Pear Trio

This painting is being presented to you thanks to my husband... I was ready to send it to the trash after several failed attempts at fixing the background. Paolo insisted I keep it until I had time to think, then the next day voila! this cutie appeared after a sudden surge of inspiration. I wished you could see it in person, the colors look a lot better!


"Pear Trio"
19.5"x22"
Pastel on La Carte Paper
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

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

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

Gotta please your mom!

Since my parents bought their first house at the end of last year, my mom asked me for a painting for the dining room. She wanted a colorful fruit. I don't know what it is about pears. Maybe I identify with them a little bit because of their shape (LOL), so that is what we chose. This painting took several sessions, even though I thought it was going to be really easy, but I am really happy with the end result. I will try to post the final "look" once we get it framed and on our wall. Apparently she is very pleased, but now she wants me to paint a triptic for the living room...
You may have also noticed that this is the first time I am using the new watermark (my logo) in the blog...



"Pera Multicolor"
40"x30"
Oil on Canvas
Private Collection

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

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

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)

Abstract

Continuing my "affair" with color, I had been wanting to try painting something abstract and bright. I decided to do it in a small scale due to my inexperience with the subject. The process was fun but more complicated than what I initially imagined. Lots of yummy texture going on in this one, and I love how it looks on gallery wrapped canvas. I included a detail shot after this one...


"Abstract with Yellow"
6"x6"
15.2cm x 15.2 cm
Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
$110 (Shipping Included)

Chontaduros

For those of you that do not know what the subject of this painting is, these are called chontaduros. They are a fruit that is native to South and Central America. It comes from a palm and it is very popular in my city, Cali, Colombia. We eat it with salt and honey... I miss them so much!!! They sell them in Miami, but in a jar rather than fresh. I guess it is better than nothing, but you cannot compare that to the experience of eating them in the streets of Cali.

"Chontaduros"
8"x10"
20.3cm x 25.4cm
Oil on Canvas
$200

More Zucchini

Same arrangement as the previous one but from a different vantage point and with a different color fabric... Very frustrating piece... It took me longer than all the other ones. This painting marks the end of my second week as a daily painter.

"Plate of Zucchini"
8"x10"
Oil on Canvas
$130 (Shipping Included)

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

Twin Bromeliads -SOLD-

I am very happy with this one. An explosion of color just the way I like it. I am intercalating between fruits and bromeliads so I don't get bored. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did painting it.

"Twin Bromeliads" -SOLD-
8"x10"
Oil on Canvas
Private Collection

Bromeliad -SOLD-

Posting a little late today... This is the start of my tentative bromeliad series. They have them everywhere in Miami and I do not want to waste the opportunity of depicting their beautiful colors.


"Orange Bromeliad" -SOLD-
8"x10"
Oil on Canvas
Private Collection

Green Apple Party

Today is the fourth day of my daily painting experiment and I am very glad of the product... The oils felt creamy and I love the loseness of the brushstrokes.

I have to confess that sometimes I tell myself I cannot paint. This usually occurs when I come up with something crappy even if I have tried really hard. But it is days like these in which I feel I need to continue painting!!! It is funny how your outcome fluctuates according your mood, inspiration level, and other circumstances in your life...

I can go to sleep peacefully. I feel like I have accomplished something today.

"Green Apple Party"
8"x10"
Oil on Canvas
$250
Available for Sale Here

Study and Good News!

A completely different painting from that of the lighthouse; purposely done in a limited amount of time. The subjects: beautiful peppers I found at a local market who screamed at me: "Paint me! Paint me!"

You can bet you will see these again...

"Spicy"

12"x9"

Acrylic on Canvas

In other news, I am glad to announce I won Gallery Director Choice Award in the Winter online exhibition held by Perez Art Galleries. Here is my "Diploma"