About me
For as long as I can remember, I have been on a quest to convincingly represent on canvas what I see in the physical world, what I see in my mind and what I feel. My ideal is to find that exquisite middle ground between the three.
As an artist I love to find inspiration in unpredictable places and situations. It could be getting lost in a conversation, hearing a piece of music for the first time, or exploring landscapes in the countryside. I enjoy trying to tame the difficult medium that is oil paint, as well as the mess and accidents that happen when using it. One of my priorities as an artist has been to explore many different styles, mindsets and methods of painting that often have little to do with each other, and to bring them together in a coherent and satisfying way.
I want my paintings to transport the viewer into a dreamlike atmosphere, and at the same time give a familiar feeling. I want them to be beautiful physical objects that the viewer can get lost in, explore and ultimately be moved by.
I currently live in Denver, Colorado where the grandeur of nature permeates my work.
Creation of Figurative Painting
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Drawing Creation
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Biography
I was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and grew up in Querétaro, Mexico. I also hold Swiss nationality which has exposed me to a variety of cultures from an early age. As an emerging artist exploring the infinite possibilities offered by oil painting, I seek to create ambiguous, yet tangible atmospheres tinged with a nostalgic vibe.
I began my career as an artist by participating in several workshops in Querétaro, including a painting course with Mexican realist artist Ramsés de la Cruz. I then went on to study a degree in visual arts at the Instituto Allende, in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where I studied impressionist methods with Guillermo Guerrero, while at the same time refining other painting techniques.
In 2014, I moved to Florence, Italy, where I completed the three-year programme in Drawing and Painting at the Angel Academy of Art.
There I learned the academic methods of the 19th century French school of painting, which not only proved essential in my path as a figurative painter, but also awakened in me a passion for conveying my vision of beauty.
He has had exhibitions in Querétaro, San Miguel de Allende and Mexico City. I also won second place in the 9th Annual PleinAir Salon Competition, as well as first place in the Greenwich Village competition at the Salmagundi Club in New York. I received Honorable Mentions in several competitions, including the ARC Salon and was selected for the MOD Portrait 2020 Exhibition.
Today I explore the creation of diverse scenes that combine a wide variety of elements such as the human figure in interaction with architecture, animals and landscape to create a dynamic narrative.
A Conversation with the Artist
What does your work aim to say?
More than attempting to convey a conceptual or informative message, I strive to communicate emotionally through shapes, color harmony and tension in my work. The thoughtful arrangement of these abstract elements forming a recognizable image can take a viewer to a place of hope, despair, or even through a whole range of complex emotions.
Who are your biggest influences?
The work that inspires me the most was produced during the 19th century by European and North American masters, who produced highly poetic paintings that romanticized and redesigned the world around us.
I’ve also been greatly influenced by artists active during the golden age of illustration such as Howard Pyle or NC Wyeth, as well as contemporary realists such as Joseph McGurl.
What draws you to creating representational work?
Figurative paintings provide a straightforward manner of communicating a mood or narrative which the artist can design quite deliberately. To me, viewing great representational art feels akin to a cinematic experience. I love the way a skilled artist can take suggestions from the visual world and evoke an emotional experience in the observer.
What is your technical approach to painting?
I consider myself an indirect painter, meaning I work in several layers. By alternating between layers with varying thickness and opacity, I create complex surface qualities that emulate those seen in the natural world. For instance, I would paint a brick using rough, grainy paint application, while I might apply skin tones in a smoother fashion.
How has your style changed over time?
My style has wavered from smooth and naturalistic, to rough and energetic. I am currently working somewhere in between, rendering things carefully where necessary, and leaving them loose and casual where it’s appropriate.
If you could give a younger you any advice, what would it be?
Be open-minded, while simultaneously being careful to discern what is useful advice and what is not. Be unwavering in your personal quest for beauty and quality. Read more!
How have your life experiences affected your work?
I was privileged to be born with three nationalities: Mexican, American and Swiss. Being born in the States and growing up in Mexico has shown me different facets of the human experience. The Swiss in me has a desire for perfection. The Mexican part of me is able to thrive in any sort of conditions, while my American side desires to innovate, while respecting traditions.
