Lion, Skewed (Inspired by Rufino Tamayo)

"Lion, Skewed" (Inspired by Rufino Tamayo) - mixed media on 300 lb watercolor paper, 15 x 22.  Available here and at Artfinder.

Taking a walk on the WILD side in the studio this week with a study of  Rufino Tamayo's "Lion and Horse", which became a lonely lion in my sketch version and final painting.  

Tamayo's oil painting is dark and rich and saturated, the characters highly geometric.  The face of his lion was the inspiration for my skewed version.  His is almost cartoonish!  

Lion, Skewed

With a focus on the face, and with adding some depth and interest to the background, my own mixed media version became a little more ferocious.  Are those cage bars behind him?  Has he escaped? 

​And once more the chant of RESIST RESIST RESIST in my head when I felt the urge to smooth, soften, accentuate.  

Lion and Horse - Rufino Tamayo 1942 oil on canvas

small sketch

small sketch, crayon, watercolor

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​We live in magical times...where we can often hear the voices of artists gone from the world.  Take a listen as Tamayo discusses the sources of his color inspirations in this short video clip.