It blew over the ocean
Beating rhythm flows ~~by; Andrea Dietrich
A shot of Haiku -CHAIN-
I assume, now you all are enjoying your holiday season, shopping or taking a break from your work for few days... Well, good for you! Few days left for the famous family dinner party, good luck to you all :) I will be with my big Spanish family here in Gran Canaria this year.
As I have mentioned in my previous post that I will have solo show at the end of January next year, so, I am pretty busy these days... Lots to do, but I know things will get together well at the end... Anyway, the other day I was in Las Palmas city, I had chance to see the traditional sand sculptures made for Christmas "Belen". They are absolutely beautiful! Here few photos for you, enjoy it...
Sand sculptures at Las Canteras Beach , Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Hi! My dear blog readers, I have some good news! Finally exhibition dates for "CactuSueños" series confirmed by the gallery in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It will be at the end of January 2014.(I will give more details on the following weeks). I have been working on this project on and off during this past 10 years and I created more than 50 pieces of artworks using different art techniques which are oil painting, acrylic painting, watercolor,oil pastel, lino cut, chalk drawing, glass mosaic and digital media. Few artworks need some last touches and photo sessions need to be done before framing them.
Fixing edges of the mosaic piece
" Dream vacation by the drago tree" for framing.
Last week, I visited one of my favorite Canarian Artist, César Manrique's retrospective exhibition at Centro del Arte La Regentain Las Palmas. He was a truly a gem artist and a great eco-friendly architect.
César Manrique's Retrospective Exhibition brochure cover and back cover.
Visit my Online Special Exhibition called "Nunc Aut Nuncuam" (Now or Never) at ClickGallery.com .
The Exhibition will be available between December 9th - January 20th 2014.
Have a Great Week!
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I haven't being around on the blogsphere world for a while but here I am writing again...and still life goes on strange and beautifully without its own sense at all... Curiously learning almost everyday something new about all kinds of arts, science & nature. It's nice to be able to do these showing up and magically disappearing attitude. Most of us, including myself had been thought enormous amount of junk info with methodical ways on schools and perhaps afterwards brained washed somehow by social media. However the final result shows that we are using less time with our computers than our tablet and mobile surfing nowadays ...
Short resume of my absence;
Finished a commissioned oil portrait work of 3 young brothers. It took 2 and a half months. It was not an easy project but finally the client was very happy. Spanish laws are so strict about publishing photos or images of children under 18 without their parents permission. The client will give the paintings as a gift for Xmas. I have to wait until then to see what happens...
Sold the publishing rights of my painting called "follow me" for a Brazilian magazine editor, see image below the cover design of a "Traveller" Magazine.
"Follow me" , 2013 Original art or print editions can be purchased , please contact for price request at
It's very hot and the studio smells lots of oil paint these days. Three canvases side by side standing on the brown bookcase waiting for to dry, more colors to go... Tree young boys portrait commission project started few weeks ago, advancing on each one every other day.
On the other hand working on "Cactusueños" series mostly. It is better to wait till the solo show to see the latest pieces. I will give some peeks following weeks though.. Also I put together many images for the videoclip installlation will be projected on the exhibition.
Working on "Cactusueños" once more :) Since this was a postponed project , most of the work is actually done, except few pieces need final touches and some frame work. I painted during the 10 years of my painting period lots of sleeping self-portraits with these somehow scary but enigmatic looking cacti plant. It's ironic but makes sense very well :) Hopefully once I exhibit "Cactusueños" I will wake up from this crazy dream...
Studio settings for small format paintings
Studio clip for "Cactusueños" workshop
Cactusueños III, Oil on canvas, 97 x 160 cm., 2013
Since last month, right after joining to ETSY community I started working to promote my shop. I did a Pinterest Board and kept posting my listings on facebook page and twitter as well. Stats shows the hard work paid my working hours and my shop recognized by many art lovers. I made a sale and two reservations already.
In the mean time I created an ETSY team called "Canary Islands Team" and a facebook group called
"ETSY Canary Islands". Also I promoted the team member to show their listings on my Pinterest Board called "Canary Islands Team on ETSY". Lots of sitting hour yes but mostly at late nights... Feel free to join if you care about arts and crafts related to Canary Islands.
I was pretty busy last month. I had guests at my place, my mum and my brother, so I couldn't have time to write on the blog lately. Anyways, hope you all guys are fine and still up to see my new artworks. Here are some of them. I started a new series of daily paintings Alla Prima style. The alla prima style (Italian meaning "at once") was pioneered by artists like Velazquez and made popular by the Impressionists in the 1900s. This attempt to capture the impression while the paint is still wet gives the painting a unique sense of unity and spontaneity.
"Sunday Morning at Central Park". Oil color on gesso primed wood panel. Size 8.7" x 6" (22 x 15.3 cm) .
"Follow me" Oil color on 100% cotton canvas sheet Size of the painting 9" x 7" ( 23.3 x 18 cm) Size with frame 10.6" x 8.25" (27 x 21 cm)
I am also preparing an Online Shop, soon you will be able to see them all together at my new showcase place "ClickGallery" where you can buy my original artworks directly from me. No dealing with any gallery and of course you will save 40- 50% from the gallery prices.
