"La Vela" Painting

Rafael Romero Masiá was born in Santiago de Compostela, Spain in 1953.

ARTIST STATEMENT

I think that my painting is eminently visceral; I am unable to paint if my body does not ask for it. If not, I prefer to read or do any other activity. I need to see clearly an idea, a stimulus (the sidewalks of Lisbon, a dream, a new technique or a new support) that excites me and pushes me to work. Then I usually do series of 40, 50 or 60 works, until I think the reef is over and the work becomes repetitive and boring. When the work becomes routine then I suspend and rest and wait for a new inspiration. Between one and another days or even weeks may pass.

I conceive painting as a game, I have fun painting, although sometimes, of course I also suffer, when I don't get what I want. I like to investigate new techniques and materials (methacrylate sheets, newspaper, cardboard-pen, wood, old worn fabrics) that work with all kinds of materials (oil, acrylic, pigments, glues, waxes, greasy pencils or watercolor pencils) that work with brushes, spatulas, sandpaper, cutter, etc. Depending on the type of work and the result that I want to obtain, also always thinking about its durability.

I pass without much modesty from figuration to abstraction or even hyperrealism or surrealism. According to the inspiration or mood of each moment.

I think I'm not a colorist to use, that is, I like intermediate tones (gray, ocher, earth colors) more than strong and powerful colors, and in the figurative series I consider myself almost more cartoonist than a painter, while in the abstract series, what I try is to look for textures, shapes, tensions, color, balance, etc.