Plein Air Painting

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

Spring in the Northern Hemisphere I
Monday, April 28, 2014

Chicago

Besides windy, Chicago is really chilly this April. I was surprised with an unexpected April snow that painted the streets and roofs in white. I wasn´t prepared for this,but with the limited opportunity for plein air painting I could spend more time visiting museums and galleries without guilty.

I´m an early bird, I loved to watch the first rays of sun bathing the white rooftops....

At the Art Institute of Chicago

Vuillard- Foliage- Oak tree and fruit seller - 1918

Van Gogh - The drunken

Van Gogh- The drunken

A book that has been inspiring me from some years now after reading it : The Art Spirit, by Robert Henry.
And here I am in front of two of his amazing paintings...

Himself and Herself- oil on canvas- Robert Henry

Robert Henry- Himself and Herself - oil on canvas

Another great inspirations:
Claude Monet- waterlilies

Claude Monet

John Singer Sargent

Sargent

Gifford beal

Gifford Beal

Claude Monet, Waterloo Bridge

The Waterloo Bridge - Claude Monet

Claude Monet, Waterloo Bridge, Sunlight effect

Claude Monet

Chagall Windows

Chagall

I could not resist...being challenged by the Chilly wind

Painting at the Chicago Theater

Sandra Nunes

Continue reading: Spring in the Northern Hemisphere II

Posted bySandra Nunes at 10:34 PM 2 comments

Labels: Chicago, Claude Monet, impressionism, John Singer Sargent, landscape painting, plein air painting, Robert Henry, Sandra Nunes, the art spirit, Van Gogh, Vuillard

Burle Marx Calendar
Friday, March 7, 2014

I´m glad to announce that the painting " Spring at Burle Marx's" was selected to take part of 2014 calendar.

This painting was created during the Quick Draw(a la prima) promoted by Burle Marx Foundation in September 2013.
The creative process can be seen here in the post Spring at Burle Marx's.
Spring at Burle Marx- Sandra Nunes-o/c 46 x 61 cm

Posted bySandra Nunes at 8:28 PM 0 comments

Labels: a la prima, Burle marx, plein air painting, quick draw, rio de janeiro landscape, Sandra Nunes

Looking at the Mirror - 2014 first pastel strokes
Friday, January 10, 2014

2014 started with thermometers displaying incredible temperatures above 40.C , fells like above 50 C. in Rio. The weather is definitely not inviting for plein air painting.

I'd been in the studio working for an upcoming show. At a short break, I grabbed some pastel sticks and looking at the mirror I did this quick sketch.

Looking at the mirror-quick sketch- Sandra Nunes - soft pastels

Posted bySandra Nunes at 6:21 PM 0 comments

Labels: canson mi teintes paper, life drawing, looking at the mirror, quick sketch, Sandra Nunes, self portarait, soft pastels

New Show -
Saturday, January 4, 2014

I´m glad to announce and invite my friends for a group show I´m taking part at Gallery Djanira - CEPERJ.
The opening will be on January 8th at 6 pm
Visit: from January 9th to 31st - from 10 am to 6 pm
Avenida Carlos Peixoto, 54 Botafogo - Rio de Janeiro -( in front of Rio Sul Shopping Center)
If you happen to be in the area, stop by!

Posted bySandra Nunes at 10:33 PM 0 comments

Labels: Arte de Portas abertas, CEPERJ, chave mestra, exhibition, paintings, plein air paintings, Rio de Janeiro, Sandra Nunes

Happy Holidays
Friday, December 20, 2013

Posted bySandra Nunes at 10:07 PM 0 comments

Labels: happy hollidays, impressionism, merry christmas, plein air painting, Sandra Nunes

Getting ready for Christmas - Rua Visconde de Ouro Preto
Monday, December 16, 2013

Colorful Christmas
Unlike the Northern hemisphere, our Christmas is not white. At this time of the year Flamboyants are in full blossom contrasting with the luxuriant green of the mango trees, and other species of our flora all over city streets. Summer announces its arrival with strong and brief thunderstorms that washes the vegetation turning it greener.
This bucolic street is naturally getting ready for the party, under a blossoming jasmine tree, I opened my easel inspired by the light bathing the last old houses in the district of Botafogo.

Rua Visconde de Ouro Preto - Sandra Nunes -o/c 55 x 63 cm

Thanks to a neighbor who took some pictures of me from his window since my arrival . Later on I learned he was a friend of mine! We never know who is watching us...

Merry Christmas!

Posted bySandra Nunes at 11:38 PM 0 comments

Labels: a la prima painting, flamoyants, impressionism, plein air painting, rio de janeiro landscape painting, rio de janeiro paintings, Sandra Nunes

Igreja da Candelária
Thursday, December 5, 2013

Urban scenes portray a special poetry. I love to watch the movement of people downtown on a weekday, it is difficult to find a spot to open the easel and do not turn into a kind of an "information bureau", though.
Oh well, that´s part of the game...

Candelaria Church -sandra nunes- o/c 46x38 cm

Posted bySandra Nunes at 8:19 AM 0 comments

Labels: a la prima painting, candelaria, impressionism, Old Rio, plein air painting, rio de janeiro paintings, Sandra Nunes

Rua Senador Vergueiro
Saturday, November 30, 2013

Sometimes we travel far away in search of inspiration when if we look around us we find more than we are looking for. I've been in love with this corner for a long time, it is on my way to the studio. This day the morning light was screaming and I had to paint it!

Rua Senador Vergueiro-Sandra Nunes oil on canvas 46x38cm

Posted bySandra Nunes at 9:55 PM 2 comments

Labels: fornalha, impressionism, old rio de janeiro, plein air painting, rio de janeiro landscape, Sanda Nunes, urban landscape

Let it Rain! - Botafogo Cove
Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Lalely I´m getting more and more mesmerized by the abstract shapes into which landscape is transformed on rainy days! Each rainy day is an opportunity to study grays...

Let it Rain!- Sandra Nunes - oil on wood panel 19x35 cm

Posted bySandra Nunes at 10:46 PM 0 comments

Labels: enseada de botafogo, impressionism, plein air painting, rainy day, Rio de janeiro landscapes, Sandra Nunes

Santa Teresa Tram
Tuesday, November 12, 2013

After two years without its charming tram, Santa Teresa is getting ready to receive the new ones that should be here next year.
Meanwhile...an evocation of the old ones...

Old Tram at Guimaraes Station, Sandra Nunes - 46 x 61 cm

Posted bySandra Nunes at 2:15 PM 0 comments

Labels: bondinho de santa teresa, impressionism, paisagens do rio de janeiro, pintura ao ar livre, Sandra Nunes, santa teresa tram, tram