Penseroso 2018

Luis Álvarez Roure made this oil painting, “Penseroso,” on a small scale. The approach to mark making is all about process. Looking at the material aspects of this work, the texture is palpable. The paint isn't overly thick, but it's applied in a way that lets you see each stroke, how the artist loaded the brush, the direction of each stroke, the angle and pressure applied and how it was pulled across the canvas. Check out the beard. See how the white, blues, and purples give it a life of its own? It's not just a beard; it's a landscape. The layering and blending aren't concealed, but celebrated. It reminds me a little of Lucien Freud, in that it’s representational but intensely physical and present. Art is an ongoing conversation, right? And this piece speaks volumes about the beauty of the process.