CV
Studies
2021
- Online course “Three Stages of Painting” with Will St.John
2020
- Drawing and Composition online course by Will Weston
- Will Weston’s Dress Design Online Course
2017
- Principles of Indirect Painting workshop with Charles Weed, September
2014 – 2017
- Drawing and Figurative Painting Programme at the Angel Academy of Art in Florence, Florence, Italy
2011 – 2013
- Degree in Visual Arts at the Instituto Allende, San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
2009
- Oil painting workshop with Ramsés de la Cruz, Querétaro, Qro.
Awards
2021
- Finalist in International Guild of Realism competition with “Silence” from the Hemispheres series, Arizona.
2020
- Finalist in ARC Salon competition with “Apollo” from Hemispheres series, New Jersey.
2019
- 1st Place in the Salmagundi Club competition “Greenwich Village and Surroundings”, New York
- 2nd place in the Plein Air magazine competition with the work “Road to Thame”.
- Honourable Mention in the ARC Salon competition in the Still Life category.
2013
- 2nd Place Winner of the Santangel Art Biennial, Art Museum of Querétaro, Qro.
Exhibitions and Workshops
2021
- Still Life Masterclass for the Dutch Atelier of Realist Art
2020
- Solo exhibition “Hemisphere” at Aldama Fine Art, CDMX
- Selected for the MOD Portrait exhibition with the work “Light Reading”, Barcelona and Zaragoza.
- Participation in the auction of the Museum of Art of Querétaro with the triptych “Opportunity of Balance”.
- Still Life Masterclass for the Dutch Atelier of Realist Art
2019
- Solo Exhibition “Tempo” Autumn Gala at Hacienda el Vegil, Querétaro
- Solo Exhibition “Tempo” at the tempo of Santa Rosa de Viterbo, Querétaro
- Guest Judge at the First Querétaro Madonari Festival
- Collective exhibition “Tres Visiones”, Querétaro
- Guest artist in exhibition “From Darkness to Light” Organised by Fernando Garrido and Raed Bawayah, Querétaro, Qro.
- Still Life Masterclass for the Dutch Atelier of Realist Art
2018
- Solo exhibition “Alquimia Visual” in the temple of Santa Rosa de Viterbo, Querétaro.
- Group Exhibition and Auction “Memorias en Tránsito” (Memories in Transit) Galería Libertad, Querétaro
- Collective Exhibition “Conectarte” Santa Rosa de Viterbo, Querétaro
2017
- Private solo exhibition “Nature and Figure” in Querétaro, Qro.
- Angel Academy of Art Triennial Academic Exhibition, Florence, Italy
2016
- Private solo exhibition “Evolution” in Querétaro, Qro.
- Solo exhibition “Evolution” at the German Club in Mexico City.
2015
- Solo exhibition “Albores” at Galerías Morlet, Querétaro
Publications
2022
- “Five to Watch” highlight in May/June issue of Fine Art Connoiseur Magazine
- “La Vaca,” collection of Rafael Roiz Gonzáles
- Catalogue for “Otredades” at the Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez portrait museum
- Interview on Creative Brick Road podcast.
2021
- Bilingual catalogue for the series “Hemispheres” by Aldama Fine Art
- Article in Noticias newspaper for exhibition “Hemisferios”, Querétaro
- Personal article for Periódico AM, Jóvenes Emprendedores de Querétaro, Qro.
2020
- Radio interview for RR Noticias with Roberto Gonzáles, director of MAQRO
2019
- Group interview for young entrepreneurs with Luis Nava, Mayor of the city of Querétaro
- Interview with acclaimed art critic Avelina Lesper for TV Milenio
2018
- Personal article for AM newspaper, young entrepreneurs in Querétaro
- Article in the Querétaro newspaper for the exhibition “Natrualeza y Figura”.
- Article in the newspaper AM for the solo exhibition “Alquimia Visual”, Querétaro.
- Article for the magazine Clase del Periódico Universal for the exhibition “Alquimia Visual”, Querétaro.
2011
- Painting and article published in the book Eight Arms of Inspiration, The Octopus Art Project by Jinxi Caddel
Mexican Figurative Painter
One of my priorities as an artist has been to explore many different styles, mentalities and methods of painting that often have little to do with each other.
