Andrea Realpe Fine Art

  Andrea Realpe, Surrender, 2022,  oil on canvas, 16 x 20 in      My latest oil painting Surrender is about letting go to the situations in which we have no control over. We can plan, we can schedule, and we can strive for perfection, but ultimately we don’t have a say to how things end up. It's good to have an outline of your hopes and dreams with the knowledge that the outcome may be completely different than anticipated.       Surrender  is a reminder when things don't work out, meditate on the moment for which is fleeting. Meditate on the abundant beauty that surrounds us. Acknowledge everything that has occurred with gratitude and look forward to what is to come whether it's what you want or not. This is the lesson I take away especially this month. This painting is a tribute to my blueberry angel.       Surrounded by water the women surrenders to the ocean. Her arms are pulled back with her chest and belly forwa...

“A Shared Moment” Oil on linen panel, 8x10” by Andrea Realpe  Parklane Gallery’s “Winter Show of Miniatures and Small Works” featured hundreds of original paintings created by artists from all over the globe. It ran from November 4, 2021 – January 2, 2022.  I felt honored that I was a part of an extraordinary event. I exhibited an oil painting called "A Shared Moment". I was inpired by the intereaction between a mother and her child.

During quarantine, I plunged myself into my work. I spent countless hours teaching myself to be a better painter which diverted me from the chaos and uncertainty during Covid . Being able to turn to my work in times of hardships brought me into a place of stillness and tranquility.      I went back to good ol YouTube. The video tutorials helped me grasp painting fundamentals when I first started. Following inspiring artists also fostered my love for art. Among these artists are: Lena Danya ,  Val from Vals Art Diary ,  Tim Gagnon  and   Andrew Tischler . Y ears later, I received a degree in Studio Art and although I gained vital art skills, I needed more. If anything, the more knowledge a person gains, the more you realize that there is so much that you don't know.      During quarantine I dug deeper into the art world. I studied inspiring artists such as Swedish painter, Anders Zorn. He used a restricted color palette which allowed hi...

“ Blue-Throated Macaw” 9″x12″ Watercolor Painting by Andrea Realpe   The Blue-throated Macaws are Critically Endangered according to BirdLife. Popolation size is about 400 in the wild. Threats to these beautiful birds include illegal pet trade and loss of habitat. They are considered the rarest species of macaw in the world. They are located in Bolivia and Trinidad. Macaws are often called barba azul in Spanish, meaning “blue beard,” because of the vibrant blue covering their throats. Thankfully there are conservation organizations such as Association Armoniato to preserve the habitat in Bolivia which not only protects the blue-throated macaw, but also neighboring species like jaguars, pumas and maned wolves. This painting is a tribute to the blue-throated macaw. I will be submitting the original painting of the blue-throated macaw to the Sketch For Survival fundraiser art competition set up by  @explorersagainstextinction Explorers Against Extinction is a wildlife conservatio...

'PEEKABOO ', 12 x 16, OIL ON CANVAS  It's Mother's day today. I have a spirited boy that is 28 months. It has been an incredible journey with many ups and downs. The artwork above was inspired from a photograph taken in front of our place in Arlington, MA almost a year ago. My boy is playfully hiding behind a birch tree holding a stone. He is also holding himself up because he is wearing a cast that runs from his upper thigh all the way to his toes.  He fractured his tibia bone at a wooden playground. The moment in the photo made me realize how resilient children are. They could adapt very quickly with obstacles. Although he was fine, I was managing feelings of guilt from the accident and worry about his development. Despite having a full cast on his left leg, he still played like any other joyful boy. Fast forward to today, he runs, jumps, kicks, and rolls. I am proud to be his mama.  Below are the progress pictures of the painting above. I started formin...

When Autumn Falls, Acrylic on Stretched Canvas Happy first day of autumn! Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. - Albert Camus

I received a special commission from a dear friend that I could not turn down. My friend asked that I paint a portrait for her partner in memory of his grandfather. My art career began with portrait pencil drawings of families, children, and individual people but it has been a long time since I accepted a portraiture commission so I was hesitant at first. Plus trying to capture someone’s face with paint is always a challenge. However, taking on this project has made me grow as a painter and has made me fall in love with painting the human face all over again.  Working on this painting made me develop a technique  that I have never used before. In the past, I would always start with the eyes and work my way outwards when it came to a portrait painting. This technique took a vast amount of time. For this painting I found a quicker way to paint the human face. I blocked in the larger shapes and then proceeded to paint the smaller details at the end. I saw the face a...

Autumn Wind, Acrylic Amazing news! I was asked to exhibit my artwork at SPACES Newbury Street in Boston on October 6 from 5-8 PM! Come see my new painting, Autumn Wind and other original paintings. They will be up for sale. I will be there all evening! Stop by and say hi! :)

                           I received a request to paint a colorful expressionistic painting of Rocky vs Apollo by Leroy Neiman. The painting is shown at the end of the film, Rocky III when Rocky and Apollo have a friendly boxing match and the fighters freeze into the colorful Leroy Neiman painting.  The style of painting is something that I have not tried before so I was ready for the challenge! As soon as I was commissioned to make this painting, I pictured the technique that I would use to paint this image. Since this painting has a lot of motion I thought a pallet knife would certainly capture it. I started by mixing the most prominent colors in the painting. The painting is full of various shades of red. I mixed cadmium red with phthalo green to get a darker shade of red. I mixed cadmium red with cadmium yellow and so on.. Colors upon colors were certainly needed. The color mixing took about ...

