August 1998
Victor Rodriguez
The following is a description of the acrylic application and techniques Victor Rodriguez uses in his submitted work."I use practically every quality of acrylic paint possible: opaque, transparent, thinned, thick, mixed with gesso, everything in order to achieve the effects needed for the photographic realism in my work. In many areas, mainly in the flesh tones, I use entirely free-hand airbrushing. I rarely do any masking, I don't like the hard edges it produces and I find them to take away the natural feeling or look of reality. Acrylics are a perfect way to render this intricate textures; because of the fast drying I am able to mix in several layers of thin washes, creating an illusion of light within the painting, because of the transparency the light reflected is the one that bounces in the white canvas thru the paint. In other areas, I use several layers of opaque paint, sometimes mixed with gesso. I find the colored gesso a great help in this regard. I also use regular acrylic paint in backgrounds and I apply several layers and sometimes I use a spatula-whatever comes handy. And I always varnish the painting with a thin coat of semi-gloss varnish, to make the acrylic colors come out and to protect the surface.I think it is very important to know your materials, and for this you have to have a long time relationship with them. This is the key to free one self and to focus in other important conceptual matters."
—Victor RodriguezFor more information about the artist or to inquire about purchasing artwork, please write to:Victor Rodriquez
100 Water St. #206
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 834-1208 or e-mail at: victorymayte@dcdu.com
