Wednesday, April 8, 2009

A lively square / Uma praça animada


Today's image, utopian as all others shown here, shows just how I would like the centers of our cities, towns and villages to be: Clean, lively, peaceful, and without being disfigured by excessive construction.
This is also my first commissioned work, making it special. The person that ordered it enjoyed very much another one previously posted here, “The Orange Tree Square" so this was done with that preference as a starting point. Apart from that, I was given one hundred percent freedom in both creative and deadline aspects, two essential conditions for my acceptance of an order, and crucial to the success of this work. From my Client, it was a proof of trust for which I am very grateful, and very happy to know that she is pleased with the final result.
The dimensions are much larger than the small works I usually do, and perhaps my current limit in terms of "comfort" as I start to lose the sense of proportions if bigger. Being therefore too big for my old scanner, the edges appear slightly cut and a bit blurred...
Other works by commission are now on the way.
A imagem de hoje, utópica como todas as que aqui se mostram, representa um pouco daquilo que gostava que fossem os centros das nossas cidades, vilas e aldeias: Limpos, animados, pacíficos e sem estarem desfigurados por excessos de construção.
Este é também o primeiro trabalho que fiz por encomenda, sendo por isso especial. A pessoa que o encomendou tinha gostado bastante de um outro que viu no blogue, o “Largo da Laranjeira”, pelo que este foi feito tendo essa preferência como ponto de partida. À parte esse aspecto, foi-me dada cem por cento de liberdade, quer em termos criativos quer em prazos, duas condições essenciais para a minha aceitação de uma encomenda, e determinantes para o sucesso deste trabalho. Da parte da minha Cliente, foi uma prova de confiança que muito agradeço, e fico bastante feliz por saber que o resultado final agradou.
As dimensões são bastante maiores do que as dos pequenos trabalhos que costumo fazer, sendo talvez o meu actual limite em termos de “conforto”, uma vez que para maior começo a perder o sentido das proporções. Por isso mesmo, não cabendo todo no meu velho scanner, as extremidades aparecem um pouco cortadas e desfocadas...
Outros trabalhos por encomenda estão entretanto a caminho.

My Client kindly sent me a picture of the painting after framed: There's no doubt that a good frame adds value to a work!
I will be happy to create a landscape from scratch especially for you, just contact me for the email estadevelho@gmail.com for details and arrangements.
A minha Cliente teve a amabilidade de me enviar uma imagem do quadro depois de encaixilhado: Não haja dúvida de que uma boa moldura valoriza sempre um trabalho!
Terei todo o gosto em criar de raiz uma paisagem especialmente para si, bastando que me contacte para o email estadevelho@gmail.com para acertarmos pormenores.


Fabriano cold-pressed 12"x 9" - 140lb (30,5x23cm - 300g/m2) paper
Sold / Vendido

10 comments:

Every Photo Tells A Story said...

First of all, a BIG congratulations on your first commissioned painting, Paulo! I have to believe it's your first only because people weren't aware that you were willing to do one. Secondly, this painting is amazing. I can't believe all the little details that went into it. (Into all your paintings.) The cobblestone, the tiles,the liquor bottles, the little oriental rug hanging from the second floor apartment. And, I love the dog jumping on the little girl. Everything! I'm sure your customer is very, very pleased. You don't have to share this information, but I often wonder how long it takes you from start to finish because of all the details.

Paulo J. Mendes said...

Firstly thank you, Nancy, for all your appreciation. I just hope all my future commissions may have such a positive experience. I'll try to give you this timing information as far as I remember it because this work was spreaded along several weekends and free moments, so it maybe not 100% accurate but you will get an idea: This painting took one hour for the first sketch, three afternoons for all draft/transfer/re-draw process, which is the hardest part of the job, and then about two days, morning and afternoon, for the painting, the most pleasant part :).

Stephen Dell'Aria said...

Excellent job Paolo. I am sure your client will like it. I like the larger scale also. Your utopian world has a broad appeal to us all.

Paulo J. Mendes said...

Thank you, Stephen. I am happy that I got a wonderful feedback from the Client indeed. This scale is good for a change, although more time-consuming, but three new works in this size are lined for the next times.

Rafael Carvalho said...

Lá estão os omnipresentes tabiques...
Cumprimentos.

Paulo J. Mendes said...

Não podiam faltar. Quando concebi esta imagem tinha ainda presentes na memória as maravilhas de Castro Daire, Salzedas, etc...

Julio Rodrigues said...

Vou repetir: temos aqui o nosso "Norman Rockwell" Portugues.
Parabens pelo sublime trabalho.

Paulo J. Mendes said...

Agradeço o cumprimento, amigo Villager, mas tenho que me repetir também: Precisaria de subir a um escadote para chegar aos calcanhares desse grande Mestre...
Uma boa Páscoa!!!

Mineke Reinders said...

Congrats on a very successful commission! No wonder the client is pleased, this painting has it all. As always, I love your harmonious color combinations as well as your attention to detail. Lovely work.

Paulo J. Mendes said...

Than you, Mineke. I am fortunate to have other similar sized commissions on the way, and having a great time with the next one.