I started with a 84″ x 72″ stretcher. Lots of work to do ahead. After I stretched the canvas, applied two coats of gesso mixed with paint and medium. Started the drawing with carbon to layout the composition. The subject will be a dry land. Remember that My new proposal “Dangerous Land” is a response to environmental, social, political and inhumane worldwide contemporary issues. I give shape to an unstable space that no longer have or will disappear because of globalization, industrialization and global warming. This leads to natural disasters extinguishing life and nature.
After the drawing I started to paint from the bottom to the top mostly white, gray and black paint. I mixed it with acrylic medium, emulsion, glass beads, fiber thick, pigments, pumice stone and black magnum rock. I paint with palette knifes, brushes, sticks, roll, and my hand. By listening to music, it allows me to go with the flow and to be very spontaneous. I allow the paint to drip, to grow and to take it’s own course. I scratched the surface of the painting like a mad man. Like we all do to the planet earth. Worked coat after coat, after coats. Days passed and kept building coats, texture and defining the cracks. For most of them I used emulsion with carbon, silver, graphite, burnt sienna and magic green. This last one changes colors depending on the position of the viewer. I changes from red to green. I wrote phrases for later to be erased. I applied lemon yellow, violet, blue, gold and grays to the sky. I only use a very limited pallet. That leads me to mix the paint well and it is how I get all the richness in my colors.
The impossible tree changed position, shape and scale many times during the weeks. It became more impossible every time. I ended up painting it with silver pigment and stainless steel (in an emulsion mix). After few days of working the painting I took a big chance. It was time to make a huge decision. Should I apply the burn sienna pigment in top of the whole painting or not? That was the original idea. If i decided to go for this there was no turning back. After applying the medium and rubbing the dry pigment, all the painting richness and colors will be gone forever. What the hell, I went for it, knowing that the painting might end up as a nice texturized rug. I started applying the emulsion and mediums and rubbing the pigment with my hand and scratching with the palette knife. My fingers ended up in a bad shape. Some of the texture are composed by glass, pumice stone and black magnum rock. These particles cut my fingers since they have hard edges. But the music, the emotion and the passion of doing this painting didn’t let me stop. After applying the dry pigment I took a wet towel and removed some from the cracks. I didn’t apply any medium in this area so the pigment didn’t stick.
The richness of the paint was probably lost. But the process, the scars, the traces and my statement are very clear in this work.
Primavera que no llega, 2011
Acrylic / Emulsion / Pigments on canvas 84” x 72”
Alexis says
Awsomely written and explained. A true look at a painters process and the heart that goes into every painting. This is a classical process that should be understood by every artist from conceptual to video artists.
This is what most people dont understand on how a painting is created. They think is just applying paint to the canvas when its a complicated and well thought off process
Erick Sanchez says
Many thanks Alexis! I will keep sharing it with all of you!
victor vazquez says
I agreed with you… Difficult process…Good work
Exito..
Erick Sanchez says
I really appreciate it Victor. I much admire your great work too!
Mary "Baby" Llenza says
…me emcanta el proceso …vivido en carne propia…
El resultado… una Obra con Sentir de la siqui y del cuerpo…
Erick Sanchez says
Así mismo Mary. Gracias!
Hispanic New York Project says
Great post! Thanks for enlightening us on the specificities of the creative process.
Erick Sanchez says
I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!
jamie martinez says
I love how you explain the whole process… very nice.
Erick Sanchez says
Thanks my friend!!
Alfonso says
Felicitaciones Erick: Entrar en el area de la enseñanza compartiendo tu proceso de creación te hace mas artista y a los espectadores mejores apreciadores del arte y de los artistas. Perfecta combinación. Ojalá puedas dar unos talleres acá en Rhode island.
También te invito a compartir con nuestros lectores a través de nuestro portal digital. Felicidades y saludos.
401-365-5792
Visitanos en http://www.americanewsne.com
Erick Sanchez says
Un millon de gracias Alfonso. Me encantaría volver a dar otro taller en Rhode Island. Un abrazo.
Patrick McGrath says
Excellent! I’ve always enjoyed learning from the painting processes of old and contemporary artists. Nothing speaks better of an artist and what his work is about than his journal and his creative process. I’m glad you have shared your insights with the rest of the world and I’m sure you are learning even more by doing this. It is clear by the way you describe your process that you understand how the mere act of painting in a beautiful way emulates and re-enacts those issues that matter most to you. I congratulate you for your self-awareness, achievements and for sharing your painterly experience with all of us. The best to you as always!
