A fascination with the colors and textures of raw iron ore extracted from the city of Itabira and the Serra dos Carajás area of Brazil is the inspiration for my work. By combining the ore with acrylic paint, I produce abstract images on canvas. I started using iron ore in a casual way. It was many years ago while I was doing visual and architectural research about my hometown Vitória in the state of Espírito Santo in Brazil. During the process of my research, I observed the coming and going of ships loaded with iron ore at the port of Vitória. I quickly become curious about this rich mineral. I started to do some research about it and I learned this mineral. I knew that color and texture are all an artist needs to create, so I decided to incorporate the use of iron ore in my work.

 

It took two decades of research to discover and perfect the best way in which to incorporate ore particles into my work without losing the unique luster, texture, and color of the raw mineral. In my paintings I utilize steels oxide pigments in combination with varnishes, waxes, dust, gold, copper, acrylic, and vinylic resins. The over layering of these materials on canvas creates textures, and bright hues which highlight the opacity and velvety of both abstract shapes and basic forms such as circles and rectangles.