Monday, February 25, 2013

New sketches





Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo , Las Palmas de Gran Canaria


Last week I was planning to go to Leroy Merlin (a French chain of mega hardware store) to buy thin pressed wood panels for my small formatted cactus paintings. Later on, I had to cut the panels and prime them with gesso, too. Surprisingly, I was pretty lucky to find something else in the local art store. And it saved me from lots of work, time and money :)   Canvas painting pads! 100 % cotton, 3 times primed with gesso 2 pads with 10 pages each, size of A4 and another one 10 pages, size of A3. First, I cut them for the size of my frames and glued them to their Plexiglas.After that, they looked like a canvas board. Afterwards, I printed my working files from Photoshop and transferred the images with copy paper. Here they are, as you see on the picture below, these are my first four sketches for the installation series.I will prepare 16 more pieces. They will have slightly different sizes. Once I finish them all, I will arrange them on my computer to show you how they will look all together. 


Work in progress Cactusueños small sizes


Have a great week!

Monday, February 18, 2013

Saint Valentine at Jardin Canario (Cactus Garden)

Working for the final touches of "Cactusueños IV". On the short video clip below you will have an idea of how I work on the detailed parts. The process of building paint layers patiently takes time of course. You work basically, until painting starts giving you this semi-finished feeling, that's the moment I start for a new project generally, just before finishing it.... This emotion keeps me engaged whatever I do! One after another one after... 

Video clip, working on Cactusueños IV

The photo below is the lastest version which you can see more details. I will change the color of the dark abstract part behind the figure's head, it will be much softer and brighter. In order to bring the head front this is essential. Also, hands and the face needs another layer for sure. The pillow seems fine but I might add some decorative designs on it.

Cactusueños IV, Oil on canvas, 81 x 100 cm (Work in progress)

This Thursday was Saint Valentine's Day, we decided to visit "Jardin Canario". The Cactus garden was amazing!. I took many photos and filmed video clips for the small formatted paintings. I measured my small sized frames to find out what size wooden panel I should use. Also, I reviewed quite a number of pictures and chose the candidates for this project. Next, I need to buy the wooden panel and cut for the measured sizes and paint with gesso.  And ready to go! Next week, hopefully I will have some sketches to show you... 

Have a wonderful week, see you soon!

Small sized frames for oil on wood panel project


Some kind of ficus tree, Jardin Canario, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria


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Sunday, February 10, 2013

Work in progress

Another week is behind us. Well, I must say, it was pretty productive for me... I worked a lot on the cactusueños series as you can see on the video clip, the latest painting is advancing nicely. Next week, I am going to start on the small formats which I  decided to display them as a group on the wall. 




Have a wonderful week!


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Monday, February 4, 2013

New Painting, work in progress & Videoclip of Jardin Canario

More cactusueños on the way, started on a  new painting with transparent green toned ground color which will give good contrast with the skin tones later on. Laid the composition with dark brown and started to paint from top to bottom afterwards put the first coat of the sky with zinc white mixed with some green and pinkish tones. Landscape painted in three abstract wine red tones...Cactus and the figure is the next to paint now... I am taking pictures while on working on so you will see the development on this painting little by little.

Cactusueños 4, Oil on Canvas, 81 cm x 100 cm. (Work in progress)

Here is a videoclip of Jardin Canario, Gran Canaria. It's a beautiful botanical garden full of cactuses and many other plants. My inspirations for cactusueños paintings comes from this garden. More info at Wikipedia Enjoy it! Have a wonderful week.