This blog is a repository for all my watercolor painting memories of the nineteen years that I lived in the Memphis, TN area. For my contemporary work, please click on the TRANSATLANTA link just below.
Since I was a young boy, I was a fan of watercolor paintings. The transparent paint allows the light to go through it and to be reflected back to the viewer by the white surface of the paper. This results in a luminosity difficult to achieve through other methods. My favorite subjects are buildings and townscapes of historical interest. I admire many watercolor masters, especially Winslow Homer, John Pike, James Fletcher-Watson and Edward Wesson. And, from my native Portugal, Roque Gameiro, Alvaro da Fonseca and Julio Amaro. ****************
Julio Rodrigues was born in Portugal and emigrated to the United States (New Jersey) in 1978. After a career in the engineering field, watercolor painting is his favorite hobby.
He is a self-taught artist who likes to work primarily with transparent watercolor due to the freshness and luminosity of the medium. He also works with pen and ink, and pencil, sometimes combining these media.
His favorite subjects are buildings and townscapes of historical interest. In his watercolor paintings, he strives for transparency and strong light and shadow contrasts with as few layers of paint as possible. His greatest challenge is to arrive at just the right amount of detail without overworking the painting.
Exhibitions and Awards:
2020 Best Overall Artwork Award, Forks Area Art Society, Easton, Pennsylvania, May 2020;
2017 The Gallery at St. John’s, Easton PA, solo exhibition, Easton: Watercolors And Other Thoughts;
2008 Second place plus Honorable mention, Fur Fin and Feather Festival, Middleton TN;
2007 Burch Library, solo exhibition Collierville TN;
2004 Selected artist, Fedex Forum Permanent Lobby Mural, (Memphis, TN);
Built in 1914, Central Station, now renovated, hosts the "City of New Orleans" train on its way from Chicago to the Big Easy - and back. It is located in South Main Street. Some of the old-time electric trolleys roaming though Downtown came from my native country of Portugal. Maybe I even rode on one of them in my old college days...they do feel like old friends. ****** Watercolor 5x7", Fabriano Paper
Olha o "Amarelo da Carris"... tão bonito, tão estridente, tão cheio de gente... e de histórias que... já cruzou o oceano e parou em Memphis... onde eu também apeei através desta "janelinha" de bom gosto.
Thank you Bill. These small works force me to be fast and skip detail. The bigger paintings tempt me more me to include more details. Not better or worse, just different.
The colors you used in the sky looks great. I love to ride in a trolley. This painting reminds me of the old San Francisco Rice-A-Roni commercials. Congratulations on your new approach. Overall I give it an A+. You are a very talented artist.
Your paintings are delightful...they never disappoint me. I am envious of your loose approach.
ReplyDeleteOlha o "Amarelo da Carris"... tão bonito, tão estridente, tão cheio de gente... e de histórias que... já cruzou o oceano e parou em Memphis... onde eu também apeei através desta "janelinha" de bom gosto.
ReplyDeleteparabéns :-)
JVN
Thank you Bill. These small works force me to be fast and skip detail. The bigger paintings tempt me more me to include more details. Not better or worse, just different.
ReplyDeleteJVN, obrigado pela visita a este longinquo "apeadeiro" e pelos comentarios amigos.
ReplyDeleteThe colors you used in the sky looks great. I love to ride in a trolley. This painting reminds me of the old San Francisco Rice-A-Roni commercials. Congratulations on your new approach. Overall I give it an A+. You are a very talented artist.
ReplyDelete