Next retablo knock-off...

18th Century Style Infant Jesus

Terry Nelson 2012

Acrylic on panel.

 

This is how the Nino looks in the nicho

I made it for.  A nicho is a small shrine,

often made of tin, as is this one.

 

I added a LED candle just to see how it looks lighted. 

The candle is too big of course.

 

I intend to copper leaf the floor of the nicho

to help reflect light.  Then I will add a couple of vials

of dirt from Chimayo, New Mexico.

 

 

Painting retablo.

St. Toribio Romo Gonzalez, Terry Nelson

5" x 4" acrylic on panel.

To be inserted into decorative frame.

 

Retablo ornament, Allegory of Penance.

Terry Nelson

Acrylic on copper, approx 3"x 2"

silver bells and hanger.

 

I'm working on a more complicated, larger canvas right now, but I'm taking time off to paint a few retablo style pieces.  I visited a local gift shop specializing in Mexican imports and became inspired to create some crafty items in the Mexican style.  I can't see very well these days, so the painting is not as precise as I would like, nor is the workmanship very good... and the scanner has some cat hair issues.

My first icon...

Christ, 1978

 Tempera on wood panel.

This is the very first icon I ever painted.  I recently distressed it - peeling and sanding away paint, using a file to round the edges and effect cracks in the panel, even holding it over an oil lamp flame to darken the patina.  Then I heavily waxed the panel.

The original panel was painted in egg tempera - without a gesso ground.  I also used gold paint instead of gold leaf.  I kept the panel so that I could be reminded that my talent is limited.  Recently I was cleaning storage areas and came upon it - rather than burn it, I thought I'd make it look as if it had been through a revolution.

I haven't updated the site for awhile since I've been busy with other stuff.  This will have to do until I get back to painting.

Christian Art Festival

Blessed Alberto Marvelli - T. Nelson  2012

Acrylic on board.

Jesus of St. Teresa - T. Nelson  2011

Acrylic on canvas.

Once again this year I entered the Crossview Christian Art Festival in Edina Minnesota, not expecting to be accepted.  2012 happens to be their 30th year for the annual juried art show.  I entered my St. Roch two years ago, but it was rejected, so I wasn't sure my work this year would make it.  In the past I have entered paintings for which I won Honorable Mention and 3rd place.  I don't enter every year because I don't always have religious painting to show. 

This year I was astonished that both paintings shown above were accepted by the jurors, and even more surprised when Bl. Alberto Marvelli was awarded the Festival Award, or 1st place.  I was totally blown away and wanted to keep it secret until I had a photo of the work to show so I could update this blog. 

If you click on the photos you can get a closer look.  I hope to have them photographed properly after the show closes.  (I sneaked out when no one was there to take the photos shown here.)  The show closes May 13. 

*Marvelli is presented icon-style with a background montage suggesting disintegrated fresco work representing the destruction Rimini suffered in WWII.  To his lower left is a scene from Rimini, the street his boyhood friend Federico Fellini was born on, while the background to his right offers a 'holy-card-style-apparition' of one of his favorite saints, St. Gemma Galgani. 

Levitating Priest

Levitating Priest - Terry Nelson

2012

Acrylic on canvas. 20 x 10

[Sorry I haven't cropped the photo - if you click on the image you may get a better view.]

Scanned and uncut...

Backyard - T. Nelson, 2012

8 x 8 acrylic on canvas

This piece may turn out to be one in a series of illustrations for my Mrs. Rabbitowitz stories.  I dunno.

Making pictures

I've been wasting my time 'making pictures'.