Day of the Dead Murals XI

 THE FISH

For beginners I want to look at this mural and explain to you how I determine if a painting is a good painting.

First of all we have a good design. The subject is placed so that the idea of “Fish” shows bodies that appears to be floating in a specific place within the limits of the pictorial space.

There appears to be no drawing here, no linear guide. The harmony of the color and the tonal values is so well presented that nothing distracts from the design, they have become the design. The balance between warm and cool colors is so perfect it results in a sense of advancing and receding space. This is contradicted by the application of the paint: each drop of color is chosen specifically for its color, hue, and each is placed exactly where the artist wants it to be. They are physically placed ...on a wall.

The uniform size of the dots of color as well as the controlled run at the bottom of each is an admirable example of control and painterly bravura.

There are dots of color and there are sweeping lines of color beautifully grouped together, and there is a fascinating color palette as ground. Each is exciting in and of itself but none of these three elements overshadows or negates the others.

For something so specifically designated and so intentionally executed the overall effect is of exuberant spontaneity. Actors rehearse and rehearse their parts so that when they come on stage before an audience it will appear that this is happening for the first time. Great actors make the play appear to be a spontaneous experience.

With all of it choices and all of its labor and all of its mastery of materials and technique that's exactly what we have on this wall.

The artist is Katalina Manzano. She is a Oaxacan painter. You can see more of her work on Instagram and Facebook.

https://www.instagram.com/manzano_katalina/?hl=en