Paola Beck

 

Part of  ”Entre perros y carreteras”  (between dogs and highways). In progress.

The bird sculpture was made by a friend of my adolescence and my very first love, Philipp Reichardt.

Steel and glass, 2000.

“Let the devil in o el fantasma tropical” This drawing was made after someone came into my room while I was sleeping alone in Puerto Escondido, took all my money and left in silence.

This was the wrapping paper of a gift.

 

Alvaro Nates, my official photographer did a shooting for Spot Magazine in Mexico City,

and I asked him for one picture to paint on. this is what came out. I love it! Its called Tiger.

 

“Frida en un jardín escocés” Oil on canvas, 2011

“En el norte” Watercolor on canvas, 2011

 

 

These boots where made for walking

 

My dear photographer friend Ximena Romero took these pictures at the Illustration and Painting Workshop we did in November of last year. As she said “I have never painted in my life” some very interesting and creative drawings and paintings came out during the weekend, which is a proof that we all have plenty of artistic blessings, its just about bringing them out!

You should have a look at her blog, peti-rojo.tumblr.com. It has beautiful inspirational things and photographs.

Enjoy!

 

DAY 1

 

 

Neto is an audio engineer, and he was our official camera man during the weekend!  Guerrilla Recording. Frida is his loooovely chihuahua.

 

Contemporary Art (Theory)

 

 

 

Drawing exercises

Ximena´s first drawing!

 

DAY 2

Painting and Illustration Lesson 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lunchbreak!

 

Our first guest, mexican painter Rafael Uriegas. He teached theory of Modern Painting.

 

 

Juan Manuel Torreblanca is a very talented musician, poet and visual artist.

 

Natalia Lafourcade is a wise person, moving musician and songwriter, visual artist and friend.

 

Ximena´s first painting! Inspired by Elizabeth Peyton

 

 

DAY 3

Life Model Drawing

Lian is a psychologist and cultural promoter, she is part of Cultura Colectiva, a mexican collective that promotes emerging artists of all disciplines. She has invited me to do lots of collaborations!

 

 

Abraham is a graphic designer and illustrator, and Martin is an economist and artist.

 

René de la Rosa is a director, filmmaker, designer and drawer.

 

Wallpainting Lesson

 

Our second guest, Cocolvú, is a graphic designer, illustrator, painter, and prolific visual artist.

 

 

 

 

 

Paola Pineda (3rd on top) is an architect, painter, and artistic project director.

And Ximena Romero, our official photographer!

 

Happy and tired

A guest.

This is me, mucho gusto!

 

 

 

Thank you to everyone, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did! I hope to see you all at the 2nd Workshop in February!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I do sculpture since i was 15 years old. My teacher since then has been Marcela Arbide, an amazing artist from La Esmeralda. She happens to be my aunt as well. It is one of my favorite things to do in the world, and I am so thankful that she guided me through this world since so young.

This is my first sculpture in wood. It was a 30 m long piece of white cedar wood from my grandfathers land, and it was an honor and adventure to work specially on this piece. I used no machines, just a handsaw to smooth down the texture in the end.

It took me more than a year to do it, and its titled “Schnecke” that means snail in german. Snails where part of my childhood and a mean neighboor kid used to throw them against the wall. That will remain forever in my memories.

 

Schnecke, 2010

Clay

 

 

 

Wood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next piece is called “Ti prendo e ti porto via”, inspired by one of my favorite books, from Niccoló Ammaniti. It it my first piece in white marble, and the process was very hardcore. First you do the figure in clay, and then in plaster cast. Then a master marbler turns a block of marble into your sculpture, without details, just the proportions, using laser and cutting with a diamond. And then, you work on the piece using a huge pneumatic hammer. That is the hardest and most difficult technique i have ever done, and I cannot understand how Michelangelo did his pieces without electric energy, light or any motorized instrument:

 

Il David

 

 

La Pietá

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Ti prendo e ti porto via

 

Clay

2007

 

 

 

 

White Marble

2011

 

 

 

 

This is the post about the exhibition where it was part: Espacio Flexible, La Quiñonera

 

Die Taube, 2011

This clay piece is still in process, it is drying out so that it can be burned.

 

 

The next one is from a few years ago, and its plaster cast and an acrylic patina. It was a gift for my mother:

No title, 2006

 

 

 

This piece is the oldest from this selection, I dont remember when I did it. Its basically a very confortable woman. Its cement.