Three Sorcerers 1977

Rene Portocarrero made this painting of Three Sorcerers, and from what I can see, the painting process was all about layering and building up the image. Check out how the paint is thick and juicy, especially in those outlines, and see how the color is applied in short strokes, like he's dabbing the canvas with a brush. This way of working gives the image a kind of vibrancy, like everything is alive and buzzing. Look at the small details, like the X's on their chests, or the way the heads have halos. It's like Portocarrero is building up the image from simple shapes. The whole thing reminds me of Picasso, especially the way he plays with space and form, with some of the energy of Dubuffet. Ultimately, Portocarrero's painting is more about the experience of seeing and feeling than about any one fixed idea.