7-10 Days Seeking Mexico's Natural Beauty

I have the opportunity to have a solo exhibit at the Latino Art Museum in Pomona, California. When I visited the space, I was so inspired I thought, wouldn't it be great to create a whole new body of work with a latino theme just for this new show!

I paint landscapes so beside only being scenes from Mexico, how will the paintings have a latin theme? That is the challenge! Or should I say, just one of the challenges. That problem will be solved with pure inspiration! And I'm confident this new body of work will be my best yet!

My plan is to fly to Mexico and travel in and around the state of Jalisco. I will stay with my good friend and driver, Luis, to keep costs down. Luis will drive to the most scenic and beautiful places, allowing me to stop, sketch and take photographs. Upon my return, I will work tirelessly in my studio to create 15-20 new paintings using only my reference material from this trip. Sometime during the three to four months I am creating this new work, I will work out a date for the show with the museum. I am expecting the show to be in early 2012.

The $2500 will be divided as follows: $1500 will be used for travel costs - airfare, food, gas, etc. I will be in Mexico for seven to ten days. If I can make my funds last longer, fingers crossed, I'll stay longer. $700 will go to the museum, which is a non-profit. This fee covers such things as marketing materials, postcard invites and the opening reception. The remaining $300 will be used for supplies. I am well stocked with paint and brushes, these funds will be used for canvas.

Statement: My art at this time is solely dedicated to the landscape. I just can’t get enough of nature’s beauty and the challenge that comes with trying to capture and portray a place in time.

Each landscape I paint is somewhere I have been even if only briefly. Something about that place at that time caused me to stop and take notice. Therefore, I try to capture the spirit or essence of that time and place in order to convey that mood or feeling to the viewer. 

I use basic elements of art and design to create pieces I feel are compositionally sound, always considering where the lines and forms are leading the eye within the painting. It is important to me to combine this with an emotional connection to the place.

I consider my work representational but strive not to be too realistic. Evoking a feeling of time and place is the challenge I put to myself. And I continue that effort through each painting.