Iberian Lynx and wood pigeon, 2002.- Oil on canvas. Size: 100x81 cm.
FIRST PART
The motivations that lead to an artist to be a monographic exhibition are very diverse, but the decision, you get involved in a project of significant complexity, make 20 or 30 pictures of a species without falling into the monotony is not easy, and the project then becomes creative space.Exposure of the Iberian lynx whose pictures you can see in this space is the fruit of three years of work, as well as one or two years of preparatory studies before addressing the implementation of the definitive works.
Iberian Lynx, 2003.- Oil on canvas. Size: 50x73 cm.
The Iberian lynx, is without any doubt, our most threatened species, its demographic situation has declined considerably in recent years, especially in the area of Doñana. During my lifetime of naturalist I've had the good fortune to see this species in innumerable occasions, sometimes in areas where it is extinct now, and others in Doñana, but wherever I found this emblematic species of our fauna I've been impressed by the beauty of its lines, for his penetrating and intense gaze, by its almost heraldic nobility. Therefore, at a particular time in my career I decided to prepare an exhibition on this species, a monographic exhibition which never had been before in thirty oil paintings, the majority of large format, an exhibition run where the life of this species anywhere in Doñana. But at the same time he was preparing the studies concerns of a very complex job affected my way of working, it was a constant, almost morbid tension as taking into account that Spain is not the most appropriate place for this type of work and that the cost in material and working time were important, I did not know if really it worth such huge effort. The pressure increased exponentially along with the work and in my minds wondering one and again do will be doing the right thing? Will be rewarded both professional and economic efforts? You will have the acceptance it deserves before an audience not ready for this type of work? Practitioners of the art world to support this type of work are concerned?, you are, and other many doubts intoxicated my mind almost until the end of the work. In fact, finished once the last painting of the series was virtually exhausted.
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Study Iberian Lynx. Autor Collection.
But start from the beginning, before addressing the works that make up the sample, I initiated the preparation of the studies of composition, light and color from my remarks to the natural and supporting me in artwork for complete details. This process took me about two years, were made hundreds of drawings of which I was selecting which finally configurarían the definitive work. Generally the studies were conducted to graphite or charcoal, it was occasionally used cretas and sanguines or black ink cuttlefish. Sometimes studies were painted watercolors, to have a slight idea of the final appearance.
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Sketch Iberian Lynx. Autor Collection.
Very nicely done. I like how you talked about the endangerment of the lynx. Have you heard of "Expedition Art"? It's a group of artists who are painting endangered animals to raise awareness. One of the guys is Aaron Blaise, who is a former artist for Disney. You should check it out :)
Hi Peter. Many thanks for your words. I see information of Aaron Blaise. Best regards. Luis
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