Do you remember a while back when I talked about Liquitex paints and how I like them a lot because they have more of a matte finish in which oils will adhere to? I was looking at some pics of my old paintings and remembered that I had layered colored pencils on the acrylics in this painting. The house was owned by the Coffin family-I kid you not! It's in the Avenues area of Salt Lake City, Utah. I was just walking around one day taking pictures of houses that I thought would make a great painting when I came across these cool topiary bushes. They happened to be next door to this house, actually, but I was able to angle it to look like it was part of their yard.
"La Sagrada Familia" - Antoni Gaudi i Cornet - Barcelona, Spain
Art History Moment: Alrighty. I thought it was time to talk about something besides just illustrators. Have you all heard about Gaudi? He was an Art Noveau stylist extraordinaire! Actually he began in the Gothic tradition but soon switched to an organic style that is truly unique. Someday I'm going to get to Spain and see it in person but it's still so fun to look at pictures of his work. His most famous is "La Sagrada Familia", a Roman Catholic church that was begun in 1882 and STILL ISN'T FINISHED. After he died the original blue prints were destroyed in the Spanish Civil War. But the work continues. The projected finishing date set yet again (and again and again and again) is 2026-although I've seen something about possibly 2012. Everything he did has this other world organic quality. I would almost say it like "Road Warrior Meets the Church". He was obsessed with this project and it shows. I was talking to someone that went to Spain and he said that Gaudi did the most interesting mosaics all over the city-in the parks, etc, also. He is just too cool!
When I was a student (back in the 60's/70's) I used to buy a Liquitex colour called 'unbleached titanium'; I loved it.
ReplyDeletePoor old Gaudi. I seem to remember he was run-over by a tram, and died a couple of days later.
Bisou, Cro.
what a wonderful house....reminds me of my great-grandmothers....
ReplyDeleteCro,I had that color too! But I know I was able to buy it not too long in the distant pass. They probably still have it. You know, I forgot all about that and I'll have to get some.
ReplyDeleteYes, old Gaudi did get run over by a tram and then died. He refused to go to a better hospital because he insisted that he belonged with the poor.
I'm glad it brought back fond memories for you, Linda-the house, I mean. It was really in disrepair but that's the great thing about being an artist. You can renovate and change things. I'm going to talk about that in a post.
Just gorgeous Julie! I didn't know you could add color pencil over acylic, I would never think of that - I guess if it's light like watercolor like I see you've done - but I always painted thickly in acrylics. Anyway wonderful piece!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! Acrylics can be just about anything you want them to be-paint wise, that is.What I love is the way you can layer layer layer and do it so quickly. With oils you have to at least wait until later in the day to put another layer on-even with a drying agent. But with acrylics you can get the most amazing layering results.
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