José Gabriel Acuña is a Colombian artist who studied Industrial Design but whose real passion is painting. He's the star of our "From my studio" section.
1. When and why did you start painting?
I started drawing at a very early age, I don't really have the exact moment because I was very little, my grandfather was a well-known painter in Colombia, my mother a ceramicist and sculptor, and she encouraged me to keep my first drawings, which I still have. Then I studied Industrial Design at a time when the main tool of design was still drawing on paper, with no computer to help you work out how the final design would look. Later on, when I was already a successful professional in the graphic arts, I realised that my thing was definitely painting and I started taking open courses at different academies and universities.
2. What time of day do you prefer for painting? How much time do you devote to painting?
I like painting during the day, I'm not much of a night person, being the Count Dracula of painting isn't my aim. I give it between 3 and 6 hours a week, since I still work in graphic arts, which steals a lot of time from my real passion, painting.
3. Of all the paintings you've done, which is your favourite? Why?
There are really two, "Colombia Siega" because I love the sensuality of the woman and the setting, the atmosphere I gave it, and the other is called "Los Hijos de la Violencia", an artwork with a very strong message, it has a lot of feeling and it reflects what many of my Colombian brothers and sisters have had to live through because of this senseless war.
4. If you could be reincarnated as a master of art, who would you have liked to be?
Why just one? I'd love to be reincarnated as several, it would be a blissful madness, being Dalí, Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Sorolla and Munch all at the same time, in a fusion of colour and form.
5. What is or are your sources of inspiration?
There are many, life, my land Colombia, women with their natural beauty, the human being, that's why my painting is figurative.
6. Of all the art movements, which one has the most influence on your work?
The Renaissance, Fantastic Art, Neorealism.
7. What does art mean to you? What role does it play in your life?
Because art is a means of expression, it lets you bring out the best in yourself and put it across with no disguises or pretensions, and on the other hand, every time you're creating a new artwork you get closer to God.
Discover José Gabriel's work here
Comments (0)
Log in to leave your comment. Log in