Plein Air Painting: 2014

2014 Last Brushstrokes?
Monday, December 29, 2014

Maybe...

Summer has just arrived and the temperature in Rio has been around 40c these days. This is not the best season for plein air painting here.

The best time to stay out is very early morning or late afternoon. This morning I cycled to Urca for a quick sketch. Its tree lined streets are a real invite to paint.

My bike-easel set up

Capturing the warmth of this sunny summer morning in Urca

Felix Laranjeiras Square Urca
Sandra Nunes
oil on gallery wrap canvas
22x27 cm

Posted bySandra Nunes at 9:34 PM 0 comments

Labels: impressionism, oil painting, plein air painting, Rio de janeiro landscapes, Sandra Nunes, sketch in oil, Urca

Happy New Year!
Saturday, December 27, 2014

The Holiday Season is usually dedicated to take a look back at the events of the year. I like to look forward, I get excited thinking about the possibility of starting everything anew!

Happy New Year!

If you read in Portuguese check this beautiful poem by Carlos Drumond de Andrade:

Receita de Ano Novo

Para você ganhar belíssimo Ano Novo
cor do arco-íris, ou da cor da sua paz,
Ano Novo sem comparação com todo o tempo já vivido
(mal vivido talvez ou sem sentido)
para você ganhar um ano
não apenas pintado de novo, remendado às carreiras,
mas novo nas sementinhas do vir-a-ser;
novo
até no coração das coisas menos percebidas
(a começar pelo seu interior)
novo, espontâneo, que de tão perfeito nem se nota,
mas com ele se come, se passeia,
se ama, se compreende, se trabalha,
você não precisa beber champanha ou qualquer outra birita,
não precisa expedir nem receber mensagens
(planta recebe mensagens?
passa telegramas?)
Não precisa
fazer lista de boas intenções
para arquivá-las na gaveta.
Não precisa chorar arrependido
pelas besteiras consumadas
nem parvamente acreditar
que por decreto de esperança
a partir de janeiro as coisas mudem
e seja tudo claridade, recompensa,
justiça entre os homens e as nações,
liberdade com cheiro e gosto de pão matinal,
direitos respeitados, começando
pelo direito augusto de viver.

Para ganhar um Ano Novo
que mereça este nome,
você, meu caro, tem de merecê-lo,
tem de fazê-lo novo, eu sei que não é fácil,
mas tente, experimente, consciente.
É dentro de você que o Ano Novo
cochila e espera desde sempre.

( Carlos Drummond de Andrade )

Posted bySandra Nunes at 8:26 PM 0 comments

Labels: carlos drummond de andrade, happy new year, impressionism, plein air painting, receita de ano novo, Rio de janeiro landscapes

Uruguaiana Street - Merry Christmas
Friday, December 19, 2014

At this time of the year the thermometers start displaying unbelievable high temperatures in Rio de Janeiro,
Downtown, where a large number of popular stores is concentrated, becomes the stage of an explosion of colors with the hustle-bustle of the passersby looking for Christmas gifts added by the sound appeal of the shops trying to attract last minute costumers.
One of these spots is Rua Uruguaiana near the Popular Market.

May the true meaning of the holiday season fill your heart and home with blessings!

Uruguaiana Street
Sandra Nunes
oil on canvas 70x100 cm

Posted bySandra Nunes at 6:54 PM 0 comments

Labels: Igreja nossa senhora do Rosário e são benedito, impressionism, plein air painting, Sandra Nunes, Uruguaiana Street

Caminho do Bem-te-vi - Sugar Loaf Mountain
Monday, December 15, 2014

It is a 1250 meters walk along the base of Morro da Urca and Sugar Loaf Mountain, but it is worth the effort. Walking the so called Caminho do Bem-te-vi is getting into an oasis of fresh air sided by the lush rain forest, listening to the music of the sea crashing on the rocks mixed with the sounds of the local wildlife.

At the end of the path we are treated to a stunning view!

