“Show your Heart” Furniture, Arts and Decor Expo
Posted by Artist Raul Gonzalez
Raul Gonzalez will be donating 3 chairs to this event.
The Expo highlight is the Art Chair Auction. Local and national artists, designers, celebrities, organizations, companies and partner charity agencies will donate their talents and redesign used chairs from the Furniture Bank by adding their own artistic embellishments, turning the chair pieces into unique Art Furniture.
These incredible artistic designs will be then auctioned in the Live and Silent Auction at the Expo. One hundred percent of the auction proceeds will support the Furniture Bank and its associate agencies.
The Furniture Bank - Often referred to as "the charity of charities" because currently it serves individuals and families from over 70 different social service agencies in Houston and surrounding counties".
The mission of The Furniture Bank is to furnish hope and make empty houses homes for Houston's needy families. The vision of The Furniture Bank is to create a livable and comfortable home environment for families in need.
Follow the progress of the chairs on Raul's Facebook Page
I Was Driving 55 in a 54
Posted by Artist Raul Gonzalez
I am glad to announce that I was one of the artists selected in this year's "Big Show" at the Lawndale Art Center.
The Big Show is Lawndale Art Center’s annual open-call, juried exhibition. It has been an important venue through which emerging and under-represented Houston area artists gain exposure since the show’s conception in 1984. The Big Show was formerly the East End Show, sponsored by the East End Progress Association, at Lawndale’s original location.
The piece selected was a departure from my usual work. I had the idea for some time now and finally decided to use photographs instead of painting.
The idea stemmed from an encounter with a police offer who pulled me over for not using my blinker...on an empty street. I was working as a delivery driver at the time; so after I got pulled over, I had to drop off the customer's order and then head back to the restaurant. On my way back to the restaurant, the cop followed me for about 4 miles. It was awkward, to say the least. I don't know of too many people who are followed for "not using their blinker".
So, after that, I kept thinking about past experiences that I felt were factors of "racial profiling". This has always been a problem in our society and never seems to go away. The only thing that changes is the people who are targeted. Currently, Latin Americans seem to be the target, especially with all the hoopla going on in Arizona. If I were to have made this piece nine years ago; I would've included more Middle-Eastern people.
Everyone will view this as they please, but my intentions are to remind people of how stereotypes are still way too prominent in our society...and they only hurt people. The people in the photographs are fellow artists, friends and co-workers. None of them are criminals, but it's easy to feel like one.
“Hope Works” – “Blueprint 2″ & “This is the Life…”
Posted by Artist Raul Gonzalez
These are both part of my "Hope Works" series, which deals with aspects of the common worker. Both of these scenes are based on photographs I took from around Houston. Construction seems to be booming and providing plenty of work. There are more construction sites around town than I can remember.
Seeing all these people working out in the sun everyday reminds me that hard work can pay off. Maybe these guys aren't the richest men in the world, but they are able provide for their families. Most people complain about how hot it is outside...and they all work indoors. Try working out in the heat with these guys. Times are tough, the weather is hot, but these people are helping build a city to be proud of. They're essentially role models, who don't get viewed as role models.
I'm just trying to remind you that these guys are out there.
New work from Abstract Series
Posted by Artist Raul Gonzalez
For the moment, I have returned to creating abstract painting. These two paintings were based on images from Fashion magazines, concert pictures and images from around Houston. My goal is to only hint at these these ideas and leave the rest to the viewer's imagination. The subjects I mentioned are always part of my subject matter, since they are always part of modern culture.
In essence, everything I know...becomes part of my abstract work.
Rock on!
Posted by Artist Raul Gonzalez
As part of my collective work, I have always had a passion for music. I don't play any instruments, but music has influenced my life and artwork extensively.
Every year I have made it a goal to continue capturing concert scenes from this generation. It seems like photographs online have taken over capturing music scenes. I plan on painting and/or drawing 6 or 7 music themed paintings a year, on top of other subject matter.
This, Mick Jagger painting, is my first of the year. I normally use my photograph references, but the individual I painted this for wanted me to use a specific image from her collection. Instead of doing the ever-so-popular graphic "Andy Warhol" style of painting musicians, I chose to make this painting a Painting! It seems a lot of artists who paint "famous" people lean towards the paint-by-number style. It just seems too easy to upload an image a photograph into Photo-Shop, simplify the color palette and color in the areas accordingly.
I admit to continue to use heavy lines in some instances, but for the most part, I want these paintings to have a real painterly quality.
"The Mick"
acrylic and marker on canvas
24" X 48"
2010
New Work by Raul Gonzalez – “Stuck in Traffic “
Posted by Artist Raul Gonzalez
This is my latest drawings/paintings, which is part of my "Hope Works" series.
The image was taken while driving along the Westchase District of Houston. Scenes of both peserverance and despair are key components in my artwork. I found this image to be one of both.
This man was standing in the middle of road holding his daughter in his arms, while trying to hurry across one of the busiest streets in Houston. I changed the color of the landscape to give a different feel to the picture.
There is this world around these figures, which seems busy and somewhat threatening, but nonetheless, this man, stands fearless, while his daughter sleeps calmly in his arms.
I find these images all around town and enjoy capturing them because this is what life seems to be about. It's about the looking at what's around straight in the face with no fear whatsoever. It's about protecting and caring for, the ones you love.
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