

OK, OK, I confess... I do like the sweet torture of personal artistic growth... Does that make artists masochists in a way?


"Country Pear"
6"x9"
15.2cm x 22.9cm
Pastel on Sennelier La Carte Paper

Sheep Sketch

I worked on my friend Sofy's portrait for my thesis today; so I decided to post a study I did of the Sheep I encountered at Mont Saint Michel in France two years ago (I cannot believe it has been that long!!!)... I love the colors and the fluidity of the strokes...

"Study of the Sheep at Mont Saint Michel"
9"x12"
Gouache and Ink on Paper
$130 (Shipping Included)

Cat Study

I forgot to mention I have been getting a few reference photos from the web in order to paint... But don't worry! They are under the creative commons license, meaning I can transform them into a painting. Just one detail, I have to give credit to the photographer, her name is D Sharon Pruitt.
This cat study is from one of her photographs... Not a usual subject for me because I have to admit I am more of a dog person, even though I looooove animals...

Oh!!!
And after I stood up for like five seconds I found this beautiful sight... Thank God the painting was already dry!!!


"Cat Study"
9"x12"
22.9cm x 30.5cm
Mixed Media
$120 (Shipping Included)

Cecilia Beaux

Today's post is a quick watercolor study from a painting by Cecilia Beaux. She was a wonderful American artist who is many times ignored during art history classes. I recommend you check her out if you are into portraits. She worked in a style similiar to that of John Singer Sargent...

"Thomas Francis Cadwalder" After Cecilia Beaux (Study)
8"x10"
20.3cm x 20.3cm
Watercolor on Paper
$130 (Shipping Included)

Citrus

I know I said I would post the grapes, but I am still not sure about them. Meanwhile, I painted these oranges, once again under the recommendation of my mom.
I tried to do something different with the background this time, I think it worked out. Here they are...

"Three Oranges"
8"x10"
20.3cm x 20.3cm
Oil on Canvas

Cherries

I had begun a small portrait today but it came out horrible so I wiped it off...
Thankfully, my mom brought these cherries from the supermarket and suggested I painted them. She saved the day!

"Cherrylicious"
Oil on Canvas
8"x10"
20.3cm x 20.3cm
Available for Sale Here

Three Zucchini

I painted from life today, this is always a little more challenging than doing so from a picture. I wish I had the props and the set up to do it more often. I would like to thank my mom for helping me set up this composition.

I saw these zucchini at the supermarket and I knew that before cooking them they had to be painted. Loving the colors once again!!! I got to indulge in nature's creations yet again...

"Three Zucchini"
8"x10"
Oil on Canvas
Available for sale here