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Fernando Boavida

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2024

The Alentejo coast is always rich in dreamy beaches and fantastic landscapes, invoking peace and serenity. “Costa alentejana”, oil on canvas, 30 cm x 40 cm.

Some people struggle very hard to find motives for their paintings but, sometimes, the best motives are all around you. It is only a question of looking at them with 'painter eyes'. This is the case of this painting of mine, for which I used a motive that I see almost everyday on the way to my workplace: "Park in Coimbra", oil on canvas, 35 cm x 27 cm.

"The conversion of St. Paul", oil on canvas, 70 cm x 50 cm. The painting depicts the moment when, during a trip to Damascus to persecute Christians, Saul of Tarsus has a miraculous vision of Jesus Christ. Saul is momentarily blinded by the brilliant light, while he hears Jesus ask him “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”. This moment transformed his life and led to his conversion and baptism as Paul of Tarsus. In the painting, the sword represents the Christian light and spirit, and alludes to his own martyrdom.

Symbols of peace, wisdom, and resilience, deeply rooted in Mediterranean culture and history, olive trees can live for thousands of years, with some ancient specimens still bearing fruit, linking us to civilizations long vanished. They withstand harsh climates and poor soils, thriving where many other plants cannot. Olive oil, often called "liquid gold," has been prized since antiquity. When visiting Penamacor’s castle, I came accross this olive tree, and I was struck by how it drew the light towards it. I knew then that I would do this painting: “Olive tree in Penamacor’s castle”, oil on canvas, 35 cm x 45 cm.

Alvor, once a picturesque fishing village in the Algarve, is a captivating blend of traditional charm and natural beauty, offering a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. The village is renowned for its golden sandy beaches, making it a favourite destination for summer holidays. "Dunes at Alvor", oil on paper, 13 cm x 15 cm.

Nothing like a good beach to cheer you up, and no beach is like Malhao beach, in Alentejo. This is one of the best beaches I've been to, although with lousy access. Here's a small study I recently did, using as reference a photo I took the last time I went there: "Malhao beach, in Alentejo", oil on paper, 13 cm x 18 cm.

Here's another painting of Vila Nova de Milfontes, a picturesque coastal village in the Alentejo region of Portugal. Situated at the mouth of the Mira river, Vila Nova de Milfontes is known for its beaches, rugged cliffs and natural beauty. “Vila Nova de Milfontes - View from the south bank”, oil on canvas, 30 cm x 40 cm.

I sometimes spend my summer vacations in Vila Nova de Milfontes, a picturesque coastal village in the Alentejo region of Portugal. Situated at the mouth of the Mira river, Vila Nova de Milfontes is known for its beaches, rugged cliffs and natural beauty. “Vila Nova de Milfontes - View from the north bank”, oil on canvas, 30 cm x 40 cm.

Continuing my series on sacred art, here's another version of a modern look on the Holy Family. How would Mary, Joseph, and Jesus look if they were familiar with cameras and family photos? Certainly, they would like to show they were a happy family, wouldn't they? This painting was a commission of my mother-in-law, to celebrate her 90th anniversary, on December 13th, 2024. "Holy Family II", oil on canvas, 50 cm x 40 cm.

There's no greater happiness than that of children. They simply play with each other and enjoy the moment, a pure joy untethered by possessions, hopes, or worries—just the magic of being together. "Happiness", oil on canvas, 50 cm x 40 cm.

St. Francis of Assisi is known for his love of animals and nature (no, ecology was not born with Greta Thunberg). One of the most famous miracles attributed to him is the taming of the Wolf of Gubbio, which inspired my new painting: "St. Francis of Assisi", oil on canvas, 60 cm x 50 cm.

The love story of Pedro and Inês de Castro is Portugal's most poignant, real-life tale of passion and tragedy. Inês, a lady-in-waiting, and Pedro, the crown prince, fell deeply in love, but their romance was forbidden due to political reasons. "Pedro and Inês", oil on canvas, 70 cm x 50 cm. In my opinion, this is one of my best paintings ever.