Oh! I forgot, I did a commissioned work also and a tattoo design :) Both pieces came out very well and my clients were happy :)
"Bernie"
Oil on Canvas, 46 x 55 cm
Tattoo design for Elif
See you soon, please come to visit or subscribe to my blog to get the news instantly! Have a wonderful week!
Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo , Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Last week I was planning to go to Leroy Merlin (a French chain of mega hardware store) to buy thin pressed wood panels for my small formatted cactus paintings. Later on, I had to cut the panels and prime them with gesso, too. Surprisingly, I was pretty lucky to find something else in the local art store. And it saved me from lots of work, time and money :) Canvas painting pads! 100 % cotton, 3 times primed with gesso 2 pads with 10 pages each, size of A4 and another one 10 pages, size of A3. First, I cut them for the size of my frames and glued them to their Plexiglas.After that, they looked like a canvas board. Afterwards, I printed my working files from Photoshop and transferred the images with copy paper. Here they are, as you see on the picture below, these are my first four sketches for the installation series.I will prepare 16 more pieces. They will have slightly different sizes. Once I finish them all, I will arrange them on my computer to show you how they will look all together.
Working for the final touches of "Cactusueños IV". On the short video clip below you will have an idea of how I work on the detailed parts. The process of building paint layers patiently takes time of course. You work basically, until painting starts giving you this semi-finished feeling, that's the moment I start for a new project generally, just before finishing it.... This emotion keeps me engaged whatever I do! One after another one after...
Video clip, working on Cactusueños IV
The photo below is the lastest version which you can see more details. I will change the color of the dark abstract part behind the figure's head, it will be much softer and brighter. In order to bring the head front this is essential. Also, hands and the face needs another layer for sure. The pillow seems fine but I might add some decorative designs on it.
Cactusueños IV, Oil on canvas, 81 x 100 cm (Work in progress)
This Thursday was Saint Valentine's Day, we decided to visit "Jardin Canario". The Cactus garden was amazing!. I took many photos and filmed video clips for the small formatted paintings. I measured my small sized frames to find out what size wooden panel I should use. Also, I reviewed quite a number of pictures and chose the candidates for this project. Next, I need to buy the wooden panel and cut for the measured sizes and paint with gesso. And ready to go! Next week, hopefully I will have some sketches to show you...
Have a wonderful week, see you soon!
Small sized frames for oil on wood panel project
Some kind of ficus tree, Jardin Canario, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
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Another week is behind us. Well, I must say, it was pretty productive for me... I worked a lot on the cactusueños series as you can see on the video clip, the latest painting is advancing nicely. Next week, I am going to start on the small formats which I decided to display them as a group on the wall.
Have a wonderful week!
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More cactusueños on the way, started on a new painting with transparent green toned ground color which will give good contrast with the skin tones later on. Laid the composition with dark brown and started to paint from top to bottom afterwards put the first coat of the sky with zinc white mixed with some green and pinkish tones. Landscape painted in three abstract wine red tones...Cactus and the figure is the next to paint now... I am taking pictures while on working on so you will see the development on this painting little by little.
Cactusueños 4, Oil on Canvas, 81 cm x 100 cm. (Work in progress)
Here is a videoclip of Jardin Canario, Gran Canaria. It's a beautiful botanical garden full of cactuses and many other plants. My inspirations for cactusueños paintings comes from this garden. More info at Wikipedia Enjoy it! Have a wonderful week.
The world is spinning like maniac without waiting for anyone of us, looks like this hideous non forgiven "time" suppose to be our only enemy in this universe, aren't we all trying to grab the monster? Damn! You're right what they say "Carpe diem", writing and inspiring in my studio... Just 6 days before February, here I am these last days working on a new painting for the never ending cactusueños series. Well, the painting mostly finished, putting for the last brush strokes as it needs. I used lots of Titanium white on the background as you might not know about this type of white oil color, it dries very very slowly. Probably by next week it will be totally dried.
Sleeping peacefully by the side of scary cactus plant. Is this an irony or not for you? Leave a comment please if you feel like. I will post next week some new stuff, hopefully I can grab the "monster" better this time :P
Letter to Santa: Hi Santa, I've been painting and working very hard all those years. I have many followers in my blog which they appreciate my artwork. So listen to me now. All I want is 2013 to be very nice to me. We are having tough times in whole country and especially in this art world. So please, Santa, tell your friends and family about me, recommend my online store,share my blog, "like" my fb page,follow me at twitterand say "There she is available for your services". Thanks and Feliz Año Nuevo from Canaries!
Goals for 2013 : To accomplish all the works, tasks, readings, blogging and have fun time in the mean time. Travel overseas, visit new places, meet with new faces...
Wishes for my followers: Thanks for your support and appreciation of my work. I wish you the best! Healthy, happy and a successful year with your loved ones.
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