Buenos Aires Pictures the 5th

Santa Fe y Plaza Italia Buenos Aires 11"x 14" oil on mounted linen

Walking was my passion in this city. I have a travel rule which is gargantuan to stick to if you are part of a large group. Luckily most of my time in Buenos Aires was alone or with my wife and two boys. The rule is that as often as possible to walk with a loose sense of a destination. I allow myself to be open and as nimble as the proverbial leaf floating in the wind. My practical side too performs its eye roll to this rule. I recognize its indulgence and its plain selfishness. If you only have a short time in a place, does it not make sense to hit up all the photo ops that the places are for? I would like to argue that you get less from this goal oriented action. That just being is more enriching than looking at a pic from a vacation, months later or if at all. That the stress and speed in which one rushes to the destination takes away from the joy of observing. During my MFA studies some years ago I read Wanderlust the History of Walking by Rebecca Solnit. I can not say I remember much from the book but the impact on me was an even more sense of appreciation for walking. Walking is slower than most forms of transportation. Your body is active and your senses engaged while strolling. You are almost "drinking" in a place. The smells tied to memories allows you to experience your emotions more. The soreness you may feel in your muscles remind you of these accomplishments. In this painting I am again trying to hold up a "mirror" to the observer. That looking at ourselves allows us to just be.

Comments

Painting of studio parking lot after the rain

One of the aspects I am aware of is the difference in the quality of light that falls over south Florida as compared to where I am from in northern New Jersey. One of my favorite paintings by George Bellows captures that northern light most strikingly. His "Winter Afternoon" painting gives me comfort. In that painting he captures the view of the Palisades where I grew up. I knew well the little jagged orange that represent the morning sun on those cliffs. I can go on and on, my point is that the representation of light is a catalyst to certain moods for me. In this painting a torrential rain had fallen over my studio in the early evening. As it often rains here the clouds moved fast and it was clear again leaving the parking lot wet. Little puddles acted like a mirror to the sky above. The light danced and jumped all over my vision bringing me a sense of excitement that I had to try and capture.

Back in the Alley Trading Hands

This is the first painting I have done that is finished with a palette knife. Over the years I have been wary of paintings done with a palette knife, too many have a sort of look that bothers me. I guess the context in which I have seen these kinds of works has something to do with it: they are usually boldly displayed in cheap frame shops. They tend to have a uniform finish as if no care was taken by the artist to follow the form depicted, any how, yuck! I have developed a speed over the years in beginning a painting, I think I followed the advise of an artist I briefly studied with around 2001 or 2002 at the Arts Students League Ms. Mary Beth McKenzie. She had me begin a painting over and over again. I think that the value I have gained in this practice was to really let go of any worries as it pertains to be too perfect. You gain a sort of bravery this way because you realize that paint goes on in layers, so that any seemingly "wrong" passage can be corrected with a

Art by John Sanchez

Search This Blog