Last winter in Mexico, we bought shrimp from Gustavo. He seemed like a simple man with a simple life. Every morning he would arrive, carrying his blue Coleman cooler filled with ice and last night's catch of fresh shrimp. "Camarooooon!" he called out and gradually the sleepy vacationers would trudge down with pesos and thoughts of sweet, fresh shrimp stir fry for that night's dinner. I took a photo of him showing off the extra large camaroon to entice us to purchase (no arm twisting was needed!) Later, at home, I painted this figurative portrait. If you've been reading my blog, you know you've seen it already.
Why am I reposting it? We were in Mazatlan again. There was a new shrimp seller. Pretty much at the same time I was painting this face, Gustavo passed away. It moved me to the core, having spent the hours studying and rendering every shadow of turning, each suggestion of line, wrinkle, the silver in his mustache, the Pope hat. I felt like he was a friend; we were friends. And, really, I knew nothing about him but in painting him it feels like I honored and connected with his life.
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Hello! My name is Wendy and I am passionate about oil painting! Whether in the studio or out in Mother Nature, I get lost in the experience of capturing on canvas the moment and the feel of what I am painting. I pour my love and energy into every single piece of artwork and I hope it shows! This blog is a place where I can use words to talk about art, painting, life, faith, things that make me laugh, and things that inspire. I love every response, so don't be shy about leaving a comment...Archives
January 2025
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