Painting on Caminho do Bem-te-vi
Sandra Nunes

Praia Vermelha
Sandra Nunes
Soft Pastels on Wallis
30x40 cm

Posted bySandra Nunes at 6:46 PM 0 comments

Labels: Caminho do Bem-te-vi, Claudio Coutinho trail, impressionism, pastel painting, plein air painting, Sandra Nunes, soft pastel, Sugar Loaf Mountain

Sunset on Guaíra
Thursday, November 13, 2014

Porto Alegre

I intended to capture the exquisite afternoon light of southern Brazil. The activity in the sky and in the water was intense.

Sketching Guaíra waters
Sandra Nunes

I barely had time to finish the sketch and the annonuced rain came quick and heavy A few minutes later, sheltered by Centro Cultural Mário Quintana dome, I could witness an astonishingly
beautiful sunset .

Sunset on Guaíra

Posted bySandra Nunes at 1:51 PM 0 comments

Labels: centro cultural mario quintana, guaíra, impressionism, landscape painting, plein air painting, porto alegre, Sandra Nunes, sunset on guaíra, watercolor

At the Ferry Boat Station
Friday, November 7, 2014

There´s something about this place that I keep coming back to paint it...

Ferry Boat Station
Oil on linen
Sandra Nunes

Posted bySandra Nunes at 6:10 AM 0 comments

Labels: impressinism, Niterói, oil painting, plein air painting, praça quinze, Rio de janeiro landscapes, Sandra Nunes

Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden Fountain
Monday, November 3, 2014

The Fountain of the Muses
Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden is a real oasis in the middle of the hustle-bustle of city life. As we enter the main pathway sided by the Royal Palm Trees we can see the beautiful Fountain of the Muses.
Made in England by Herbert W. Hogg, the fountain was brought to Botanical Garden from its original location at Largo da Lapa in 1895.

The Fountain of the Muses
Chafariz do Jardim Botânico
oil on canvas 60x30cm
Sandra Nunes

Posted bySandra Nunes at 5:38 PM 0 comments

Labels: fountain of the muses, landscapes, oil on canvas impressionism, plein air painting, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, Sandra Nunes, waterfountain

Arte de Portas Abertas 2014 - Open Studios 2014
Sunday, September 28, 2014

Thanks to all who visited Open Studios 2014 in Santa Teresa. It was great to meet old friends, collectors and make new contacts. If by chance you could not make it, you can still see some of my paintings, the show Ateliers in Transit runs till October 11th at Centro Cultural Laurinda Santos Lobo.

Sandra Nunes - Arte de Portas Abertas 2014
Centro Cultural Laurinda Santos Lobo

Arte de Portas Abertas 2014 Opening night and vist
Centro Cultural Laurinda Santos Lobo

From O Globo newspaper

Posted bySandra Nunes at 8:19 PM 0 comments

Labels: Arte de Portas abertas, Centro cultural Laurinda Santos Lobo, chave mestra, rio de janeiro paintings, Sandra Nunes, Santa Teresa Paintings, santa teresa tram

Santa Teresa Open Studios - Arte de Portas Abertas
Tuesday, September 9, 2014

This is the 24th edition of this event. I´participating in the show Studios in Transit - at Centro Cultural Laurinda Santos Lobo - 306, Monte Alegre Street, Santa Teresa.
If you are in Rio, this is a great opportunity to see my art up close and personal. I´ll be showing my most recent works!

Arte de Portas Abertas 2014

The show begins on September 13th with the opening of Arte de Portas Abertas and runs till October 12th.
If you intend to visit it afterwards, please email me and we can meet there!

Centro Cultural Laurinda Santos Lobo
Soft Pastel on Art Spectrum
Sandra Nunes

Posted bySandra Nunes at 5:11 PM 0 comments

Labels: art spectrum, Arte de Portas abertas, Centro cultural Laurinda Santos Lobo, plein air painting, Sandra Nunes, Santa Teresa, Santa Teresa Paintings, sketch, soft pastel

Popular Market at Uruguaiana Street
Saturday, September 6, 2014

I´ve tried to capture the hustle-bustle of this downtown popular market. The red awning against the green leafy trees was a plus!

