Original artwork description:

In Barcelona even the houses look like a mosaic of Gaudi.

ORIGINAL PALETTE KNIFE OIL PAINTING ON STRETCHED CANVAS, SIZES : 60 X 90 CM ( 24 X 36 INCHES ), DEPTH - 2.5 CM ( 1 INCH ).

BARCELONA ABSTRACT CITYSCAPE - FIERY SUNSET OVER SAGRADA FAMILIA is a textural impasto palette knife oil painting that captures Gaudi's amazing cathedral Sagrada Familia and the abstracted Barcelona rooftops at sunset. I realized this work in impasto technique with professional oil paints applied with different types of palette knives.

Everywhere I wandered, always I seek for panoramic views of the cities in which I am able to observe what I call the ABSTRACT CITY PATTERNS. The rhythm of the rooftops seen from the distance fascinates me. In my personal artistic vision the architectonic details create practically an aesthetic abstract pattern, that urges to be translated in differently morphed palette knife strokes and marks interacting with each other in various ways and generating the painterly quality of the impasto textures that I love so much. See my entire series of ABSTRACT CITYSCAPES to understand better what I'm talking about. :)

I traveled to Barcelona many times ( first time in 2010) and I was impressed by Sagrada Familia. It's architectural style has been called ''warped Gothic''. The rippling contours of the stone facade make it look as though Sagrada Familia is melting in the sun,during the day, while the towers are topped with brightly-colored mosaic. Gaudi believed that color is life. Perhaps that's why I personally admire so much his amazing creations.

'' Describing Sagrada Familia, art critic Rainer Zerbst said << it is probably impossible to find a church building anything like it in the entire history of art >>.
The Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family, commonly known as Sagrada Familia, is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi ( 1852 - 1926 ). Although incomplete, the church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thought construction of Sagrada Familia had commenced in 1882, Gaudi became involved in 1883, taking over the project and transforming it with his architectural and engineering style - combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms.
Gaudi devoted his last years to the project, and at the time of his death, in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete. Sagrada Familia's construction progressed slowly, as it relied on private donations and was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War. Construction passed the midpoint in 2010 with some of the project's greatest challenges remaining and an anticipated completation date of 2026 - the centennial of Gaudi's death. ''

Materials used:

oil paints, canvas, palette knives

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