Félix de la Concha

Portrait -- by Margaret (Peggy) L. Kannenstine

Sitting to have my portrait painted by Felix de la Concha turned out to be a truly fascinating day. At first I had been concerned about how I’d sit still for many hours, since I am a fairly active type of person. I wondered if wiggling or scratching my nose was even allowed. That worry was alleviated right away by Felix, who said we’d take breaks whenever needed, and that I should simply say that I needed to stop for a bit.

Then our conversation began. What fun it was! Spending a day talking with another painter about our favorite colors, why Felix uses oils and I use acrylics, comparing types of linen. In other words, great shop talk. And we chatted about our art school experiences, as well as what artists influenced us in those days. In this comfortable and friendly way the morning passed in a flash.

Then Anni invited both of us out to her lovely garden for a perfect spring lunch among the flowers-and more good conversation took place.

Afterwards, back to work for a few more hours of talk and paint. Finally, at the very end, Felix allowed me to see the painting. My husband was there by then too, and we both were very pleased with the portrait. Felix did not do a standard “official” type of portrait painting, but one that is very personal and that caught some real essence rather than simply a likeness.

Margaret (Peggy) L. Kannenstine
July, 2010

 

Bio

Félix de la Concha was born in 1962 in León, Spain. In 1985, de la Concha was selected to participate in the Primera Muestra de Arte Joven (Círculo de Bellas Artes de Madrid) where his work was awarded. Since then he has had several shows, mainly in Europe and the United States. His work is also included in the collections of the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh, Hood Museum, Columbus Museum of Art, Amigos del Reina Sofía, Colecció Testimoni de la Caixa, Banco de España, Colección Argentaria and Teatro Real de Madrid. He is currently working on several series of portraits where, at the same time, he holds a conversation with the person portrayed. This conversation is all recorded. One of this series was exhibited at the Museo Contemporáneo in Madrid in 2008. 51 portraits were exhibited at the Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, with the theme of Conflict and Reconciliation in 2009. He has been living and painting in New England since 2002, and is currently working portraying and recording Holocaust Survivors. De la Concha lives in Iowa City and Madrid with his wife, poet Ana Merino.