NANO LOPEZ - Park West Gallery...including Michelangelo’s sculptures and paintings. He realized...

N A N O LOPEZ

J U N E 2 0 1 5

Lopez with sculpture “Elizabeth Life Size”

4 5

NANO LOPEZ was born October 31, 1955, in Bogota, Colombia to an affluent and educated family that includes a great uncle who served as president of Colombia.

His grandmother was an artist who worked in ceramics and water clay, having a big influence on Nano. Her sculptures and collection of art still inspire him to this day, and she encouraged her grandson at a young age to pursue art.

Nano also found inspiration from his father, a chemical engineer and entrepreneur, when he would visit his father’s copper sheeting factory and see the beautiful patterns created by sulfuric acid and cupric nitrate crystals. Family trips to San Andres or other locations in South America influenced the young artist as well, whether it was fishing on the Amazon River, watching turtles or noticing the texture of leaves or nets.

Nano was recognized early in his life for his artistic talent when he was awarded first place in a municipal school drawing contest at the age of 5. Around the age of 15, Nano’s love of art grew and he began using wet clay he found at construction sites to practice his skills. By high school, he was making serious copies of the masters including Michelangelo’s sculptures and paintings. He realized that art was an absolute need and passion, and at the end of high school began to take university classes at night.

Nano continued his upper division studies and studio work at the School of David Manzur, the Rembrandt Academy, and the National University in Bogota. In 1978, he traveled to Spain and began working for the sculptor Francisco (Paco) Baron in Madrid. While with Francisco, Nano carved marble, granite and fabricated in steel. He worked all three materials on a monumental scale. It was in Madrid that he began casting his own works in bronze and held his first single artist show. He also took the opportunity to visit Italy and see

the sculptures of Michelangelo, his idol. After several years of learning in Madrid, Nano traveled to France in 1980, where he furthered his studies and showed his work more often. He applied to study at the Superior National School of Beaux Art in Paris, where he was the top student to be accepted that year, and focused his studies in new materials, discovering the versatility of various casting media.

In 1981, he returned to Bogota to build a studio and put to use the methods he had learned in Europe. In 1983, Nano moved again, this time to the northwest area of the United States. He began to work with Manuel Izquierdo, head of the sculpture department at the Pacific Northwest

NATURE’S BEAUTY EMBOLDENED

College of Art. During the following four years, he was employed by various bronze foundries in the Northwest, and further developed his techniques in welding and tooling of bronzes. Additionally, he continued to learn and develop skillful and original uses of patinas.

Nano began his own business in 1987 in Walla Walla, Washington, model-making, reducing and enlarging maquettes to monumental sizes. There was a great demand for Nano’s talent by both artists and foundries. In 1991, Nano married fellow artist Mariya.

In 2001 and 2002, Nano designed, built, and moved into his custom building. It contains very high ceilings with skylights and 8,000 square feet of floor space. Nano’s attractive building is enhanced by artistic landscaping and a beautiful scenic pond that is Nano’s monument to nature. It now serves as his personal studio space.

By 2006, Nano became so successful in the production and marketing of his fine art bronzes that he no longer takes on the business of enlargements. This frees up his time for the creation of his own work. His “Nanimals” engage viewers of all ages and reflect a sense of playfulness, intense creativity, and wonder.

The combination of Nano’s classical training, experimentation with materials, and extensive experience, has led to the production of avant-garde art, which combines aesthetic considerations and rich textural surfaces. Nano’s work invites us to experience a range of emotions from joyful sense of wonder and creativity to deeply felt emotions relating to the human struggle.

“MY INTENTION IS TO SHARE WITH THE VIEWER THE BEAUTY AND RICHNESS OF THE WORLD.”

A R T I S T B I O

http://www.parkwestgallery.com/artwork-detail?ArtID=383271

6 Park West Gallery® 2015 | To purchase work seen here or request other works by phone, call 1-800-521-9654 ext.4 7

A R T I S T P R O C E S S

FROM CLAY TO BRONZELike most artists, Nano Lopez begins the creation of a new work of art with the stroke of a pencil.

Lopez begins the intensive process of creating a sculpture by sketching it. From those drawings he makes a clay model that serves as the original for the sculpture. When the anatomy is to his liking, he adds texture to the clay model as well as elements like letters, gears or buttons. All details the artist wants on the final product must be on this model.

