From Steve's Drawing Table:
Esquina Calma, Oil On Canvas
Summer can be about staying up a little later into a long day, and this painting of night-time activity in a Portuguese town comes to mind. Scottie and I visited Lisbon, Portugal, several years ago; we enjoyed the local culture--sitting out in the squares, shopping the streets and alleys, and having a drink and late dinner. Background music, lights, shoppers and a cool breeze brought liveliness to the the warm and humid evening. I tried to capture some of this in this painting, Esquina Calma ("quiet corner" in Portuguese). It portrays a teenage accordion player providing shoppers and diners some nice ambience, and his little helper collecting a tip or two in the small paper cup.
This was done in oil with brushes and a palette knife, on a 20" by 30" canvas. I referenced two photographs from that night (the street scene, and the player), composited them, and added the street light effect to the corner. I feel it gives a sense of solitude to the player and his pet, having found a nice spot away from the hubbub for a bit, and perhaps will serenade some passers-by.
