Today we’d like to introduce you to Antonio Gonzalez-Garcia.
Hi Antonio, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My artist’s journey started on, “a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen”… I’m joking – this is a quote from the book 1984 by George Orwell. I started drawing when I was a kid, but stopped many times. I did not have discipline, nor did my family enforce any (they didn’t pay much attention to what I was doing). When I was eight, we moved out of downtown into a suburb of Jerez de la Frontera. This event changed me, and I became shy and reserved. I spent more time drawing, reading books and comics, and watching European, U.S., and Japanese animated films. During the same period, I took afternoon art classes, and my interest in art became something more serious. I started reading about and creating renderings of human and horse anatomy. I am forever indebted to my teacher, Jesus Rosa Martinez, for introducing me to visual art.
How did I get where I am today? There are many answers – I am here in the U.S. because my wife Rachel, whom I met in France, moved back shortly after we began our relationship. I am here artistically because I keep pushing myself. I am here because many people, including those reading this interview now, have supported me and my work.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think my strong personality was forged thanks to all the events that happened through my young life. I was born into a blue-collar family. My father, the breadwinner, was a mason who struggled with a lifelong drug addiction. My mom was a cleaning lady and the primary caregiver with her own codependent issues. Thus, I was largely taking care of myself. Now that they’ve both passed away and I’ve been able to have some distance from the experience, I can appreciate the virtues my parents were able to teach me and leave behind the more toxic elements of our relationship. Obviously, a child raised inside of a family with an absent father and a non-affective mother will not go far in life by himself. This is where the act of creating art served as a tool for my resilience – every time I was struggling and needed time for myself, I would draw.
As an adolescent, I had a notebook and a pencil with me all the time, and would draw constantly. My friends nicknamed me “Antonio el dibujito” (Antonio the doodle). I recall being so motivated when I met another friend that also liked to draw, they became simultaneously a friend and a competitor.
I was 23 years old when I moved to Avignon, France, where initially I felt a lot of shame because of my inability to communicate in French. This feeling drove me to learn to speak in proper French. I had planned to spend one year learning the language, and then continue with my studies, but circumstances drove me to take the entry exam for Master’s studies at the Ecole Superieure d’Art d’Avignon. There were many candidates who also applied, but only two slots available. In my mind, I thought, “I will never be selected, but let’s give it a shot.” It was a magic moment when I received the email stating that I had been accepted. While this was a great opportunity, I was stretched to my limit. I was studying morning to night, working part-time to clean houses, learning a new language, dealing with a problematic ex-partner, and dealing with the typical challenges of my family back in Spain. While this emotional turmoil eventually caused me to give up on my formal studies, I continued to paint every opportunity I could.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a visual artist who primarily uses watercolor. Historically, watercolor was viewed as a lesser medium, relative to oil painting.
However, today’s watercolors pigments are vibrant and widely embraced. I specialize in landscapes and seascapes that are primarily purchased for home decor, as well as more figurative style paintings that depict philosophical and social problems that I spend much time reading and considering. I currently have three projects underway (for which I’m looking for continued support). The first one is about manual laborers and sustainability, the second is about the scientific study of consciousness, and the third is a contemporary approach to the Christian Passion of the Christ. My vision through these works is to link paintings with other arts, science, and technology.
I think what makes me different from others is the fact that when I paint, I am not only looking for aesthetics, but also communicating intellectual and humanistic limitations and ideals. I also do not take opportunities for granted, probably because of the many challenges I have faced, including the recent loss of my parents.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I see people are commissioning me more personalized paintings, and not only fancy art. So I will be working through commissions and personal projects.
Contact Info:
- Email: antonio.gzlz.grc@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antonio__xerez/
- Other: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antoniogonzalez
Image Credits
Antonio Gonzalez-Garcia