CREATING A MOLD The sculpture is coated with multiple layers of silicone, using air blow guns to ensure it covers all the details. Once dry, the model is encased in a thick plaster or fiberglass mixture to hold the silicone in place.

After the plaster hardens it is opened and separated. The original model is removed from the silicone, and by closing the two halves of the silicone, a mold is formed.

THE CERAMIC SHELL Melted wax is poured into the mold, thoroughly coating it so that all the details are maintained. Once the wax has cooled it is removed from the mold, and any imperfections in the wax are fixed. The wax is given a gating system with wax spruces to provide channels that the molten bronze will travel through.

The gated wax sculpture is coated in liquid ceramic slurry, then immediately covered in sand to help the slurry breathe. These two steps are repeated until there is nearly half an inch of a hard, ceramic shell encasing the wax.

The ceramic “cap” on the bottom is removed and the shell is placed in a kiln. The “lost wax” technique receives its name from this step due to the wax melting out of the shell.

BEGIN THE BRONZING The melted bronze (about 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit) is then poured into the empty ceramic mold. Once it cools down, the ceramic shell is removed with pneumatic hammers and sandblasting. The metal chasing starts with large grinders to remove any large pieces of unwanted metal, such as the gates, then more refined tools are used to re-create the textures found on the original.

If the sculpture is made up of multiple pieces, they are welded together and the weld lines are smoothed over.

COLORING METAL For Lopez, coloration begins by heating the sculpture and spraying it with a chemical that turns it black. The sculpture is sanded, making the surface smooth and shiny while leaving black in recesses to bring out the textures.

A gold dye is sprayed onto the sculpture. From there, patinas made of chemicals and pigments are applied with a brush and torch. By heating the bronze, the colors are essentially “cooked” onto the metal.

Finally, a few coats of lacquer are sprayed onto the sculpture to protect it from wear-and-tear and UV rays. If needed, felt is attached to the bottom of the sculpture.

On average, a sculpture takes three to four months to complete.

FROM INSPIRAT ION TO INSTALLATION

Park West Gallery® 2015 | To purchase work seen here or request other works by phone, call 1-800-521-9654 ext.4 98

Elizabeth is full of enthusiasm because she can’t wait to get to the mall where she’s meeting some of her friends to help her go shopping. In her purse, also known as her life support system, she has lots of stuff which I don’t know of, but she certainly did not forget her credit card.

ELIZABETH(LIFE SIZE)

2008

72" x 96" x 31" Bronze sculpture with hand-applied patina. Signature stamped.

250266

OLIVIA2011


262989



1110 Park West Gallery® 2015 | To purchase work seen here or request other works by phone, call 1-800-521-9654 ext.4

FOXY 2012


276983

ALBERTA2009

22 1⁄4" x 17 1⁄2" x 8" Bronze sculpture with hand-applied patina. Signature stamped.

250226

Alberta loves long, long walks. In fact she just returned from a walk that took her all the way to Cadiz, Spain. She has a fish friend called “Scales” who has a crush on her. Lately, on her weekly visit to the pond, Scales jumps out and gives her a kiss and to this day Alberta doesn’t yet know quite what to make of it.




SALLY2014

5" x 3" x 5 1⁄2" Bronze sculpture with hand-applied patina. Signature stamped.

307598

SUZIE Q2007


250207

He is a proud student, expert whistler, seen here strolling down the street on his way to the grocery store, hoping to be seen by any of the neighborhood cute girls. And he believes in angels and well combed hair.

ALEXANDRA2011

6" x 5 1⁄2" x 3 1⁄4" Bronze sculpture with hand-applied patina. Signature stamped.

250205

SIMON2007

6 1⁄2" x 6 1⁄2" x 2" Bronze sculpture with hand-applied patina. Signature stamped.

250176






DUSTY

2011


267409

PHILLIPE III JR.2008

23" x 12 1⁄4" x 5" Bronze sculpture with hand-applied patina. Signature stamped.

250196

Junior’s family transports fresh vegetables and goats milk across the desert. For the last two weeks he’s been in training, learning how to capture any spilled milk that might occur, but there is a rumor that he’s drinking wine instead of milk.



Park West Gallery® 2015 | To purchase work seen here or request other works by phone, call 1-800-521-9654 ext.4 17

EMA 2014


307597

TRACY (THE FAST) (SMALL)

2015

3 1⁄2" x 8" x 5 1⁄2" Bronze sculpture with hand-applied patina. Signature stamped.

