Diving Deep into Figurative Art with Francisco Rivas
Venezuelan artist Francisco Rivas paints with a bold soul. His works are evocative, nostalgic, and celebratory. Born and raised in Caracas, Francisco created his first oil painting in the atelier of Reynaldo Chaparro at the age of nine. Francisco earned his degree in graphic design but painting has remained close to his heart as a true form of his personal reflections and expression.
He’s a multidisciplined artist, working primarily with colored pencils and acrylics in his studio, while creating motion animation for Disney and National Geographic. He’s also an accomplished drummer who’s played throughout Latin America.
In his studio in Lisbon, bright paintings, sketches, and color palettes adorn the walls. Their colors shimmer against the florescent lights, creating a breathtaking kaleidoscope.
His studio seems to be a gateway for him to embrace his deeper self. The use of his three favorite color palettes – pinks, blues, and purples intermingle with themes of love, self-discovery, and as he expressed “the pleasure of memory.” Specifically, his use of a pool ladder, seen in and out of context in his paintings, invokes this idea of emerging and submerging memories.
He credits the figurative artist Jacobo Borges as a major influence in his evolution as a painter. He spent hours in the artist’s studio, watching, listening, taking in the “vibes” of the eclectic artistry. In Buenos Aires he worked with Eloisa Iturbe in motion design, who encouraged artistic freedom through design. He describes his current work as contemporary Caribbean Creole inspired by his childhood in the Coche, El Valle district of Caracas.
He believes in the transformative power of his paintings. His work illuminates what he calls his “shadow” image, the one who expresses the intimate without fears or filters.
The uniqueness of each painting underscores his versatility in composition and intensity.
Francisco’s work will be shown at the 1st Venezuela Art Fair June 24-26 2021. For more information visit their website.
To view Francisco’s current work, visit his Instagram Account.
