Streets of San Juan
Streets of San Juan (2023)
18×24 Pastel on Pastel Paper
Original is Available
The narrow streets may have sprung from convenience and in part as a defense against the heat of the day. They also serve as a quiet place to duck out from the busy plaza to make a little heat of your own.
Last December was my first trip to Puerto Rico. My husband and I did a tour of San Juan, and I just loved the old world feeling paired with the brightly colored buildings.
When planning this piece, the main goal was capturing that sun-drenched, tropical atmosphere. I spent a lot of time working on the architecture in the background, aligning the narrow alleyway, the old-fashioned street lamps, and the cascading green vines to really bring out that unique Old San Juan charm. From there, the focus shifted to the interaction between the two guys. I wanted to map out how the bright, direct sunlight hits the angles of their chests and shoulders, using warm, rich skin tones to make the intimate moment feel like it's unfolding right there in the heat of the afternoon.
