Our fascination with the Moon is among the many artistic bonds Reynaldo Díaz and I share in our creative partnership. I am obsessed with photographing her; he loves painting her.
I credit the supermoons in July and August for inspiring Reynaldo to create two paintings in tandem: “Window of Imagination II” (acrylic on canvas / 29 x 65 x 1.5 in) and “La Luna” (acrylic on canvas / 30 x 44 1.5 in). While photographing his pieces last week (pictured below), I admired the moon glow Reynaldo captured in both works. “I felt like the Moon was hugging me this summer,” he explained. “I wanted to paint that feeling.”
The faces surrounding La Luna and the “Window of Imagination II” intrigue me. Each face conveys a different spirit. “They are the messengers of the Moon,” he said.
On the left side of the Window of Imagination is a festive face of a bull. Reynaldo told me it is the Toro Encuetado, inspired by his childhood in Nicaragua. He recalled how men would wear structures in the shape of bulls with fireworks mounted on them. They created a fiery display as they danced in the streets of his hometown of Managua during celebrations of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary in December.
But what about the face below the window? I asked, drawn to its mix of colors, especially the pink and orange lips and silver eyes. “I call it the Observer,” Reynaldo said. “You can see by the position of its eyes that it is watching both the moon and you, the viewer.”
What I appreciate about many of the faces in Reynaldo’s works is how he makes their eyes stand out amidst the vibrant colors and patterns. “Eyes are the windows to the soul,” he said.
I agree, and I started to think about how I focus on a subject’s eyes when shooting portraits. When I launched my career out of college as a reporter/photographer for the Monticello Times (north of the Twin Cities), my photographic mentor was Chris Lommel, the weekly newspaper’s photo editor who is well known today as an amazing portrait photographer. Chris helped me hone my skills with 35 mm black-and-white photography, and I vividly remember him reminding me to “focus on the eyes.” It’s advice I carry with me to this day.
When my photoshoot moved to “La Luna,” Reynaldo confirmed that the person in this painting is an artist sketching her beauty. “Is it a self-portrait?” I asked, but he didn’t answer. I guess it’s up to us to decide.
As I watch Reynaldo’s work evolve, I admire the complexity he nurtures. I like how he creates complex layers that contain so much detail in their density. At first glance, his paintings may elicit a broader appreciation for his use of colors and shapes, but a closer look reveals depth and drama.
How does he do it? Even though we have been together for nearly three decades and will celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary on December 16, I can’t explain his process. For me, it is magical; for him, it is spiritual. He’s a self-taught artist, and I am convinced he inherited his talent through the spirit of his ancestors.
We love La Luna, and I love Reynaldo for helping me appreciate her glory. My life is enriched thanks to his artistry.
This weekend Reynaldo will be participating in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA) Fall Open Studios, and we invite you to stop by Studio 211 at the California Building to see these paintings in person and many other new works.
Friday, November 10th, 2023, 5:00 – 10:00 PM
Saturday, November 11th, 2023, Noon – 6:00 PM
Sunday, November 12th, 2023, Noon – 5:00 PM
We’ve also created a commemorative button for the occasion featuring the face of “La Luna.” To learn more about Reynaldo’s art, check out reynaldodiaz.com.
Reynaldo's work is luminous. And I love how Karl's captivating writing complements and illuminates it. I'm seeing an artistic partnership brewing.
Karl, I am awestruck both by your writing and by Reynaldo's new work. I would expect to see these paintings in a fabulous restaurant or corporate collection in New York, or in the Great Hall of an Ivy League university—and I'm envious that friends in the Twin Cities who are collectors will get to see the work up close before I do. (They'd be wise to buy it while they can!) I know each piece will find its perfect home. At some point I would like to organize an exhibition of Rey's work in San Miguel de Allende. Let's talk. Reynaldo, tus obras me encantan.