The Beetle—Study in color & Form
Artist: Adriana Reyes
Year: 2024
Medium: Acrylic and house paint on canvas
Dimensions: 20 × 24 inches
Techniques: Observational painting, color mixing, layering, blending, and tonal shading
This painting explores the intricate anatomy, natural symmetry, and iridescent coloration of a jewel beetle through detailed observation and controlled color application.
Using acrylic and house paint, I developed depth, contrast, and dimension without the use of black paint. Through layered pigments, complementary color relationships, and tonal blending, I created rich shadows that emphasize the beetle’s metallic appearance and sculptural form.
Vibrant greens, golden yellows, and earthy browns contrast against a soft, green - dominant blue-green background, highlighting the insect’s anatomical details and natural beauty.
This piece demonstrates my understanding of color theory, observational accuracy, light and shadow, and the creation of visual depth through intentional color relationships.
ponte vicks—a pop art exploration
Artist: Adriana Reyes
Year: 2025
Medium: Acrylic and house paint on canvas
Dimensions: 30 × 48 inches
Style: Pop Art, inspired by Andy Warhol
Techniques: Color blocking, repetition, complementary color relationships, precision painting, and tonal variation
Ponte Vicks is a contemporary Pop Art painting inspired by Andy Warhol’s exploration of consumer culture, repetition, and everyday commercial products.
Drawing inspiration from the cultural familiarity of Vicks VapoRub, particularly within Puerto Rican households, I transformed an ordinary household product into a vibrant visual statement celebrating nostalgia, cultural identity, and the relationship between art and consumerism.
The composition features six repeated images arranged in a structured grid, each presented through a distinct color palette. By experimenting with contrasting hues, color harmonies, and carefully balanced backgrounds, I explored how color can transform the visual perception of an identical subject.
Created entirely without black paint, the darker tones were achieved through intentional pigment mixing and color relationships. The painting required approximately 50 hours of detailed execution, emphasizing precision, consistency, clean edges, and controlled paint application.
This work demonstrates my understanding of Pop Art, color theory, visual rhythm, repetition, composition, and the intersection of fine art and graphic design.
De mi alma — from my soul
Artist: Adriana Reyes
Year: 2026
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 24 × 30 inches
Techniques: Observational painting, botanical realism, architectural detailing, color blending, layering, atmospheric perspective, and composition
De Mi Alma is an oil painting celebrating my Puerto Rican heritage, cultural identity, and the emotional connection between nature, history, and belonging.
The composition brings together vibrant tropical hibiscus flowers and the historic coastal architecture of Old San Juan, creating a visual dialogue between the island’s natural beauty and its architectural legacy.
Through layered oil pigments, controlled blending, and detailed brushwork, I explored the delicate textures and organic movement of the hibiscus petals alongside the structured geometry and weathered surfaces of the stone fortification. The warm reds and lush greens of the flowers contrast with the cool blues of the ocean and sky, while the muted neutral tones of the architecture establish depth and visual balance.
This painting demonstrates my understanding of color theory, botanical observation, architectural form, atmospheric perspective, and the integration of cultural storytelling into fine art.
Colorful Daises — an exploration of color and movement
Artist: Adriana Reyes
Year: 2023
Medium: Mixed media — acrylic, oil, and tempera paint on canvas
Dimensions: 24 × 36 inches
Techniques: Layering, blending, expressive brushwork, color mixing, botanical observation, and mixed-media painting
Colorful Daisies is a mixed-media painting exploring the relationship between color, movement, and organic form through a vibrant botanical composition.
Using acrylic, oil, and tempera paints, I combined different painting techniques to create variations in texture, depth, and visual intensity. The overlapping petals feature warm yellows, oranges, and pinks blended with rich purples and magentas, creating dynamic color transitions and dimensional floral forms. The flowers emerge against a layered background of deep greens and earthy tones, where expressive brushwork and vertical color transitions establish contrast and visual rhythm. Through variations in scale, placement, and color, I created a composition that balances botanical observation with expressive artistic interpretation.
This piece demonstrates my understanding of color theory, mixed-media applications, composition, layering, and the use of contrasting colors to communicate energy and movement.
Composite Portrait — A Study in Visual Integration
Artist: Adriana Reyes
Title: Untitled (Composite Portrait)
Year: 2024
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 24 x 36 inches
Technique: Composite imagery combining five separate visual references, portraiture, layering, and spatial composition.
This oil painting explores the integration of five separate photographic references into a single, cohesive composition.
Through careful planning and visual arrangement, I combined portraiture, athletic movement, botanical elements, and landscape imagery to create a unified narrative. The central figure, a soccer goalkeeper reaching toward the ball, establishes the focal point and conveys movement, determination, and concentration. Surrounding the figure, oversized pink lilies introduce organic forms that contrast with the structured geometry of the soccer field and goalpost. The expressive blue and lavender background connects the individual elements, creating visual rhythm and continuity throughout the composition. Using oil paints, I explored variations in realism, scale, proportion, and color relationships to bring together five distinct images while maintaining balance and visual harmony.
This painting demonstrates my ability to transform multiple visual references into an original composition through thoughtful design, technical precision, and creative problem-solving.
