Monday, October 28, 2013

NEW ABSTRACT PAINTINGS FEATURED IN MY ETSY SHOP

Hey guys...
I've been listing my large 24 x30 abstract paintings in my etsy shop and they are currently for sale.  Most of these paintings are featured in my 'abstract' art portfolio page, however I will post a few here so you can view them more quickly if you would like to.  If you would like to purchase a painting, please click on this link  www.lorenfidalgoart.etsy.com  Here you can find more 24 x30 paintings than are featured here in this post.
'Thoughts Spinning Round And Round'    24x30    oil on canvas   2013  (c) Loren Fidalgo


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'Stepping In And Out Of Life'   24x30  oil on canvas   2012   (c) Loren Fidalgo

'Path To Enlightment'     24x30     oil on canvas     2013     (c) Loren Fidalgo

'Blue Mood'    24x30          oil on canvas      2013        (c) Loren Fidalgo     


'Finding My Way'      24x30      oil on canvas        2013         (c) Loren Fidalgo

"Beginning Again'     24x30      oil on canvas     2012        (c)  Loren Fidalgo

I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my larger paintings.  Don't forget to click on link if you are interested in purchasing a painting.  Please leave a comment if you would like to.
Cheers,
Loren

Sunday, October 13, 2013

SAYING 'GOOD-BYE' TO UTRECHT



Last Tuesday night,  I was leaving my painting class at Fleisher Art Memorial and drove onto Spruce Street to make my way home.  As I approached the light at Broad Street and Spruce Street, I slowly glanced over to my left as I always did at that stop. Now it is where I see that Utrecht Art Supplies Store is dark and closed for the good. All the signs are still up around the building though, which gives it an erie ghost like feeling. 

About 4-5 months ago, I learned that Utrecht would be merged into Dick Blick art supply store and the Utrecht I knew would be no more.  You see, Utrecht was not just a art supply store to me, it was a hip, chic, cool, trendy place where artists from all over Philadelphia purchased their art supplies.  Their employees were art students and it had this feel of 'pure art'.  They featured a cork board where artists could post their info, business cards etc.  It was a place to mingle.  Utrecht was the 'it' place to shop in the art world in Philly. Their prices were awesome and they always had what you needed. A lot of their supplies were behind the counter where students artists would assist you with your chosen materials.



Utrecht was not just a art supply store to me but a place where memories were formed and made, a place where my personality was defined and a talent was realized. 

When I first moved to Philly to attend Moore College of Art and Design, Utrecht was the place to go for most art supplies.  I remember when I walked the first time from my dorm room on Cherry Street to Utrecht at 14th and Broad Street with my friend Linda.   It was 17 blocks, seemed so far but well worth the trip.  I realized I was being introduced to a city for the first time in my life.  Utrecht seemed so 'cool' to me back then.  I had never been in an art supply store like it.  Illustration board, Letraset press type, Chartpak press type were the top supplies that I purchased at Utrecht.  Airbrush machine and supplies were 'hot' and drafting tables were 'in'. If you remember that computers had not arrived in to colleges in 1983 and everything was done by hand, from rub down type to colored rub down film that came in such an array of colors that amazed me.  These were the days of Pantone markers for marker renderings to matching colored papers and film were the top materials that we used in school.  Illustration board was the top material to create designs, logos and advertisements to prepare artwork for printing presses.  When I went there I felt like I was in artists heaven!



I loved Utrecht. I loved the materials they carried , the ambience of the store as well as the people that shopped there.  I loved Utrecht for carrying the fabric paint called DEKA (now out of business) when I started painting T-shirts, baby clothes and pillows.  After college, I moved to 17th Street and Spruce and Utrecht was just a couple blocks from my apartment.  I remember the days of carrying home large sheets of illustration board and matte board inside large clear plastic bags.  Some time after I moved to my apartment, Utrecht moved across the street and on the other side of Spruce Street.  I didn't like it as much as the first location, but tried to adjust with the times.  Utrecht always had the paint I used in acrylic and oil.  They had canvases that I really loved.  They’re canvases were weighty and had a strong cross bars in the back for extra support.  The texture of the canvas was great to paint on and after I first began painting, I ordered 10 canvases 30x40 and had them shipped to my home.  The total cost was approx. $180.00 for the 10.  Can you beleive it?  That was $18.00  for one 30x40.  I still have two remaining and I will save them for a special project.


