Project 2263: Enrique Painting
This version of my Studio Journal in-progress reports is for Premium Content subscribers. This page gets the updates first, and includes materials not available in the Public and Members-Only versions. As a paid subscriber, you also have the option of putting your name on a list of those who will be notified first, and have first options to purchase, when a Project becomes a finished work of art.
The updates below are in reverse chronological order, so the most recent is on top. To start from the beginning, go to the bottom of the page.
9. Project Complete!
October 20, 2025
The painting is complete! Right now, “At Home with Enrique” is appearing temporarily in the Collector Preview Gallery. As a paid subscriber to the Simonson website you have access to this gallery–just click on the button below.
8. Enrique Painting: 5th (and Final!) Session
October 14, 2025
Here’s video of the 5th and final session on the Enrique painting, where I work all over the painting adding final touches to bring it to completion. And it’s finished! Watch for the premiere coming up soon.
7. Enrique Painting: 4th Session
October 10, 2025
Here’s video of the 4th session on the Enrique painting, where I continue to refine the body and the sofa.
6. Enrique Painting: 3rd Session
September 26, 2025
This video shows my latest progress on the Enrique painting. I added some more color and a bit more detail to some of the body, then I added some of the design on the pillows. Then I worked a bit on the head and the face, and now I’m happier with that. Finally, I added the top row of detail–this is the reflection of the sofa and the model in the mirror behind the sofa. The painting is coming along!
5. Enrique Painting: 2nd Session
September 23, 2025
Here’s a video showing my latest progress on the Enrique painting. This session was all about adding the first layers of color to the body.
4. Enrique Painting: First Session
September 20, 2025
Getting started on the painting! In the video above you’ll see me tacking the canvas onto my easel, which is a piece of drywall (tabla roca in Spanish), my preferred surface, since it allows me to stretch any size or shape of canvas easily for painting, using just pushpins. Next you’ll see me covering the whole canvas with an acrylic wash. After that dries, I start applying color–in this case, I’m starting with the green of the couch.
3. Enrique Painting: Prepping the Canvas
September 17, 2025
Okay, I’ve cut a piece of canvas more or less to size, then sketched the basic shapes onto it with pencil. These images show the canvas laying on my kitchen counter, ready to be rolled up and taken to my studio at Qulture (I live in the 5 de Diciembre neighborhood and Qulture is in the Zona Romantica, which is about 10 minutes away.) Next entry will show me at Qulture tacking this canvas onto my easel and getting started actually painting.
2. Prepping the Source Image for Enrique Painting
September 17, 2025
Here’s the source photo for the Enrique painting, along with a more colorful version. I thought the colors were a little boring so I played with the image in Photoshop and came up with some more exciting colors. These are the colors I intend to use in the painting.
1. Project 2263: Preview
September 15, 2025
Here’s a preview of what I’m planning for my next painting. I’ve always liked this photo from my shoot with Enrique in 2018. In fact I’ve tried painting it twice over the past few years and was never satisfied with the result. I’m ready to try again and this time I have confidence I’ll be able to pull it off.
I’m about to start preparatory work on this painting. Stay tuned for progress reports.