Commissioned paintings are challenging. Not necessarily challenging in a negative way but rather in a positive way. The opportunity to create custom artwork for clients allows you to step out of your comfort zone. You end up painting new subjects, new styles, new color combinations, and the list goes on. The best part about it is that you get to work with wonderful people and involve them in your creative process. It's a wonderful journey to be able to have someone give you their vision and you get to make that vision a reality. I have created many works of art for clients over the years, but I have to say this commissioned project is one of my favorites. My client asked me to create five 4 x 4 inch watercolor paintings of Frida Kahlo, Oprah Winfrey, Abraham Lincoln, Michael Jordan, and J.K. Rowling with quotes. My client’s vision was for me to create the portraits of each in a loose style. I am use to creating fine detail so this was an exciting challenge. Another cha...

My family started an amazing nonprofit organization in 2004 and it has been thriving ever since. Project Ecuador is a charitable organization established to help underprivileged children and underdeveloped schools in Ecuador, Argentina, Guatemala and other countries in central and South America. They offer various programs such as scholarships programs, Communities Organized to Rebuild and Empower (CORE) project, and more. Every year they host a fundraiser in order to support their wonderful cause.I will contribute one of my paintings for a raffle giveaway. Join us for an evening of dancing, food, drinks, and fun this Saturday! Best of all it’s for a great cause! My original watercolor painting and many other wonderful prizes will be raffled at the event. All of the proceeds will help underprivileged children and their families with economic and educational resources. Check it out and spread the word. If you can’t make it, you can still help. Check out our website for donating ...

"One Step", Oil Painting, 18"x36", Andrea Realpe ‘You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.’   ~ Friedrich Nietzche~ My past experiences have taught me that it’s important to be challenged with things that are unfamiliar and to step outside your comfort zone. However, fear and anxiety are emotions that can be so debilitating that it can be very difficult to take that initial step out of your comfort zone. But sometimes it’s okay to be scared and it’s okay to be anxious, after all, we are human. Nonetheless, the problem remains when we stay scared and avoid the things that make us afraid. We can overcome fear by becoming friends with it and become used to the feelings of fear; if you tell yourself that it’s not okay to be afraid, then you are still going to be afraid. When you feel like fear has a hold on you every day, hang in there. All you need to do is take one step at a time. Coleman Young says, “Courage is one step ahead of ...

For some reason I prefer working on the floor. Maybe, it's because I am more comfortable and I can get into the zone. No matter the reason, I have been doing this ever since I started painting about six years ago. 

I'm thrilled to announce that I was asked to collaborate with VIDA. They are a new kind of fashion ecommerce company that connects artists like me all over the world with producers to bring our work to life. My designs will be used to make high-end unique products such as beautiful lightweight scarves, chic geometric cut tops, and much more in a socially conscious way. They have ethical standards for the makers of these original products. Plus, the best part is that for every product sold, VIDA provides the gift of literacy to the manufacturing factory employees so that they have the opportunity to learn to read, write, and do basic math. Therefore, I am honored to be able to have the opportunity to work with this amazing sustainable organization. Below is my favorite item from the collection. I hope you like this new design. I have been exploring with color and abstract art so I thought this geometric pattern would look great on this beautifully designed top. I also made s...

Painting with nature; where I belong.  Plein air derived from a french phrase, en plein air, which means, "in the open air." It's used to describe the act of painting outside. On Saturday, I had the wonderful opportunity to paint with nature at Sydney Yates Flatwoods. I didn't have to wonder very far to find the perfect painting spot.  I painted the North Branch Chicago River. This serene spot is close to the North Branch Trail and the Caldwell Woods Picnic Grove. This experience was not like any other; I felt a mixture of fear and excitement. In the studio, paintings are much more predetermined, but painting outdoors was much more liberating. Rather than focusing on the detail and filling my artwork with symbolic features, I abandoned the extensive planning and focused on capturing the beautiful scene in front of me. Not having to expect a masterpiece allowed me to be myself out there. Painting outdoors also made me unintentionally paint the effects of the sunl...

Hi Friends! I was given the opportunity to create one of my favorite flowers; cherry blossoms! I have made many paintings of cherry blossoms in the past. A few years back, I created a large painting of a cherry blossom branch. At the time I though it was huge, but this time the commission is size 48 x 118 inches. The paper size was about the same length as the room in my apartment, so I had to roll up the ends of the painting. It was certainly a challenge that I welcomed with open arms. Plus it was a full body experience.  I started with one long brush stroke. I slowly added branch arms.  The blossoms were next.  Followed by the spongy pink background. I then added the Japanese Kanji Symbols which stand for Andrea Love. I made my own stamp out of wine cork. Here is my pup, Sofi. She loves posing in front of my paintings.:D I hope you enjoyed my process as much as I enjoyed creating it. If you are interested in your own painting pleas...

That's me!   The art show event was a success! Over 80 emerging artists displayed their artwork at Reggie's Rock Club. The event also included live audio performances, live body painting and a free pancake bar! The pancakes were absolutely delicious. The blueberry pancakes and the chocolate chip pancakes were my favorite! The art also blew me away. I have to say, there are a lot of talented artists in Chicago. Check out some of the paintings that caught me eye below: Painting by Ray Espiritu and the Butterfish Group Ray did a wonderful job painting this piece. The sunflower captured my eyes instantly. I especially like how Ray combined a gloomy like atmosphere and then brought in powerful elements of surprise; the sunflower and large cat. The gorgeous yellow flower ads positivity to the misty landscape. It is very aesthetically pleasing. The Letter A, Oil Pastel, Kathryn Aleksov This is one of my favorite paintings from the show. I connected to this paint...