“The process is just as important as the completed painting.” On December 7, Maxwell Alexander Gallery will host “Pages,” the second Los Angeles solo exhibition for Cuban-American artist Cesar Santos.
More from the gallery:
In the “Pages” solo exhibit, Santos shares the creative process or, as he states, “the building blocks of art.” And in a way, he answers one of the most common questions from collectors and art enthusiasts: “When do you know when a painting is finished?” In these new works, Santos shows us his process from start to finish all in one picture.
His typical process of sketching out a painting or idea in his sketchbook then leads to him doing the same in charcoal on linen, then using a fixative to secure the drawing. Next the oil paint completely covers all evidence of the expressionistic strokes to show a detailed rendered painting. Santos looks to highlight each aspect of the process that he loves so much, from the drawing underneath to the notations scribbled on the side of the page. Some of the paintings, when viewed on their back, show additional notes and sketches. The framed works have been left open on the reverse side for this purpose.
In the work “Domesticated,” Santos shows a man in profile stretching an arm overhead. The torso, head, and arm are fully rendered in oil paint, while the lower half of the figure is a black-and-white drawing simply drawn in charcoal. The artist knows exactly where to stop. There is just enough color and information for the mind to finish out the colors and detail the artist has intentionally left out.
“It definitely creates the potential for a lot of imagination. Your mind can run free. Your interpretation will be based on your subconscious, and while there are hints to what’s going on, there’s enough there to still think about.”
Join us in our downtown Los Angeles gallery on December 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. for the opening reception of “Pages” by Cesar Santos. The exhibit will feature 20 new works, the majority in a smaller sketchbook format, ranging from full graphite drawings to completed oils and everything in-between. The artist will be in attendance. More details at www.maxwellalexandergallery.com.
Cesar Santos: Secrets of Figure Drawing (19 hours, 45 minutes)
Cesar Santos: Secrets of Figure Painting (16.5 hours)
Cesar Santos: Secrets of Portrait Painting (19 hours)
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