331881

ROXI 2011


267978

SAMUEL THE POET (SMALL)

2015

7 1⁄2" x 6" x 3" Bronze sculpture with hand-applied patina. Signature stamped.

331882

Constantly in thought, he is a true poet, always ready to write down any particular thought or idea. He never leaves home without his bag, which is full of papers and brushes to keep all of his thoughts and ideas well documented.






SHERLOCK (LARGE)

2014


307596

SHERLOCK (LIFE SIZE)

2010


250228

A well-weathered Welsh terrier. He’s extremely experienced in the art of finding things, that’s why for many years now he’s been working as a detective. Sherlock refuses to give up his pipe, doesn’t mind rainy weather or cats, and he used to be a peace activist. On Fridays he loves to be part of the K9 units, and on Saturdays he just goes fishing.




TINA2009


325671

BERTHA & CHARLIE2011


276984

Bertha is a bit concerned, because while she’s thinking up a strategy to collect the next piece of dinner and Charlie is making friends with it. On the other hand she is glad to see the water clear and blue.

Tina doesn’t know why but she is irresistibly attracted to long necks. Likes lions at a distance only, is very curious about nature, loves jewelry and chatting with her birdie friends.




STICKY CLIMBER (FROG WITH BASE)

2008


250215

EIGHTEEN2014

11" x 8" x 12” Bronze sculpture with hand- applied patina. Signature stamped.

321007

WATER DAY2014


324250

HENRY, STELLA & THE TWINS2014


321008

Henry, Stella, and the Twins-Practicing big air jumps to enjoy the views and feel the warm air on their scales.

Eighteen is patiently waiting for his owner to take him down to “Duval Street,” where he will be able to show his brand-new bowling pin trick, and his (now well-know) soccer and tennis ball routines.






LUCY2010


250216

Lucy has been waiting now for an eternal three minutes and her butler has yet to refill her milk bowl, but she is very patient and the thought of either a nap or a little yarn kicking has come through her mind.

ELIZABETH2007

26 1⁄2" x 24 1⁄4" x 9 1⁄2" Bronze sculpture with hand-applied patina. Signature stamped.

250195

Elizabeth is full of enthusiasm because she can’t wait to get to the mall where she’s meeting some of her friends to help her go shopping. In her purse, also known as her life support system, she has lots of stuff which I don’t know of, but she certainly did not forget her credit card.



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TRACY (THE FAST)

2012

4 1⁄2" x 12 1⁄2" x 9 1⁄2" Bronze sculpture with hand-applied patina. Signature stamped.

282097


Tracy (the Fast) was briefly seen yesterday afternoon crossing the pasture field south of town. While nobody had enough time to clearly see her face, Tracy is well known all around town for her great enthusiasm, being amazingly fast and her unparalleled generosity; always bringing water to those in need.

FISHIES (GOING RIGHT)

2014


318288

FISHIES (GOING LEFT)

2014


318287

Timothy and his buddies “the Meerkats” like spending their time together collecting old tires on the open road, actually it’s kind of like half a business and half an environmental effort to keep things looking good and clean, and as always at the end of the day they give the tires to a friend that has a tire recycling business.

TIMOTHY 2012


276982






ELMA 2011


250217

BOBBY(ELEPHANT)

2010


250188

Elma is warmly being welcomed by her friends, after a month long visit to “the dry land”. She is bringing a sample of utensils for the dry-landers to use to hold water.




MARIA AND THE SEEDS2014


321006

MAN BALANCE2009

29" x 24" X 7 1⁄2" Bronze sculpture with hand-applied patina. Signature stamped.

250198

She is a fountain of life where the seeds represent the gift of mother nature, the essence of life in a tiny little capsule. Abundance, water, all a fantastic miracle.




MARIA MUNDO2010

28" x 7" x 7 1⁄2" Bronze sculpture with hand- applied patina. Signature stamped.

250225

MAN DOT EARTH2010


276985




DAVIAN2013


294969

LITTLE DAVIAN2014


321009

This young dragon is enjoying a well deserved “Dragon Berry” ice cream cone (his very favorite), after a long and exhausting class about fire extinguishing techniques.



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NANO LOPEZ - Park West Gallery...including Michelangelo’s sculptures and paintings. He realized...

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