by Carlos Daniel Valcarcel

Created on: March 24, 2009   Last Updated: March 26, 2009

"Chorreado" valid painting technique.

"Chorreado" is a technique in which the colors run all over the canvas by means of gravity leaving behind textures and forms or shapes always reflecting movement. It is an inherent part of the technique.

In order for this technique to work properly, it must be in movement all over at the same time. Only when running together, the combinations of different textures and forms will combine properly; if not, a spot or a fleck will be left behind on the area where the texture must have been combined due to the fact that one will be on top of the other - this is a mistake of the technique.

Another mistake of the technique is when the final image runs off a little bit to one side of the canvas, which means that the canvas was not place on a level surface. It has to be the hand (or brush) of the artist during creation (painting) that guides the final image any direction the artist wants.

The color combination is done inside the canvas, contrary to the old school of teaching color combination (must be done out side the canvas) through this technique the color combination is done when the colors are running all over the canvas and merging with each other as they produce textures and forms or shapes, and the white (sometimes necessary to create combinations between colors) is the white of the background canvas. To someone (artist) that knows the art of serigraphs and has knowledge of the use of halftone colors will notice that is a similar process of color combination (with much more variants)

The technique is fast when in use, and by itself once is put into practice will create on its own textures and combinations with a final image, and this will not be consider a mistake but instead a not valid work. In order to be a valid painting technique the artist must be in control of the technique at all times it is the artist and only the artist who decides the direction, texture combination and movement of the final work, and not the technique.

The final work done with this technique will show a combination of thin and thick deposits of paint but in reality the technique has left behind only a thin oil film on top of the surface used (or canvas)

This unique technique combined with the creativity soul of the artist allows this artist to express it's concept of "beauty" (in which "beauty" always reflects movement); when used as a drawing process in which through textures images are created (such as landscapes) or use as background for forms or shapes; or when forms or shapes are placed inside the images; or when images itself are forms or shapes, the final combination will always reflect a unique movement combination.

The fast pace in which this technique works allows the artist to express "as he feels at that moment" the emotion stage that he could be in; there is no stopping for cogitation while using the technique. It is a process of pure inward imagery born at the heart and soul of the artist and beauty becomes the perception of the artist emotions through the moving textures that on the final work the viewer "feels".

Although color is most common the reflection of these emotions, the thinness or raw movement of the textures will give us, despite the color or image done, the same perception about the artist moment emotion stage that he was in, when painting this particular painting.

The first exhibition of "Chorreado Expression through Technique" was done at the Alliance Frances in Lima, Peru on 1982, on 1988 at the Palm Beach County Council of the Arts, in Florida; on 1993 at the Portland State University, Oregon; on 2004 at the Mesa Public Library, in Arizona; all done by the same artist.

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