José Gabriel Acuña is a Colombian artist who studied Industrial Design but whose true passion is painting. He is the protagonist in "From my workshop".
1. When and why did you start painting?
I started drawing at an early age, I do not remember when because I was very young. My grandfather was a renowned painter in Colombia and my mother was a ceramist and a scluptor and motivated me to keep my first drawings, which I saved. Then, I studied industrial design at a time when design tools were drawing on paper without any computer. Later, when I was already a successful professional in graphic arts I realized that my field was definitely painting and I started to follow lessons in different academies and universities.
2. Which is your favourite time of the day to paint? How much time do you dedicate to painting?
I like painting during the day, I'm not very fond of the night, being the Count Dracula of painting is not my goal. I spend between three and six hours a week because I'm still working in graphic arts that steal so much time to my true passion, painting.
3. Of all your paintings, which is your favourite one? Why?
Actually there are two, "Colombia Siega" because I love the sensuality of women and the atmosphere I gave to the painting, and the other is called "Los hijos de la violencia", which is a work with a very strong message, it has much feeling and reflects what many of my Colombian brothers have had to live with this senseless war.
4. What are your sources of inspiration?
There are many, life, my country Colombia, a woman with her natural beauty, a man... my painting is figurative.
5. If you could reincarnate in an great master of art, who would you like to be?
Why one? I would love to be reincarnated in several, it would bye a ecstatic craziness, to be Dalí, Michelangelo, DaVinci, Munch, Sorolla and all of them at once, in a fusion of colour and shape.
6. Of all the artistic movements, which one influences you more?
Renaissance, Fantastic Art, Neorrealism.
7. What is art for you? Which role does it play in your life?
The art of being a medium of expression lets you give the best of you and trasmitting it openly. On the other hand, every time you are creating a new work you get closer to God.
Discover the artworks of José Gabriel here