dA love for everyone! #61

                                    

Tell us what defines you as a person.

A very positive guy! I always look to the bright side of things. Life is like a school where I face every single experience as a valuable opportunity to grow up.

How did you find out about deviantART and why did you join the community?

Three years ago I was involved in a car accident and I broke my neck. I had a Spinal Cord injury and then I became a quadriplegic person. I lost my fingers' movements but I still could move my arms and forearms. That moment I realized I had to make a big change in my life. So I closed my dental office (yes, I'm a dentist) and decided to quit dentistry. As an art lover, I started to look more often for art tutorials and techniques in the web. I wanted to find something to inspire me. One day I found deviantART and I thought to myself: "God, I have to find a way to paint back again"! All that artistic stuff pushed me up to build a pencil/brush holder device that I adapted to my hand. It worked out and since then I couldn't stop painting anymore. I can state deviantART has an important role in my rehabilitation process.

When and how did you discover your passion for art?

Art has been in my life since childhood. I still remember my former classmates saying "wow" to my drawings. I used to spend hours doing sketches during geography and history classes... When I'm with a sheet of paper and a pencil I never get tired. This is real passion.
I didn't become a professional artist but I always had art as a hobby. Even in dental practice I took advantage of my artistic ability (sculpting, matching colors and shades).


What inspires you the most and when do you think your creativity is at its maximum?

Inspiration comes from different sources, but photography (landscapes, portraits, still life) tends to make me have lots of insights. I see a photo and ideas just come out of the blue. Then I put all these ideas in sketches. In my case, the sketching process opens the "little box of creativity" that I have in my mind. A good example of this can be seen in two contests that I won: Couch Potato (7 deadly sins contest) and The Old House on The Hill (Hoodoo Halloween Contest).

What do you think you'd be doing if you hadn't chosen this path?

Well, I play Wheelchair Rugby for one year and it's an amazing paralimpic sport. I think I would focus on that.

What do you think it's your most meaningful deviation and what makes it special? Does it have a story behind it?

The deviation Dancer was the first one I painted after the accident. It's a very detailed watercolor artwork of a Flamenco dancer. That time I wasn't sure if I would have a fine and precise brush stroke as I had before the accident. The result talks for itself and that was a decisive step to go ahead.


Do you have any insecurities regarding your art?

I'm very demanding and I don't feel 100% confortable with my style of painting. I think I'm still in a learning process and there's a lot to improve. I want my artworks to be creative and with a nice atmosphere. I'm constantly working on this.

Did art ever helped you to deal with your life problems?

Yes. Art can guide us to develop virtues such as dedication, discipline, knowlegde and patience. Today I face my life's problems with a more flexible mind because art turned me into a person who has different point of views.

What is the one thing you always wanted to do but never got a chance to?

Graffity Art. I always get fascinated with those huge spray painted walls! The colors, the styling letters... so cool!!


A few words for our fellow artists?

Follow your heart and don't give up your dreams. I can't move my hands anymore, but I proved to myself that today I paint even better than yesterday. Your brain and your emotions are the real painters. Don't expect to become an artist in a couple of months. Fine art demands time, confidence, dedication, study and patience. Trust yourself but don't be too proud. Accept that everyday there's a lesson to learn.