All of my paintings start from the same place, the drawing.

The most alike drawing to the shape I want to represent, understanding the different shapes that constitute the three dimensions object to capture into the two dimensions of the canvas.

The first coat of oil painting o “grisalla” is one-color only. It could be raw umber or burnt umber.
With this tone mix up with turpentine, I start to mark different planes of light and shadows, the most geometrically as possible.

At this moment I can forget about the colors, so I can focus on the volume of the form by playing with the lights and shadows.

The first entrance of color is made over the map of volumes.

I apply a thick coat of color oil paintin, I don´t care to find the right color, but replace the planes of light and shadows with color following the same range of colors and trying to keep the geometry so I don´t loose the form of the object.

In the second coat of color oil painting I pay attention to colors, looking for the most adjust and clear color as possible. The treatment will not be so geometrical.

I will be looking for the texture of the object that I want to represent throug the molding of the matter, whether it is a cloth or anything else.
I repeat this every times I need to get to the result I am looking for.

The idea is not re-paint over and over the same thing, but understanding what gives me each step of the process and not ask it for more than it can technically offer to me.

To finish the painting I go with a blurred coat. This can be useful to adjust colors, to make some darkness stronger and to blend the bright ones.
This blurred coat is aplied with transparent properties oil paintings, dilute with special synthetic resin.

Every oil painting and pigment that I use are originally from Europe (Holland and United Kingdom) and their quality and resistance to the light allows me to guarantee the colors will endure through the years.

In short, years of study and dedication to drawing and painting, the observation of great masters and exquisite choice of pigments and materials, are combined under my look in the paintings that I present to you.

Hope you enjoy them.


Mercedes Fariña
Plastic Artist