Sitges – Iglesia Roja 1981

Carlos Nadal made this painting of Sitges – Iglesia Roja with some kind of paint, probably oil or acrylic, and possibly some added chalk or wax crayon. You can see how the hand moves, kind of playful and loose, not tight or trying too hard. I love the almost monochromatic use of red, that is spread across the church. It contrasts the bright blue of the sea and the sky. The texture looks like it's been worked over, with the paint applied in thin layers. Then you can see the marks where the artist has gone back in with a dry brush or maybe even a cloth, kind of scrubbing it. It's like he's searching for the right way to describe the scene, not wanting it to be too perfect. It reminds me a little of Milton Avery, in the way he simplifies the forms and uses color to create a mood. But Nadal has his own unique sensibility. It’s like he’s inviting us to wander around and wonder about what it all means.