Artospective: Figurative Paintings by Omalix from America.

Hasta la Raíz - Oil on linen

An Interview with Omalix.

Who are you and where are you from?

My name is Omalix, and I'm a figurative painter born in Valencia, Venezuela and based in Orlando, Florida. I graduated from the University of Central Florida where I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Painting.

How did you get into this?

I was originally pursuing architecture, and even though that is an artistic discipline I deeply admire and respect to this day; I decided to depart from it. I knew at that point that I still wanted to follow a creative career and started studying graphic design. In one of the beginning classes, I had to copy a master. Having never actually painted before, I took the challenge and painted my humble version of Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring.” After seeing the end result, my professor suggested I should pursuit a painter’s path instead, and that is how it all started.

What is your driving force?

Human connection. It is the desire to express myself [my thoughts, feelings and emotions] in a way that somehow others can relate, be moved by, and feel connected to.

What kind of work do you do and why?

My body of work is figurative, and very narrative in its essence. It is a reflection of my personal experiences and my deepest emotions. I use my paintings as a vehicle to explore these emotions and express all the things I want to say when words do not suffice. My paintings are often filled with symbolism, a touch of mystery and a feeling of nostalgia.

It is a meticulously slow process. I spend weeks, and sometimes months in front of the easel turning simple brushstrokes into a finished painting, and even though the end result reveals my love for realism, I always strive to leave traces that show the presence and sensibility of the human hand.