Erick Sanchez says
Dear Patrick. I learned a lot indeed. Thanks for your constant support. Much success to you too.
Anabelle says
Este segmento es útil y revelador. Ojalá más artistas se interesaran por compartir sus “secretos de oficio” – mientras tanto éxito y mis mejores deseos siempre.
~@/Anabelle
Erick Sanchez says
Gracias Anabelle! Seria maravilloso si que otros artístas puedan compartir esto tambien. De mi parte te digo que me encantó hacerlo y lo seguire haciendo. Un abrazo.
anahelenaw says
Erick, thanks for sharing with us all the process to somehow make us feel part of it. Most of the time people have no idea of the amount of time and effort that is involved additional to the little piece of one’s heart that remains in each of the paintings. Como siempre ¡¡te deseo mucho éxito!!
Erick Sanchez says
Hi Ana. That’s true. It is a lot of time, effort and passion! Thanks!
Soraya Diaz says
Erick is a talented painter. His devotion for his painting is beyond nature. He lives to paint. That is all he wanted to do, paint. He works hard and critics his work to get to the perfection. I have several Erick’s work in my house and I can say that his paints give life to it. I am proud of him and his career . I support him 100%. He deserves all the success of the world.
Erick Sanchez says
Gracias hermanita!!!
Beatriz says
Me encanto tu trabajo acerca de los procesos de la tierra agrietada, como tú has pasado con tus manos a formar parte de la tierra misma, has utilizado distintos elementos combinados con acrílicos y pigmentos para logra esa textura, imitando la resequedad y el sufrimiento de nuestra Gaia. Una maravillosa alfombra texturizada.
Felicitaciones Erick por tus nuevos proyectos en tus talleres.
Erick Sanchez says
Muchisimas gracias por tu apoyo Beatriz!
Amy Tuttle Hoskins says
Erick, Amazing… AMAZING!!! I love the concept and visualization. Great job with the process description. “Thank You” for sharing your vision and heart, you are an AMAZING Artist!! Keep shining your light!
Erick Sanchez says
You’re welcome Amy!! Was a pleasure for me.
Chris Messner says
The painting process by Erik Sanchez illustrates how working the canvas is comparable to those tilling the fields of the earth with their hands, molding it, shaping it, and eventually creating sustainable life for the soul and enlightenment to the mind. As the seasons produce change, so does the palette of an artist’s work. Textures of color are created and take on a life of their own. It is ever changing, every evolving, creating a soothing sense and tranquility to the eye, and building emotions by bringing awareness.
Erick Sanchez says
Hi Chris!! Many thanks for your powerful words!
Alex Carney says
Fantastic. As always, a picture is worth a thousand words; to compare the written narrative to the pictorial spread was wonderful. Keep it up and thank you for sharing this with me on FB.
Erick Sanchez says
Much appreciated Alex!!
Yolanda "Sophia" Romero says
Erick, thank you for sharing the art process. It is truly extraordinary as well as your paintings. I’m sure it’s a complicated process, yet you make it look so natural and delicate. I love the mixture of different colors. They are very vivid. You are a true artist! Keep up this amazing work.
Erick Sanchez says
You’re welcome Sophia. I did enjoy it!! Thanks for your support. XOXO ;D
rosa evelyn says
Me encanto este interesante proyecto. Me interesa recibir mas informacion de proyecto. Le felicito por ese maravilloso don, que Dios le bendiga dandole la salud de seguir obteniendo exitos !
Erick Sanchez says
Muy agradecido!
carlossantiago says
muchas gracias Erick: por compartir no solo tu arte sino tambien tus conocimientos atraves del maravilloso oficio de ensenar, estoy seguro que sera beneficioso para muchisima gente. cuenta con mi apoyo!!
Erick Sanchez says
Muchas Gracias amigo! Compartelo con quien entiendas lo necesite. Un abrazo y mucho exito!
