Artist Statement:

Born in 1973 in Costa Rica, I am an American artist drawing inspiration from my diverse cultural background and personal experiences to craft vibrant and captivating works of art. Raised in the arid landscapes of the Atacama desert in Chile, my artistic journey has been shaped by the beauty and contrasts of these environments. I pursued my Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) at the University of Hartford, refining my technical skills and cultivating a profound appreciation for the power of visual storytelling.

My artistic style finds its definition in my latest collection, which focuses on wildlife set against a backdrop of gold and silver leaf. Through this collection, I explore the intricate relationship between nature and the ethereal, seamlessly merging the beauty of the natural world with the elegance and symbolism of precious metals. The incorporation of gold and silver leaf not only introduces a touch of opulence but also serves as a metaphor for the preciousness and fragility inherent in the natural world.

In another collection, I delve into the vibrant street scenes of Saint Augustine. Drawing inspiration from the city’s rich history and architecture, my aim is to capture the unique atmosphere and timeless charm of the nation’s oldest streets. Through intricate details and a meticulous interplay of light and shadow, I strive to evoke a sense of nostalgia and a profound connection to the past.

Currently residing in Central Florida, I find myself surrounded by a different kind of natural beauty and cultural tapestry. The dynamic landscape, diverse wildlife, and vibrant communities of this region continually influence and enrich my artistic work. Through my art, I seek to celebrate the intricate interplay between nature, culture, and human experiences, inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and discover their own connections within the pieces.

Ultimately, my goal as an artist is to create visually striking and emotionally resonant works that transcend boundaries and speak to the universal human experience. By capturing the essence of places, creatures, and moments, I aspire to invite viewers into a world of wonder, curiosity, and contemplation. My art is a reflection of my journey and a testament to the power of creativity to bridge gaps, inspire dialogue, and ignite imagination.

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https://shoutoutcolorado.com/meet-paulo-jimenez-artist/

Dec. 01, 2020

We had the good fortune of connecting with Paulo Jimenez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Paulo, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?

From an early age I’ve always been interested in the way I can communicate in a universal language. Images can transform people’s views and also reflect the artist’s unconscious, that can reveal many things that are necessary for growth.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

My paintings are reflections of conversations I have with nature and the outer world. Things that come from dreams, reveries, contemplations of my past, etc. Lately I’ve been combining pigments with marble plaster creating these surfaces that feel like sculpted paint. Objects that connect with cave paintings or Egyptians hieroglyphs. I started my journey doing commercial art, art commissions and worked on video production for a period of time. My artistic career has been a process of discovery full of unknowns and gambles much like an entrepreneur starting a new business endeavor. C.G. Jung said once that “No matter how isolated you are and how lonely you feel, if you do your work truly and conscientiously, unknown friends will come and seek you.” I am a believer that life develops in this fashion. Paintings are a window to the trascendental, it connects us with our unconscious mind and reveal what we cannot see with our own eyes. They are glass vessels that contain our psyche and allow us to observe it from the outside like an alchemical experiment. I’ll go as far as to say that an artistic expression is the necessary path to understand our psychic phenomena.

 Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

I would like to dedicate it to my family. I couldn’t do what I do without their support.

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Sun & Surf Magazine interview 2016

An Artist’s Journey…

by Jillian Anderson

I caught up with local artist Paulo Jimenez at Ocean Art Gallery this month to find out  “What’s Art Got To Do With It!”?  

JL: Everyone here today is really enjoying your array of paintings displayed so beautifully at Ocean Art Gallery. Is this your home away from home?

PJ: We moved to this part of the State in 2012 and I consider it my home.

JL: Can you discuss your early background as an artist? did you study art formally at an early age? 

PJ: I was born in Costa Rica and at an early age my family and I moved to Antofagasta, a city right between the Atacama Desert and the Pacific Ocean. I can recall a particular moment when I was in third or fourth grade being in awe watching one of my friends be able to draw battles and soldiers with such an ease. I was so inspired and from that day on never stopped. In retrospect, I was probably also motivated because we only had a Black/White TV as home entertainment.

JL: Could you talk a little bit about your influences? 

PJ: I read all kinds of comic books as a kid. Later in life I discovered the Old Masters. I didn’t know who Michelangelo was until my late teens. I decided then that I wanted to paint like them which came hand in hand with a lesson in humility. Much later in life I graduated with a BFA from the University of Hartford and I met those Old Masters in person, through my professors.

JL: Can you describe the time when you first realized that creating was something you absolutely had to do? 

PJ: The first time I went up a scaffold and painted my first mural. The realization of being able to create something bigger than myself was eye opening for me.

JL: As far as subject matter, what has influenced you to paint the subjects that you paint? 

PJ: I truly admire environmental artists. I love Andy Goldsworthy’s work and I wish I could be as embedded in my work as he is in his. I am also influenced by Morandi’s austerity and Vermeer’s luminescence. I could mention so many more.

JL: What inspires you, what really makes you tick? What are your reasons for your answer? 

PJ: It varies from time to time, however, there is a constant in my artwork and that is the raw natural world. As I work in a new series of landscapes, I see the landscape always overpowering the human presence. My still life’s are also constantly in photosynthesis… (Laughs)

JL: What do you look for in a good painting? 

PJ: A soul. Nothing factory made, I want to connect with another human being. Sincerity is also an important condition.

JL: What’s your favorite thing you’ve ever created?

PJ: It is always the painting that I’m working on now. Sorry for the cliché but it is true in my case.

JL: What are you trying to communicate with your art? 

PJ: Just like Van Gogh, I want to give the stars at night, a bountiful bouquet of flowers, bring the outside world into a room and illuminate it. The wind, the sun, the smell of the ocean. Go back to some kind of origin. Cave paintings accomplished this so brilliantly.

JL: Tell us more about your current direction as an artist. 

PJ: Right now I am working on a series of paintings that I called “Fisherman Tales”. I embellish my landscapes, add new things, create stories and exaggerate what’s beautiful and wonderful. I am also working on a commissioned mural at a residence in New Smyrna Beach, a commissioned portrait and the art classes at the Gallery which are always so much fun.

JL: What is the best piece of advice you have been given? 

PJ: Everything is in the mind.

JL: If you could call yourself twenty years ago and had 30 seconds, what would you say? 

PJ: Risk more.

paulo@artdetails.com
305.322.8107

https://www.facebook.com/paulojimenezfineart/

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