- Published on
"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!
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.
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
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.
The way this lion's fierce face is set into its mane and body is compelling—the juxtaposition of the face, which has a photographically representation feel to it, and the mane/body/background, which feels 'flatter,' more 'invented,' and naive, creates a strong impact of the TRUE INNER SOUL coming into the full light through that face.
Brava, Jen!
And YAY for Tamayo popping up in your reading today! I only knew about him from Stan Kurth. Artists passing on knowledge about artists!
1. just bumped into the name Rufino Tamayo in my afternoon reading; would have meant nothing to me but for you : )
2. thx for your kind words about my words, especially given that I missed errors (either my own typos or autoincorrect coming along behind me making mayhem). to wit, i meant to say "photographically representational"
Mr. Lion, you don't scare one bit! I can see some kindness in those eyes.
So glad you resisted!