by Robert Boyd
I didn't like all the pieces by Raul Gonzalez that I saw at the Caroline Collective last Saturday--his approach seems too all over the place. But one benefit from having such an unfocused approach is that maybe, just maybe, some of your pieces will hit a sweet spot. That's how I feel about a lot of this work.
Raul Gonzalez, Work Ahead, acrylic and marker on canvas, 2009
His paintings and drawings show the world seen from the street--specifically the world of work. They combine graphic elements with recognizable illustration.In Work Ahead, the quoted graphic (the warning sign) dominates, but within the sign are other graphic elements and drawing.
Raul Gonzalez, Exit Only, acrylic, ink, tape and marker on masonite, 2010
Exit Only also combined illustrative elements within a freeway sign graphic.