Snowballing or Evolving?

I'm still working on this one, and I'm using a similar technique to the one I used on "Going Home." I'm glad I started out so bright with this one, because now I have room to go darker... It's been back-to-basics on this one in a lot of ways, and exploratory in a lot of ways as well... I'm not going to rush this one out... Just taking my time...

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Heritage

I've never done a straight-up homage to my Puerto Rican roots. I didn't start out doing that here, but it ended up that way.

This isn't the finished product, but I wanted to take a second to think about that. I never take my culture for granted, and Lord knows that my colors have always been inspired by the homes of Humacao, where my father's family is from, but I have never painted an image that says "Yo soy Puertorriqueño..." But I am.

Maybe it's a matter of being known as "Latino artist Richard Lopez" (even though there already is a Richard Lopez- my second cousin, Latino artist Richard Lopez...). I'd rather be known first for my work, and second for my race.

But I am making this painting in honor of my family, my heart, and all those who came before me.

So there's that.

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"Going Home"

Today I finished a piece that I have been working in for a month or 2. It started out with me just going nuts with color, spattering blues, pinks, and greens all over the place. Then I prepainted a bunch of kraft paper with different hues, cutting out cloud shapes, and placing them in a very weighted fashion, mostly on the bottom left. Then I began work on subtracting the weight from that corner, and bringing the focus to the top right. Then I let it sit. I let the 3/4 finished painting sit in the corner of my office for almost a month. I did about 10 paintings before I came back to it this morning. I added 3 angels. Done.

Why did I wait a whole month to paint 3 angels? I dunno.

It's all about timing I guess.

3 weeks ago it may have been a 7-armed robot...

It's all about timing.

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Leaving it as is.

Sometimes it's hard to leave things be, and not over work them. This is one of those times where I have to stop myself, before I make something needlessly busy. I'm still going to call this one unfinished, but I'll display it anyway, because I'm pleased with it... For now...

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Work in Progress

Here's a sample of the new madness taking place... More to come soon!

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Art & soul

I hope to see everyone I know, and alot of people I don't know at ART & SOUL (FEAST YOUR EYES & AND SHAKE YOUR ASS).

It's gonna be a great time.

I'm stoked to be showing my work with these other artists, and even moreso that we'll be presenting in a multifaceted forum with live music, drinks, and good soul tunes...

I love NOUVELLAS. They are a great act that never disappoints. Think 2 Dusty Springfields backed by an early Stones...

So I hope you all can make it out. It's gonna be a blast!

~rLo

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Stepping up the game

My wife finds it either amusing, or lame when I use the term "stepping up my game," and I can't really blame her. It is a pretty lame phrase considering the existence of the movie "Step Up," which is a lame movie about dancers, or something too that degree. But nonetheless, I do have to step up my game. It's been almost 6 years since I made a promise to an old friend to work hard on my artwork, and that's what I've been trying to do.

I've become restless these last few months. I'm happy, don't get me wrong, but I tend to paint my best stuff when there's some sort of emotional unrest brewing deep inside. My work as of late has brought me to use new symbols, and new characters. The heart with the flux capacitor attachments, the angel robot, the adult angels as opposed to the children I used to use- all these new guys are helping me express something new, but also something that's always been there.

I can't stop creating, and it's a great feeling. But I'm also wary of why.

I've got a group show coming up, and I'm stoked for it. Everyone will get to see "my new madness..."

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