The artist that I chose to profile is named Amaury Diaz. He is a landscape painter. Many of his paintings depict the urban and rural landscapes of Puerto Rico. His work is described as contemporary realism which I interpret to mean that he depicts realistic images in ways that are exaggerated. When you look at his work, the colors are extremely vibrant and strong. The images in his work are true images but they give you a sense of fantasy as well. Diaz, in his profile, says that his work is not intended to show his cultural background but it does so blatantly. The themes I see in his paintings are 1) nationalism, 2) reverancing beauty in nature, and 3) appreciating the benefits of simple, enjoyable island living in Puerto Rico. I see the nationalism theme in the way that he has all these images of Puerto Rico that are sources of pride for the people such as the flag, La fortaleza, baseball heroes, and it's music and dancing traditions. I see the reverance for nature through his use of color and fluid, blended brushstrokes in depicting the Puerto Rican landscapes. His appreciation for simple island living is revealed in his painting of the tiny shack that, although it is nothing grand or special, gives you a sense of the comfort of family and home.