Rua Uruguaiana Popular Market
oil on linen 30 x 30 cm
Sandra Nunes

Posted bySandra Nunes at 6:38 PM 0 comments

Labels: camelódromo, cityscape, impressionism, mercado popular, oil painting, plein air painting, Rio de janeiro landscapes, rua uruguaiana, Sandra Nunes

Winter Light
Monday, June 30, 2014

Here in the southern hemisphere winter has started a few days ago...
In Rio de Janeiro the changes are subtle. Misty morning with a warm and lazy sun slowly breaking through the barrier imposed by the blue gray curtain.
Back in 2010, the author of an interesting blog about art and culture used the image of a work of mine to illustrate her post (she kindly let me know it by contacting by email).
In her text she analyzes the significance of the winter looking for references in Chinese philosophy making the correlation between eastern symbolism and our lives. "... We can see that during the winter we try to 'save' more, ie, try to rest (" save the harvest in the barn "),we invest a lot of energy in order to accomplish our daily journey. ("The effort that all beings are subject to.")
If you think about it a bit, in winter we usually return home early, for warmth, "it is time to focus." And it is at these 'moments of concentration ', that we achieve self communion, ... "
I agree with this thought. Each brush stroke happens after a long period of contemplation as an attempt of self recognition and integration to the "New Season".

Winter Light -Sandra Nunes oil on panel 22x16cm

You can read in the blog post I mentioned above here

Posted bySandra Nunes at 11:24 AM 0 comments

Labels: Corcovado, impressionism, marine painting, oil on vanvas Urca, plein air painting, Rio de janeiro landscapes, Sandra Nunes, winter light

Plein Air Painting in Paraty
Sunday, June 1, 2014

Paraty, the Historic City
Walking around the streets of Paraty is a real challenge, its cobble stoned streets demand attention to each step. Get lost on their colorful corners, sit in a cafe, watch the slow pace of time is worth any sacrifice...

Sandra Nunes painting in Paraty

Whenever I go out to a plein air painting session, I take some time feeling the local atmosphere, allowing the suroundings to make contact with me, start moving my brushes and paints. The amazing city of Paraty reveals itself beyond its colonial colorful houses.
The post card compositions so many times painted by artists from the past and contemporary as well are a great attraction, but this time what first called my attention was the afternoon light bathing the boats on the river.
Masses of light and color...

ar

Sandra Nunes painting in Paraty

This is one of the paintings that I intend to develop into a larger one

Sandra Nunes painting in Paraty

As usual, passersby stop for a few minutes to talk... This couple kindly compliments me for the painting and mentions that the painter Djanira da Motta e Silva also go inspiration from this bridge for the work"Flight to Egipt".
I hadn´t heard about this painting and I got curious to know how Djanira, who lived here for a time, interpreted the theme.
here it is:

Flight to Egypt

Djanira da Motta e Silva oil on canvas

Paraty Paint Out

Friends in the Paraty Paint Out

Capturing the last lights of the day

Plein Air Painting in Paraty

Paraty, A travel in Time

Plein Air Painting in Paraty

Paraty, A travel in Time

Sandra Nunes, at Praça da Matriz in Paraty

End of day in Paraty, last lights...

I´ll post the finished paintings soon...

Posted bySandra Nunes at 6:41 PM 0 comments

Labels: historic city, impressionism, oil on canvas, oil painting, Paraty, Paraty Djanira da Motta e Silva, plein air painting, Rio de janeiro colonial houses, Rio de janeiro landscapes, Sandra Nunes

Spring in the Northern Hemisphere IV
Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Painting my way through Life -

This sentence came with a nice comment of my Canadian friend and I think it suits me, thanks Dan Gray!

A certain conflict happens whenever I travel. There´s a lot to see to experience, learn...On the other hand the desire of capturing what I feel on canvas or on paper gets into competition. It is wonderful when I manage to squeeze both in the always short period of time.

Crossing Brooklyn Bridge I was captured by the beauty of the morning sun. I had to stop for a quick watercolor sketch.

sketching Brooklyn Bridge- Sandra Nunes

One of the most moving experiences...
Sunday in Central Park

Not because it was Easter Sunday nor because it happened in Central Park, but for the lightness of the moment I had the privilege of living.

I opened my pochade box by the balustrade facing the Fountain. That site always called my attention and this time I decided to capture the cold afternoon light bathing the Angel of the Waters.

