Arturo Samaniego
Naples, FL
Arturo Samaniego took a 15-year detour on his way to opening Samaniego Art in North Naples. Today, he wonders why it took him so long to decide to follow his heart and embrace the life of a fine artist.
How and when did you start creating art?
My father was a powerful influence getting me started in Art. He was a gifted artist himself, but most of all a person of deep sensitivity to many artistic expressions. He taught me how to look at Art and how to perceive strengths and weaknesses as well as the individual voice of an artist.
What media and genres do you work in?
My work is mostly contemporary figurative in Oils. However there’s also a growing side to my production which includes abstracted imagery in Mixed Media pieces.
Who or what are your influences?
There’s a great movement of New figurative work in recent history, which I consider as important as the more prominent movements that broke away from representation. From Andrew Wyeth to Odd Nerdrum, along with so many excellent figurative artists working today, I draw from many influences and learn from all, but alway keeping a personal style.
What was your inspiration for
Expectant
?My fascination with Andrew Wyeth’s “Christina’s World” goes back many years. It has always fascinated me because of the expressiveness of the body pose, as well as the all around mysterious environment.
I wanted to bring those elements into my own pictorial world, which always includes the Sea as a metaphor for life. The result was “Expectant”, and a translocation of the same Surreal feeling into my own artistic language.
Describe your creative process?
Images come to me pretty complete. They just pop in my mind after I’ve been thinking about a new piece. Once I have that general idea, I reverse-create the pice by photographing a model in the desired environment, and then start composing the painting from that series of photos.
What are you working on currently?
I recently decided to put a spin to my series “Emergence” by switching to a birds eye view of the scenes. “Sea of Jade” is the first piece with this new vantage point from above. I intend to develop this new twist in upcoming pieces.
What are your near/long term goals as an artist?
I’ve been working on achieving a National presence, through publications and expanded representation across the country.
Where can people view/purchase your work (gallery, website, etc)?
I’m currently represented by Mary Martin Gallery both in Naples, Fl and in Charleston, SC.
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