-
A blend of abstract and figurative work, as well as a cultural blend of Cuban energy in the sweeping landscape, which is undoubtedly Wales. It is Raul’s interpretation, where he can feel the throbbing strength of the Welsh cultural heritage as it underlies Solva today.
-
Size 105.5cm x 44cm Raul is in love with the stone-built villages of Wales and the way they nestle into the landscape. They sometimes represent centuries of security for those who have lived in them. Having led a bit of a nomadic life himself, Raul is fascinated by the idea of such long attachment to roots and culture.
-
This is part of an exhibition Raul is preparing, which explores the heritage of the Welsh way of life back through time. The woman on the right has a black face; she represents the multi-racial aspect of Wales in days gone by.
-
Almost monotone, apart from a touch of blue in the sky, this work is oil on canvas and reflects the darkness of winter that Raul experiences in Wales. In Cuba there are no seasons as such and he loves the winter here.
-
Out of stockSize 80cm x 30cm Imaginative image of the Malecon in Havana, with its decaying wall edging the ever-present sea surrounding the island. The added figurative representation of the cherry and lime, and the clouds floating on the horizon, give it a dreamlike quality.
-
Size 102cm x 82cm The two figures rest, dreaming of their future, with a hint they are trapped in their present world, which is underneath the water. Lit by moonlight, there's a sense of sadness within the picture but also the presence of love.
-
Size 166cm x 47cm One of Raul’s tutors in Cuba was Thomas Sanchez, who represents the best of South American art and is currently resident in Costa Rica. He is a Buddhist and seeks to bring a meditative state into his work. This painting is a thank you for the generosity of his teaching. This work has been underway for three years and still tempts Raul back to add more detail to the trees.
-
Size 60cm x 60cm The Passion is a subject that inspires Raul to explore it time after time. Every image is different, and although the eyelids droop here, in a semblance of peace, the cruelness of the crown of thorns is undeniable. Religion is a fundamental need to Cubans who explore their spirituality in many forms and are as motivated by it as they are by politics.
-
Out of stockSize 122cm x 124.5cm Many people ask Raul why he often works in abstract, and what he says to them is his hands transmit through the brush the feelings he has about a place or time in his life. In Raul’s figurative work, it’s more about a different form of writing, whereas this painting reaches into his subconscious for how the landscape feels emotionally. Sometimes it’s straight lines, but more often a blend of texture and colour that speaks from his heart.
-
Out of stockSize 60cm x 60cm (each part) This diptych arises from Raul’s observations of Solva at night, as the sea comes in. Everywhere there is silence, except for the sound of the waves. The birds have gone to bed and he is alone in the landscape.
-
Size 243cm x 122cm One of a series of works that Raul has been creating since 1997, when he first came to Solva. These images portray how he is engaged with the environment at any specific time. They’re never the same colour or even size, but always carry the energy of the time he is painting.
