Largo do Machado
Tuesday, June 19, 2012

These late autumn days unpredictable weather makes plein air painting a hard task. A day may start with a beautiful sunrise and then  become cold, cloudy or even rainy.
I intended to head to the waterfront, paint some boats, waves...but  considering the  possibility  of a sudden change, I decided for a urban composition as in case of raining it is easier to find shelter under some awning.
That proved to be the right choice as the rain really came down at the end.

                                         Largo do Machado  - Sandra Nunes - o/c 40 x 60 cm

Posted bySandra Nunes at 9:17 PM 0 comments    

Labels: brazilian artist, catete, contemporary landscape paintings, plein air painting, pleinair painting demo, Rio de janeiro landscapes, Sandra Nunes

Sunrise at the Pharoux Wharf - Color notes
Saturday, March 12, 2011

Undoubtedly, one of the aspects that attract me most in painting outdoors is the total integration with the theme.I have been to Pharoux Wharf intending to start a composition I had planned some time ago.
As it was a large format, I considered working in more than one session on the site. On the first day I had the good fortune to meet Monalisa (!), the friendly parking lot clerk who, showing great interest in the painting process, started telling me about the beauty of the sunrise at that place.
I told her my concern about being out so early when most of the city is still asleep. I learned then that the movement of people already exists at that time as the ferryboats start arriving from the other side of the Bay and she is already working.
I didn´t think twice, I put the large canvas on hold and the next day I was there to witness the wonderful show of colors from the pier.
I knew all would be fast, so I went well prepared just to make color notes on small formats:

Sunrise at the Pharoux Wharf - color notes -Sandra Nunes ost 12x22cm
Then, all very quick ...some minutes later, another light, the sun going his way up and clouds coming down...and ...daylight...cloudy?


Clouds over the wharf- color notes -Sandra Nunes- o/b 16x22cm

Pochade box closed, all set to go back home and some steps ahead, sun shining, flamboyants in bloom and the exquisite Albamar green building as backddrop. I had to start over...

Albamar- Harmony in red and green -color notes -Sandra Nunes- o/b 16x22m
Long and productive morning.
Thanks Monalisa!

Posted bySandra Nunes at 6:00 PM 4 comments    

Labels: albamar, brazilian artist, color harmony, ferryboats, flamboyants, guanabara bay, plein air painting, Rio de janeiro landscapes, Sandra Nunes, sunrise in rio

My Backyard
Thursday, August 12, 2010

Botafogo Cove Sandra Nunes o/c 40x60cm

Posted bySandra Nunes at 8:46 PM 0 comments    

Labels: brazilian artist, oil on canvas, plein air painting, Rio de janeiro landscapes, Sandra Nunes

Featured in Brazilian Newspaper!
Monday, July 26, 2010

Back to Largo do Boticario
I was featured in Brazilian Newspaper- Jornal do Brasil- about preserving the Historic National heritage !
Last week I went back to Largo do Boticario, the same place where I painted a series of plein air studies which were inspiration for the Large Panel I had been comissioned then.
To my disapointment the scenery was completely different.
To my friends who can´t read Portuguese; It is about the need to preserve our architectural heritage and the neglect this Rio de Janeiro hidden gem is suffering...About me and my feelings regarding this situation translated on canvas.

please,click and zoom in to read the article...

Posted bySandra Nunes at 4:20 PM 2 comments    

Labels: brazilian artist, Brazilian Landscapes, jornal do brasil, largo do boticario, Old Rio, plein air painting, Sandra Nunes

Gone to the Beach
Sunday, February 28, 2010

It´s still too warm for plein air painting here. It seems temps are not going to change so soon. I knew I wouldn´t stand the heat for a long time, so I went to the beach with my smallest pochade box . Maybe I´ll approach this subject with a larger canvas in the future...
Gone to the beach - oil on panel 16x22 cm - Sandra Nunes

Posted bySandra Nunes at 2:42 PM 3 comments    

Labels: beach, brazilian artist, plein air painting, Rio de janeiro landscapes, rio_das_ostras, Sandra Nunes, seascapes

Blooming Silk Cotton Trees
Tuesday, April 7, 2009

April Flowers
It´s been two or three weeks that whenever I pass by Flamengo Park a rich red spot calls my attention. It´s time for the silk cotton tree to bloom here.
Between the two freeway lanes which runs across the park a lone specimen performs its daily show.
As this area is interdict to the traffic on Sundays, I decided to cross the street and give the tree a closer look.
Sandra Nunes painting silk cotton tree

I remained for a long time observing the character of this exquisite young tree admiring its flowers, its upright trunk, its green leaves that should not be there anymore if the weather were dryer.

Red Silk Cotton Tree - oil on panel27X22cm -Sandra Nunes
After finishing this painting, I started to gather my brushes and paints, when I was almost ready to close my easel I turned back and a leafy pink silk cotton tree invites me to sit under its shade. In fact I called it leafy for lack of a better word, there were just a few green leaves left. Its lush canopy was almost completely made of flowers!
I could not resist , I had to answer to this appeal, I was carried away by the abstract masses of color and this time my emotional response was much more immediate...
Pink Silk Cotton Tree - oil on panel 22x27cm - Sandra Nunes

Posted bySandra Nunes at 5:55 PM 2 comments    

Labels: brazilian artist, Brazilian Landscapes, landscape painting, plein air painting, Rio de janeiro landscapes, Sandra Nunes, silk cotton tree

Plein Air Painting time lapse demo
Sunday, February 8, 2009

This is a short clip registering 3.30 h. work condensed in 1.55". It is very cumbersome to do this on a busy the sidewalk and it wouldn´t have been possible without assistance.

Catete Street, Rio de Janeiro oil on linen 54x65cm

Posted bySandra Nunes at 7:09 PM 2 comments    

Labels: bar getúlio, brazilian art, brazilian artist, oil on canvas, plein air painting, Rio de janeiro landscapes

Sunny Day at Guanabara Bay
Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Finally the sun came for two days in a row and with it the weather that suits this city so well. From the first hours of the day on we can learn that the temperature is going to be very high, what can also be a challenge to the plein air painter.

I headed to the same spot where I did the first 2009 plein air painting (please, check the previous post) in search of that friendly leafy tree which gave me shelter from the rain. This time it provided me the shade I needed to protect me from the unbearable warmth of the sun.

I decided to do the same composition of the last sketch just for fun and the silvery grays gave way to the warm light of Rio de Janeiro summertime.

Posted bySandra Nunes at 8:16 PM 0 comments    

Labels: boats, brazilian art, brazilian artist, Brazilian Landscapes, comtemporary landscape, guanabara bay, plein air painting, Praia da Urca, seascapes, summertime