Today we’d like to introduce you to Juan Enrique Velázquez.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was born in Monterrey Mexico. My family moved to Texas when I was in 2nd grade. I attended Watauga middle school and Haltom High School. During my senior year of high school, my art teacher Michael Daniel helped me learn the basics of oil painting. I am currently enrolled at Tarrant County College, and my major is in Art. My earliest memory is drawing in the sand with my finger. It’s hard for me to answer when I started drawing because I don’t remember a time when I didn’t. My professional art career started in January 2018 when I decided to pursue my dream of becoming a full-time Artist. At the moment I still maintain a day position as a Full Time Quality Supervisor at an Engineering and Manufacturing company.
Please tell us about your art.
I use oil painting to express modern realism, primarily through the use of monochromatic subjects, color, and blurred backgrounds. There’s a certain elegance and beauty to simplicity; I believe that artistic work can be more easily appreciated when the focus is narrowed, and the subject is clear. My technique is to soften the edges to create a blurry effect, use sharp lines to direct the viewer’s eyes to the focus point of the painting and occasionally add color to the subject in focus. What I see in my paintings is traditional fundamental oil techniques but also modern photography influence. I hope people find a moment of happiness when they view my paintings and experience the same appreciation for the subject as I did.
Do you have any advice for other artists? Any lessons you wished you learned earlier?
I advise artists to help other artist, just remember that we all started from the beginning and you got to the place that you’re in because others helped you. Help when you can, teach when you can and give words of encouragement to other artists. During hard times, kind words from other artist or friends helped me keep going and encouraged me to not give up. Art is love and artist are stronger when we work together.
The one thing I wish I would’ve learned earlier is to not be afraid of failing. I wasted so much time not working on becoming an Artist because I was afraid to fail or to be rejected. That’s going to happen, not everyone is going to like your art but be strong, don’t give up and believe in yourself.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Some of my work is on display at the Studio Gallery BeArtSee located at 2831 W 7th St, Fort Worth, TX 76107.
All of my finished paintings can be seen on my website www.velazquezart.com. For current paintings that I am working on, I recommend viewing my Instagram @velazquezfortworthart. People can help support me by coming to any of my future art shows or by subscribing to any of my sites.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3204 Kinston cv Fort Worth Texas 76179
- Website: www.velazquezart.com
- Phone: 8178636515
- Email: juanenriquevelazquezart@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/velazquezfortworthart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortworthart
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/VelazquezDFWArt
Image Credit:
I took all of these photos with my iPhone.
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