My Kitchen Table — A Study in Light and Perspective
Artist: Adriana Reyes
Year: 2024
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions: 24 x 30 inches
Techniques: Observational painting, geometric composition, linear perspective, tonal shading, color blending, and light-and-shadow studies.
My Kitchen Table explores the relationship between light, space, and geometric form through a minimalist interior composition.
The painting depicts a wooden table, two stools, and a single object, emphasizing simplicity, balance, and spatial organization. A restrained palette of warm beige, soft white, muted gray, and deep charcoal creates a quiet atmosphere while drawing attention to the interaction between natural light and architectural surfaces.
Through careful observation and controlled brushwork, I explored perspective, proportion, and the placement of shadows to establish depth and dimension. The angular shadows extending across the floor and walls contrast with the structured lines of the furniture, creating a sense of realism and spatial continuity.
This composition demonstrates my understanding of linear perspective, value relationships, geometric structure, and the ability to communicate depth through subtle variations in color and light.
A Car Ride with My Grandpa — Memories of Philadelphia
Artist: Adriana Reyes
Year: 2026
Medium: Acrylic paint on rolled canvas
Dimensions: 4 × 7 feet (48 × 84 inches)
Location: 4th District Village Containers, Philadelphia, PA
Techniques: Large-scale mural painting, architectural interpretation, silhouette painting, layering, contrast, reflection, and expressive brushwork
A Car Ride with My Grandpa is a large-scale mural inspired by childhood memories of traveling through Philadelphia with my grandfather. The painting features Boathouse Row, the historic landmark along the Schuylkill River, as the central subject. By portraying Boathouse Row at night, I transform a recognizable Philadelphia landmark into a personal reflection on family, memory, and belonging.
Using acrylic paint on a 4-by-7-foot rolled canvas, I created a dramatic nighttime composition through contrasting dark silhouettes, warm architectural highlights, and expressive reflections across the water. The illuminated outlines of the boathouses establish visual rhythm and architectural structure, while the textured reflections introduce movement and atmosphere. A restrained palette of deep blacks, warm browns, golden yellows, and muted neutrals emphasizes the relationship between light, shadow, and the surrounding environment.
Through simplified architectural forms and layered brushwork, I explored how familiar places can hold emotional significance beyond their physical appearance. Boathouse Row serves not only as the painting’s setting but also as a symbol of shared experiences and lasting memories with my grandfather.
Displayed at the 4th District Village Containers in Philadelphia, this mural represents the intersection of public art, personal history, and community identity.
The work demonstrates my ability to develop and execute large-scale compositions, interpret architectural subjects, and communicate personal narratives through visual art.
Constellations in the Galaxy — Acrylic Painting Series
Artist: Adriana Reyes
Year: 2024–2026
Medium: Acrylic Paint on Canvas
Collection: Six Original Paintings (Three Pictured)
Techniques: Color Blending, Layering, Atmospheric Effects, Fine-Line Painting, and Abstract Composition
Constellations in the Galaxy is a six-piece acrylic painting series inspired by celestial formations, cosmic landscapes, and the relationship between geometry and the natural universe.
Each painting explores a different constellation against a vibrant, nebula-inspired background. Layers of deep blues, purples, greens, and warm colors create atmospheric depth, while delicate white stars and interconnected lines establish recognizable celestial patterns. The series combines expressive color application with precise geometric elements, balancing the fluid movement of galactic formations with the structured arrangement of constellations.
This collection demonstrates my exploration of color theory, spatial depth, composition, and fine-detail painting. Although only three of the six original paintings are pictured, the complete series represents a cohesive artistic investigation of the cosmos through acrylic painting.
Seussical the Musical — Three-Panel Scenic Mural
Year: 2026
Location: Forrest Elementary School, Philadelphia, PA
Medium: Acrylic Paint on Three Freestanding Scenic Panels
Project Type: Personal Artwork / Theatrical Scenic Design
Role: Artist and Scenic Painter
Tools & Techniques: Projector-Assisted Image Transfer, Acrylic Layering, Color Blending, Brushwork, Large-Scale Composition, and Scenic Painting
Original Artwork Reference: Freebird, from The Art of Dr. Seuss
Created for Forrest Elementary School’s 2026 production of Seussical the Musical, this three-panel scenic mural transforms a theatrical backdrop into a colorful, imaginative landscape inspired by Freebird from The Art of Dr. Seuss.
The composition features sweeping mountain formations, flowing organic lines, and a vibrant sky. Layered shades of blue, turquoise, green, lavender, pink, and yellow establish movement, depth, and visual contrast across the three connected panels.
I utilized a projector to transfer the referenced composition onto three large scenic panels, maintaining continuity and proportion across the entire surface. Using acrylic paints, I developed the landscape through layered color application, blending, expressive brushstrokes, and contrasting outlines. Each panel was painted to function independently while contributing to one continuous theatrical composition.
This project demonstrates my technical abilities in large-scale painting, scenic design, color theory, and adapting an existing artistic composition for a three-dimensional performance environment.
Created specifically for a school theatrical production, the mural reflects my ability to apply visual arts skills beyond traditional canvas painting and contribute to interdisciplinary arts experiences within an educational setting.
The four photographs document the development of the scenic mural, from the original blank panels and initial drawing through color application and the completed three-panel installation.