King D. Dinis of Portugal was the founder of the University of Coimbra, in 1290. He was married to Queen Elizabeth of Portugal (Elisabeth of Aragon), who is the patron saint of the city of Coimbra. "King D. Dinis and Queen Elisabeth", oil on canvas, 70 cm x 50 cm.

While I paint, next to my palette I always have a piece of cardboard where I wipe my palette knives. Recently, I tried to wipe the palette knife in such a way that the end result would be an appealing abstract painting. Here's the result: "Blue sky", oil on cardboard, 10.4 cm x 13.8 cm. Next time I'll do an abstract painting in my cleaning rag. Maybe it will be accepted as an extraordinary work of art in a contemporary art show!

Cacela Velha, located in the Algarve, is a charming coastal village known for its rich history, whitewashed houses, and stunning views over the Ria Formosa lagoon. Here's a small study having Cacela Velha as main theme: "Cacela Velha", oil on canvas, 27 cm x 35 cm. I really love doing small paintings like this!

Queen Elizabeth of Portugal (Elisabeth of Aragon) was renowned for her piety, diplomatic skill, and efforts to promote peace, often acting as a mediator in conflicts within her family and kingdom. She is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church. "Queen Elisabeth of Portugal", oil on canvas, 60 cm x 50 cm.

Last July, on my way to an exam at the central building of the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Coimbra, I passed, as always, the jacaranda trees that adorn the sidewalk. I knew at that moment that I would have to do a painting of this scene, despite the fact that I already painted two versions of this same theme. "Jacaranda trees in Campus 2 of the University on Coimbra III", oil on canvas, 60 cm x 50 cm.

Saint Anthony of Lisbon, also known as Saint Anthony of Padua, was a 13th-century Franciscan friar and renowned preacher, born in 1195 in Lisbon, Portugal. Saint Anthony is believed to have had the gift of bilocation, a miraculous ability attributed to certain saints, allowing them to be in two places simultaneously. This ability inspired my new painting which, in my opinion, is one of my best: “Saint Anthony”, oil on canvas, 70 cm x 50 cm.

I like thinking of people as just people. This is why I depicted the three Marys - Mary (mother of Jesus), Mary of Clopas (sister of the Virgin Mary), and Mary Magdalene - as ordinary people, with feelings, hopes, and anxiety. Aren't we, men or women, all like that? "Three Marys", oil on canvas, 50 cm x 60 cm.

Imagine you could travel back in time 2,000 years to meet a family of parents drooling over their young son. Imagine you asked them to take a picture to record their happiness. Perhaps they would look something like this: “Holy Family”, oil on canvas, 70 cm x 50 cm.

Here's my last painting of the 2023-2024 season, depicting a fictional Swiss village. Nestled in a verdant valley, the village blooms under the summer sun. Cozy chalets with wooden façades dot the village, surrounded by towering mountains. "Swiss village", oil on canvas, 40 cm x 50 cm.

The Royal Palace of Vila Viçosa is located in the Alentejo region of Portugal. Constructed in the early 16th century, the palace served as the seasonal residence for the Braganza dynasty, Portugal's last reigning royal family. The grounds also include gardens, parklands, and several secondary buildings. This painting of mine depicts one of the alleys in the estate: "Alley at Vila Viçosa Palace", oil on canvas, 27 cm x 35 cm.

I'm always happy when I manage to capture, albeit incompletely, the extraordinary beauty of Nature, which always dazzles us with its lush colors. "Nature's Palette", oil on canvas, 30 cm x 40 cm.

Jheronimus Bosch (c. 1450-1516), was a Dutch painter known for his unique and imaginative works. Bosch's paintings often explore moral and spiritual concerns, depicting scenes of heaven and hell with vivid, sometimes grotesque, imagery. There are no confirmed portraits of Jheronimus Bosch and, thus, his exact appearance remains largely unknown. Here's my guess: "Jheronimus Bosch", oil on canvas, 60 cm x 50 cm.

© 2024 by Fernando Boavida. Proudly created with Wix.com

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