Some dream of being an artist, others make their dreams a reality. They break barriers, challenge the norms and show the world their talents. Our artist in conversation today is Javier Ruiz Lopez, a very talented artist from Spain who gave life to his dreams and reached the highest levels. We are very excited to bring this interview to you!

How long have you been painting?

I was always interested in painting and art, and have been painting since I was 18 years old. I became a professional artist when I was 21 years of age. I first drew in pencil, then watercolor and later on in acrylic and oil paints. My father was good at drawing, I believe I was influenced to an extent by him, but he gave up on this path as he thought I was not enough to make a living and raise a family. I am glad I chose to follow my dreams and talents.

Who are your greatest influences?

It might be valid if I said none. When I was very young I was attracted by the imagination of Salvador Dali, but above all, I admired his ability to earn money. Later on I followed the works of Lucien Freud, Armando Morales, Alfonso Albacete and others.

Did you have a formal education on art and painting or are you self-taught?

I think an autodidact does not exist. I learnt to draw by watching my father do it. I read the book by Max Doerner called "Painting materials and their use in art" which helped me as well.

Do you have a particular style? How did you become so passionate about this particular style?

My style is a combination of realism and impressionism. Maturing in this style is something that is achieved with practice similar to everything in life. I also think that on the other hand, a good painting will tell you about the artist's way of seeing life?

What are your other passions other than art? How have these passions contributed for you to become the artist you are today?

I love music and poetry. Especially the work of Bob Dylan and the sharpness of Frank Zappa. These hobbies have helped me to enter a world of imagination. I also enjoy the outskirts of the cities, places where people generally neglect. I am drawn to paint those forgotten spaces?

Could you walk us through your process? Percentage wise, how much time do you spend preparing for the painting and how much time on the actual painting itself? Is preparation an important part of your process?

At the beginning of the workday, I need the studio tidy and clean as if the battle of the previous day no longer existed. Organization and order are very important for me. This is a job, like all the artistic or creative roles in general, that normally you need other people to be able to focus solely on what you are going to create. A good example could an operating room and a surgeon. The surgeon does not take care of certain things, but he has to have them ready.

For the preparation of the boards, the fabrics, canvases, I have a person whom I live with to help me. It is very important to realize that for artists, the time they spend staring at the ceiling is productive, strange as it may seem, it is similar to preparing for birth.

I paint from imagination and the I spend on the painting depends as I work on several at the same time. I don't look very far for inspiration. I look within.

Are you engaged in new artistic adventures? How is artistic exploration important to you as an artist and to your process? How do you then decide what to incorporate into your style and what to leave as pure fun?

Yes, I hope to make sculpture, model clay, and hopefully write about my experiences of 40 years in the profession. Music is also another subject I wish to pursue; I think I know enough of theory, but I need a lot of practice. Painting is always an adventure; you start with an idea and end up with a result that is always somewhat surprising. I would not want to isolate the subject of experimentation from creation itself.

Was there a particular moment where you could tell that your skills had just crossed over in to being an exceptionally good painter instead of a pretty good painter? What did you do to make that leap?

The time the Ynguanzo Gallery in Madrid- New York exhibited my work, I knew I had become an exceptional painter. They carried names such as Le Corbusier, Dali, Lindchestein and Rosentiel. To be amongst them was an honor.

How do you push yourself? Do you set goals for yourself? And if so, what are those goals?

I work on building my career, I make sure my works are up to standard that they are bought by museums, and important institutions. I always strive to do a solid job in content and presentation. I believe as long you are honest and have good work to present you can reach any heights.

Do you think setting goals is important for an artist in his/her artistic journey? If so why?

This is a difficult question to answer. For me, there is much more beauty in the journey itself than reaching the final goal. I will not say more for now.

How is your experience working with Aartzy? Do you think it is a useful platform for artists?

Aartzy is a very consolidated platform in Canada and I have had a very good relationship working with their team.

Now you can view the entire Javier's amazing collection from https://www.aartzy.com/artist/javier-ruiz-lopez

Manesha Pieris (2022)