Bethesda Fountain- Central Park

Painting in Central Park - Sandra Nunes

I worked all the time listening to Bach. At the end of my painting session I went to check who was playing that heavenly sound coming from under the Arcades...

Musicians in Central Park

This trio was a side show...

The audience

To avoid a long post I´ve divided these notes on the trip into 4 posts. You can read on here

Spring in the Northern Hemisphere part I

Spring in the Northern Hemisphere part 2

Spring in the Northern Hemisphere part3

Posted bySandra Nunes at 9:35 PM 0 comments

Labels: angel of the waters, aplein air painting, bethesda fountain, central park, impressionism, new york musicians, oil painting, sandra nunes

Spring in the Northern Hemisphere III
Thursday, May 8, 2014

Metropolitan Museum of Art - continued

The Passions of Jean Baptiste Carpeaux

Besides the amazing sculptures this show features a large collection of drawings and etches by Jean Baptiste Carpeaux.

The composition and the anatomical realism of "Ugolino and his Sons" is amazing! The bodies portray the all tension of the moment in their expressions and dynamics of their movement

Anders Zorn

Sweden Master Painter

National Academy

No web reproduction or any print of these masterpieces can show what you see up close! Zorn´s oils and watercolors are a real feast for the eyes!

I had the rewarding feeling of being at the right place at the right time!

Omnibus, Anders Zorn

Omnibus, Anders Zorn, detail

Revisiting "my" Master

Joaquin Sorolla Y Bastida

Hispanic Society of America

This is the place where many years ago I had for the first time what could be called "The Sthendal Syndrome". Back here now, it was not different. How can one not be moved by such greatness?It was as if time had stopped...

Joaquin Sorolla Y Bastida, Hispanic Society of America

Joaquin Sorolla Y Bastida, Hispanic Society of America

To be continued...

Read on Spring in the Northern Hemisfere I HERE
Read on Spring in the Northern Hemisphere II HERE

Posted bySandra Nunes at 6:47 AM 0 comments

Labels: Anders Zorn, Hispanic Society of America, impressionism, Jean Baptiste Carpeaux, Joaquin Sorolla Y Bastida, National Academy New York, oil on cnvas, plein air painting, sandra nunes

Spring in the Northern Hemisphere II
Saturday, May 3, 2014

New York

This April, without the wind and a bit less cold than Chicago, New York displayed most of the time a beautiful blue sky and a warm Spring sun.
I´m posting here some aleatory images among hundreds I brought home in my camera and in my memory.

First stop: Metropolitan Museum of Art

The artist looking at himself....

Self Portrait - Rembrandt

Revisiting Tolouse Lautrec ...

Toulouse Lautrec

Van Gogh painted these two works on the same canvas, front and back...

Front:Self Portrait Back: The potato peeler

Central Park- Maurice Prendergast

Moonlight, Wood Island Light- Winslow Homer-oil on canvas

At the Seaside- William Merrit Chase

Avenue of the Allies- Childe Hassam

Checking George Bellows energetic brushstrokes and his power of synthesis

Swans in Central Park

Studying Velasquez...

The other opportunity I had to see this painting it was hung on a wall were we could not approach too much. From the distance this portrait called my attention for its on sake, the composition, the story it tells, the look of the model and the impossibility to dissociate the relationship between the painter and the model.

Juan de Pareja was a slave of Velasquez and he was his assistant from some time on.

From the distance we can see a refined portrait,elegantly lightened in a noble and silent atmosphere. When we get closer we can observe the perfect balance between the transparent washes and glazes of the abstract background with the impasto on Juan´s features which brings to light his strong look.

We can also notice the fluidity of this masterpiece, showing that it was effortless done.

There´s much more to see in this work and much more to learn from the Master of the Masters...

Juan de Pareja, Diego Velasquez

We can perfectly understand why Sorolla admired Velasquez so much and the influence we notice on his works.

You can read about Spring in the Northern Hemisphere I - Chicago -here

More on Metropolitan Museum and New York here

Posted bySandra Nunes at 9:45 PM 0 comments

Labels: Childe Hassam, George Bellows, Maurice Prendergast, Metropolitan Museum, pintura ao ar livre, Rembrandt, Sandra Nunes, Toulouse Lautrec, Velasquez, William Merrit Chase, Winslow Homer