Utrecht is where I found most of my 'bags of tricks' on my blog.  It is where my early college years had formed strung memories of friendship. It is where I learned about walking the city for the first time and where I felt like and learned to live and feel like an artist.  Now Utrecht has formed some sort of partnership with Dick Blick and they have finally left their home on Broad Street and Spruce Street.  Dick Blick is located on 13th and Chestnut Street approx. 4 blocks from Utrecht's former location.  They said that they will still carry Utrechts paint but not their canvases.  I have never used a Dick Blick canvas and I hope they are as good as Utrecht’s.
Utrecht has moved on to a new venture and I will miss it.  I will never forget the memories it created for me.  I will never forget the way it gave me an introduction into the art scene in Philadelphia. and helped me become a professional artist..  Utrecht, like Borders Book Store will be thought of as a happy, welcoming and teaching experience for me.  So, Utrecht I say my goodbyes to you.  Thank you for all the memories and for opening the world to help me live and become an artist. 
Cheers.
Loren

Sunday, October 6, 2013

ABOUT LOOSING MY DAD WHEN HE WAS 40.

MY DAD AROUND 36 OR 37 YEARS OLD.  BOY, HE WAS HANDSOME!
I can hardly belieive that it has been 39 years today Oct 6th that my wonderful Dad passed away. It always feels like it was just yeaterday.  He has been gone almost as long as he lived.  He was only 40 years old and full of life and fun.  To me, my Dad was the best there could be.  Everyone who knew him, knows how special he was.  Approaching this day has been very emotional since my Mom and my Gram have passed away so close together within the last 2 1/2 years.  There has been a lot of sadness around these significant days.  I have been thinking so much about my Dad the past week or so.  He used to appear in my dreams but I haven't had one for sometime now.  I was sharing the dream with a friend in painting class and she responded that this is definitely a sign that there is another side and he was reaching out for us.
OUR VERY FIRST VACATION AT NIAGRA FALLS.  MY DAD WAS ESTATICALLY JOYFUL.
I want to share this dream with you... it would go something like this......
My siblings and I are in a 'super market' and we see my Dad in the Produce aisle.  I run up to him sobbing and call to him, "Daddy, Daddy, where have you been?'  He replies,"I've been living in the house across the street ,(my Gram's old house) and I have been watching over you"  "But why did  you leave us"?  Unfortunately, there is no answer because I wake up too soon.  Ahhh...if I could only get an answer.
I tell this dream for everyone who knew my Dad and remembers him, that he is indeed somewhere on a higher plane in the universe or in heaven and one day we will see him again.
I THINK THIS PHOTO IS FROM OUR SECOND VACATION AT FORT HENRY, NEW YORK.

I posted some of the very meaningful and emotional photos of us kids and my Dad on our very first vacaction in Niagra Falls, Canada.  I think I was 10 or 11 and my Dad was 36 or 37 years old.  My Dad was so happy because he felt like for the first time we were living like a 'normal' family.  No one knew, not even him that he would tragically leave us at the young age of 40 and we would never be a 'normal' family again.
MY DAD FOOLING AROUND WITH ME, AND MY TWO COUSINS KAREN AND JILL.
ALL US KIDS WITH MY DAD.  NOT SURE WHERE THIS WAS TAKEN.
So for today as everyday, I am missing my Dad and all that could have been had he not left us so soon.
I am missing all that my siblings and I could have been had we finished our childhood years with a father ( and a mother) raising us until we were adults.  I ponder what would have been possible for all of us and what different directions we all might have taken had we had a 'normal' family.? Ahhh... what might or could have been?

Thanks for reading this post.
Loren



Tuesday, October 1, 2013

NEW LARGE ABSTRACT PAINTINGS FEATURED IN ETSY SHOP!

'PEACHES AND GREEN'     24x30            oil on canvas                 (c) Loren Fidalgo 2013
Hi, there.  It's Loren.

They are finally in the shop!!  I wanted to let everyone know that I have featured some large abstract 24x 30 paintings in my etsy shop.  Scoop them up if you can.  I am really loving the abstract paintings these days and I hope that they appeal to you too?  These featured on my blog are available in my shop.
You can also check the ABSTRACT page to view larger images of the paintings on etsy.
'PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT'   24 x30   oil on canvas   (c) Loren Fidalgo 2013




Scroll through the written content for each painting to read up on what inspired me to create each painting, what paint colors I chose as well as the technique I used.  The paintings are painted on the sides so they are ready for hanging.  They have hooks and wire on the back, too!





'JOURNEY TO HOPE'   24x30   oil on canvas   (c) Loren Fidalgo 2013
Take a peek over at my etsy shop.  I will be featuring more paintings in the next week so keep checking back for new listings.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.  I am happy to help!
Cheers,
Loren