Rosa. 18x24in. Oil &Acrylic on Canvas.
On view at Miriam Restaurant. Park Slope, NY.
This portrait is a tribute to my Nana; the second woman who helped raise me and someone whose quiet strength stayed with me. Though this woman resembles mostly her sister, Rosa, the painting carries my Nana’s spirit. She was from Colombia and was poised, grounded, and full of warmth.
The background was created with a stencil, introducing rhythm through repetition; a visual language I return to often. I used gold leaf to highlight these repeated forms while elevating the ordinary to the sacred. The earring mirrors the shapes in the background, creating a subtle link between the figure and her environment, as if she’s part of the very pattern that surrounds her.
Rosa is a tribute not only to the women who helped raise me, but to the generational strength and beauty that continue to shape us.
While I now focus on painting from my own photographs, early works occasionally used freely available references. The referenced image was provided by Juan Manuel Merino.