Duwamish River View

I often walk across the lower West Seattle Bridge (the smaller bridge located under the regular West Seattle Bridge). I like looking at the industrial scene from this spot, specially during dawn or dusk.

Oil on Wood Panel 24x30 inches

Back to Painting

After a long time of not painting, I finally got inspired. However, I lacked a subject. So I painted a self-portrait (Oil on wood panel, 12 x 16 inches). I might still give it some final touches though.

It is surprising how one can get 'out of shape' in painting. It took quite a long time to get the feeling back. But after a while things got easier. I use the Venetian oil painting style. Using an under painting, I began to build up layers of opaque and transparent paints (glazes and scumbles).

With the Venetian painting method one can achieve an amazing level of depth and details than using other methods. However, this time I tried to paint in a less meticulous way by trying coarser and less 'perfect' brush strokes. No doubt I'm still searching for my own painting style.

UPDATE 8/7/2019: Since everyone that knows me said this painting had no resemblance to me, I decided to work on it a little more. I think it is better now, but I may refine it again later. This has been an interesting exercise, it has shown me that in reality I don’t know how I look.

A word about Painting

If you find a reference to painting anywhere it is because I paint too. I like oil painting a lot. However, lately I been focusing more on pottery. But painting is still a passion I plan to continue. I started painting about 7 years ago. Just like pottery, I'm completely self-taught.

In contrast to my ceramics work, when I paint I like to follow more of a 'western' approach. I’ve come to love Realism, Impressionism, and Surrealism styles the most. Painting in a Realist style comes natural to me, so that is the style I've focused on. I use the Venetian technique (more about this style of painting in another post). I’ve studied the techniques of old European Masters. My inspiration comes from works of Masters such as Rembrandt, Velazquez, el Greco, Titian, Tintoretto, Vermeer, Hals, and Repin.

I've been thinking a lot about painting while making pots. I'm working out new ideas about paining in my mind. I've been thinking about adding some 'Zen/Wabi-sabi' to my paintings. Something Rembrandt achieved with his amazing brushwork (in my humble opinion).

For now I'll continue my focus in ceramics, but hopefully I'll post new paint works soon. Here are some paintings by me currently hanging at home.