CORE Painting

ARTWORK STATEMENT: This project began in January of 2017. It took 148 working hours over the course of a year. The first attempt of this as a drawing was on a strathmore 300 series bristol paper. The plan was to use charcoal and pastel, but after I started I found out that the paper is only made to support graphite and ink, so I wasn’t able to add multiple layers with the charcoal and pastel. Since drawing as a kid, I never really failed at drawings, always making them work out in the end. Prior to this project I had failed twice, with two different colored pencil drawings, and now failed to draw this lemon. Before scrapping it I tried to switch to colored pencils, but the same result, I could’t add color over another color. Finally I threw the drawing away, and as some time passed I wanted to try again. At that time I had no extra money to buy a roll of 500 series paper, which is designed to support charcoal and pastel. As a result I practiced some different layering techniques on a small piece of 300 series paper. I had one large sheet left on the roll, so this time I thought I could do it with less layers. I started the drawing again and it seemed to be working good, and I was getting further than the last attempt. A few drawing sessions later I realized I went to dark with the charcoal, and there was no way to erase or lighten it up enough. Another failure, so now the last four drawings with color, were abandoned. I started to lose confidence in myself. After that I let more time pass and I did a lot of thinking about what I’m trying to do as an artist, what kind of artist I want to be, which direction to go, and what mediums I should and shouldn’t be using. I thought about it for weeks and still had the lemon on my mind. I couldn’t abandon it, a huge challenge existed and I decided I want to paint it. People tell me my black and white art is my strong suit, and I think to myself this is true, but I want colors, and I want to be good with colors. Thinking back to when I was a kid, I wished I could paint like the masters. Growing up I had problems deciphering certain colors, come to find out that I am partially colorblind, so I grew up believing I wouldn’t be able to be a painter. I want to grow as an artist and become a better painter. My viewers will get to see the world through my eyes with my paintings. After the second attempt of drawing the lemon, and the time in between, I started to relate the lemon to myself and thought this is a perfect picture to paint for this aspect of my story. The black background was added during the painting, it wasn’t in the reference photo. It represents the years of confusion, and never having a clear vision of what’s on the horizon. The lemon symbolizes my life in a certain aspect. The two slices on the sides represent 2 of the 3 major interests I have had in my life through my teens and now into my 30’s. In another sense they represent multiple things that were interests or maybe distractions, and were not related to the middle slice. I chose to cut these things out of my life, or sacrifice them, and some faded away, as they were unnecessary in my busy life of being a family man. The middle slice represents my passion for art. This is the center piece because art has always been the core of me. From drawing through grade school, to high school arts, ceramics, airbrush, theatrical makeup, costume and mask design, recently portrait art, and now to the point of wanting to become a more original, creative and unique artist. With all the other non related things throughout the years, I always find my way back to art. I wanted this piece to look very realistic, and I wanted a smooth surface, and not have the canvas texture showing on the painting. I have always been using smooth surfaces since I was a kid. I tried multiple things to get a smooth canvas but nothing was working good. As a result of tons of layers of gesso on canvases, I accidentally got some gesso on the MDF board that I was using as a backboard on my easel, and I loved how smooth it was. I kept rubbing my hand on it thinking I want to paint on this. With a lot of tips from fellow hyperrealism painter Jason Degraff, I decided to build my own panel board. I got really excited that I was going to be building my own custom board, and frame, and incorporate my love for building into the project. Since I was a kid I always dreamed of my art being in museums. Out of all these different interest, and passions throughout the years, I want to be remembered for this, my art.

Painting:Acrylic on Wood

Original:One-of-a-kind Artwork

Size:63 W x 36 H x 1.8 D in

Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.