Luispm ART

“Boxed in No. 1”
4”x6” oil on canvas

I love realism in painting. I love the challenge of painting as much as I can possibly observe, but knowing I never really can get it all. This is why I love portraits. But recently my work has started to take on more abstract ideas for which portraiture is not the most ideal approach. So one way I am reframing my approach is precisely by using the frame as a form of simple abstraction. Rather than giving the viewer a full portrait I thought about “zooming in” on a specific area of the subject’s face to break it up. This “boxed in” approach partially removes identity while allowing the viewer to still experience the emotions of the subject and allows me to scratch the realism itch while still exploring the main themes of my thesis work.

This is the first of a series exploring this idea. A rough draft, if you will. Stay tuned for more!

“Self-portrait”
18” X 24” Oil on canvas

This painting was more than anything an exercise for a special topics class last semester. The goal was to practice the Verdaille painting technique. I had some experience with it but it had been years since I tried it. It ended up being a very fast painting compared to my usual timeframe so it is not as realistic as other works, still I had a lot of fun with it. I particularly enjoyed recreating the tie-dye pattern on my shirt.
The reference photo for this was hastily taken in my studio but the materials in the background ended up being pretty cool once I noticed the letters on my whiteboard fit the vibe.

“In another life”
36” X 48” oil on canvas
I actually finished this last fall, but for some reason did not post about it. The idea for this painting was the longing for the unknown, specifically, the longing for a life left behind and that is no more. The longing for the homeland many children of immigrants are told about, but never get to see. The longing for the lives that never were.

“The haunting”
16” x 20” oil on canvas

One of the things that have fascinated me now for a while is the uniqueness of the Mayan language. I usually relegate this interest to my printmaking but for the first time ever I mixed it into my painting.
The red glyph means heart, center, and portal simultaneously. I can see how all these terms can overlap, and they make for very interesting contemplations. So much of my work has centered around identity lately that I thought it appropriate this piece.

“There was hope”
16”X20” Oil on canvas

I think this is my first true abstract painting. One of the things I’ve been working on was loosening my tightness in how a painting “should look”. This work was painting only with left-over paint I mixed for other works. I never knew which color I’d have to work or how much of it and the brushstrokes were just whatever felt right that day. I couldn’t get rid of the glare on the top right so I gave you some close ups.

Weird things happening in the studio indeed.

Untitled
12.5” X 19.5”
Oil pastels, oil paint and cochineal on paper.

I’m working on letting things happen as they feel right. I have been working primarily through painting portraits, but somehow portraits do not feel like enough anymore. Realism doesn’t feel like the right path anymore. I am questioning it all and not worrying about the fact that I do not have any answers.

Untitled
19.5” X 13.5”
Oil pastel and cochineal on paper

Weird things have been happening in the studio

Had so much fun this week exploring with the amazing ! Thank you for coming all the way over here just to see me (because we all know I’m the real attraction around here 🤭) you were a ray of sunshine in what has been a sunless summer ☺️.