Heriberto nieves says
I love the prosses to get a great piece of art, you got it, you are a good artist! I got experimental art project with student at university of puerto rico in carolina city, here I developed a course 3157 compendium of visual arts. This course give a panoramic view of fine arts, paint,drawing and metal sculptures, the students coming from multiple dicipline. Only in tree months they created great piece of arts, without any previous arts courses. At the end we haved a great collective expo!!! In our library. This experience is share with national an international invited artist. If you or any artist want to join me and be part in this project andto our scultorical jardin , share your work with our student, contact me!!!the universe bless to all!
Erick Sanchez says
Muchas gracias amigo! Sabes que también admiro tu trabajo y filosofía. Me encantaría trabajar contigo en el proyecto. Cuando este en PR te aviso. Mucho éxito.
Ruben says
Excelente “post”. Buen anticipo de la riqueza visual e informativa que podemos esperar de tu nuevo website.
Erick Sanchez says
Muchas gracias Ruben!
Eileen Collins says
Fascinante leer sobre tu proceso. Muestra una inmensa generosidad.
Erick Sanchez says
Gracias Eileen. Si me interesa compartir esto con el resto del mundo!!
Edgardo Rubio says
Excelente obra de arte, un gran trabajo, y una gran explicacion. las fotos hablan por si solas! Te felicito!
Erick Sanchez says
Muy agradecido Edgardo!
Carl E. Hazlewood says
Process is really well explained… and a terrific product at the end of that process. A very fine painting.
I wish you the very best with your project…
Always,
Carl
Erick Sanchez says
Many thanks Carl!!!
El Trotamundos says
FELICIDADES!!!!!!!!!!!
Esa primavera que no llega, LLEGARÁ después de una labor tan ardua y amorosa como la que le has dedicado a este hermoso trabajo.
ABRAZOS y ÉXITOS!!!!!!
Erick Sanchez says
Jejeje!!! Claro amigo. Gracias!
Georgie Vega says
Erick:¡Fabuloso! Gracias por compartir tu proceso creativo y técnico, brindándonos la oportunidad de entrar en tan maravillo proceso. ¡Éxito!
Erick Sanchez says
Muchas gracias Georgie!
Fiona Long says
A wonderful post. It’s fantastic to hear about your process, the thinking behind it, your experimentation with materials and the decisions you make. Thanks for sharing.
Fiona
Erick Sanchez says
My pleasure Fiona! Many thanks for you words.
Angel Mart says
Erick, esperando la primavera y poder saludarte personalmente ,y compartir la visión de lo que aún esta por crear. Me complacen todos los comentarios.
Erick Sanchez says
Gracias Angel!! Te sugiero que te suscribas al News Blog para que recibas actualizaciones automáticas de lo que voy a estar trabajando desde Francia. Un abrazo.
Elizabeth says
Erick,
Me gusto mucho la analogía conceptual que desarrollaste en esta técnica! Tienes otros procesos descritos? Obras de de este proceso?
Erick Sanchez says
Saludos Elizabeth
Muchas Gracias por tu comentario. En estos momentos me encuentro trabajando en una serie de diarios como parte de mi residencia en Francia. En los mismos detallo no solamente el proceso del dibujo y la pintura, sino tambien reflecciones sobre lecturas de historia del arte. En las mismas estoy describiendo como podemos relacionar y aprender de las teorias y observaciones de las grandes maestros.
Fabian Detres says
Siempre he pensado que los artistas en general somos cobardes y egoistas, que somos renuentes a develar nuestros procesos de creación con el temor al plagio. Afortunadamente acciones como la vuestra hechan por el suelo mi teoría. Por experiencia personal reconozco que mi proceso de aprendizaje plástico ha trascendido la educación formal universitaria y ha dependido mayoritariamente de la experimentación, el ensayo, el error y en algunas ocasiones de los conocimientos que compañeros artistas me hayan podido ofrendar. Las descripciones que haces en tu obra: “Primavera que no llega”, son un buen punto de referencia para aquellos artistas que ya estamos en carrera y para aquellos que se encuentran en formación. Aparte de esto, te manifiesto que me agrada dicha obra y que además de los resultados obtenidos, se percibe el potencial de evolución. Hay obras que son capaces de gestar y parir muchas más obras, “Primavera que no llega” es una de esas obras.
En hora buena Erick.
Fabian Detres
Erick Sanchez says
Muchas Gracias Fabian! Me disfrute muchisimo este proceso. Pero compartirlo ha sido aun mas gratificante!!
Un abrazo,
Erick