Two exhibits are on tap on April 5 at Casa Ortiz. One is called “Forgotten Spring” Art Show, which consists of works of art donated to Casa Ortiz’s collection and also the left-behind work of artists in earlier group exhibits who did not return to pick up their paintings.
The other exhibit is that of Rachel R. Morales’ stunning, textured, and richly colored abstractions and realistic renderings of insects, reptiles, birds, fish, and mammals that populate the natural world.
Morales, who began to draw and paint when she was eight years-old, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas A&M International University. She teaches art to children of all ages at the fine and performing arts academy she owns with her husband.
She credits the late Laredo Community College art instructor Martha Fenstermaker with influencing her work and career as an artist.
Morales, who once considered becoming a zoologist or a marine biologist, writes of her work, “My artwork is inspired by illustration. I use line and gesture drawing to create my subjects. I am obsessed with hatching and cross-hatching and use it in all my media. I am currently creating my subject matter with either acrylic paint or watercolor as a base. I then use either ink or acrylic markers to add details with lines and hatching to create shadow and depth. Painting allows me to use vibrant and unnatural colors to create textures. I also use repetition of organic shapes in my subject matter to create rhythm and patterns.
“I am fascinated with painting animals because of their organic bodies and shapes. I love to represent something that is so ordinary and natural in an unordinary way. By adding layers of color on top of each other and then adding lines to give shadows, I intend to make each animal portrait unique.”
Casa Ortiz is at 915 Zaragoza. Its gallery doors open at 6 p.m. for the April 5 event.
SIDEBAR
Casa Ortiz will host a Great American Eclipse Watch Party on Monday, April 8, from noon to 2 p.m. A $5 fee includes glasses, snacks, and drinks. The eclipse begins at 12:09 p.m.
