Today we’d like to introduce you to Juan Carlos Villegas.
Juan Carlos, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I was born in the city of Cali, Colombia on May 25th, 1987 into a family of entrepreneurs, artists, and musicians. With such a rich family environment, I quickly started developing an interest in the arts. My dad started calling me “el lapiz magico” (the magic pencil) not long after I started taking up drawing, my family felt that even at a young age I was very good and encouraged me to keep at it.
After graduating high school in 2005, I moved to Texas to continue my journey in art and graduated from Sam Houston State University with a bachelor of Fine Arts in 2010, focusing on drawing and painting. I have been making art and showcasing and selling my work ever since.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I work primarily with 2D media, mainly drawing and painting. I work with oils, acrylics, watercolors, graphite, and charcoal. Psychology and politics play a big role in my work, as I like to explore human consciousness and bring awareness of the environmental and social issues we face in the 21st century. Our connection to nature and the universal energies around us are more important than this oppressive artificial system we are so desperately trying to sustain.
With my work, I want to invite the viewer to step into a realm of higher consciousness where reality and fantasy meet, and time and memory shift. By applying a poetic and often metaphorical language, I want to seduce viewers into a world of ongoing equilibrium where intervals of allegories articulate the streams of our human condition. All this in hopes of bringing healing to mind and soul, and to inspire awakening from within.
Artists rarely, if ever pursue art for the money. Nonetheless, we all have bills and responsibilities, and many aspiring artists are discouraged from pursuing art due to financial reasons. Any advice or thoughts you’d like to share with prospective artists?
Nowadays, it is difficult for everyone to make a comfortable living. Offering options helps when your originals are not moving; have merch available, offer commissions at different price points. Sometimes, it all comes down to the hustle, shift your creativity to work in your favor.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I currently have work with Gallery Lucid, Cherry Cola Dog, and Art For The People gallery, great spaces for you to check out! Also, following me on social media, I’m always posting new work, works in progress, and upcoming shows and exhibitions!
People can support my work by sharing it online with others and purchasing it! Besides my originals, I have prints and apparel for sale. I’m also available for live painting events, private lessons, and commissions.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.juanvillegasart.
com - Email: villegasartist@gmail.
com - Instagram: www.instagram.com/
villegasartist - Facebook: www.facebook.com/
villegasartist
Image Credit:
Juan Villegas
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