A Creative Interview With Artist Jose H. Alvarenga
"Some people initially believe the objects in my paintings are real. To me, this is a compliment as I create a lot of trompe l'oeil paintings meant to fool the eye."
Artist Jose H. Alvarenga creates still-life paintings in a classical realist style with a gentle nod to surrealism. His works are visual puns presented in amusing compositions. He has been painting for over two decades and began drawing at the age of seven. Jose has refined his skills by taking workshops and continues to improve by reading books related to drawing and painting. His extensive imagination comes to life in a small studio space in his Los Angeles apartment. When he is not painting, Jose enjoys listening to his favorite music, playing pop and classical melodies on the keyboard, and reading art books.
In this interview, Jose talks about his process, inspirations, and favorite places to look at art.
What’s your home life like?
I try to live a quiet and comfortable life. I exercise, watch TV, browse social media, read, listen to music, play the keyboard, draw, and paint.
What are your goals as an artist?
I would like to become a versatile draftsman and painter. To be good in all subjects of realism, like still life, landscape, animal, portrait, and figure painting. To learn more about subjects that will make me a better painter, such as anatomy, composition, perspective, color theories, and painting techniques.
What are you most proud of—whether in art or another part of your life?
I´m very proud of my growth as an artist, professionally, technically, and creatively. To be able to see that my work has been collected and appreciated throughout the years is what I´m most proud and grateful for.
Do you have any studio rituals that help you get into a creative flow?
My studio is a small room. I get inspired by thinking of new ideas to paint, drawing, and admiring other artists' works.
How do you structure your day?
I'm very informal in the way I structure my day. I try to draw before painting, sometimes as practice or as preparation for other paintings. I'm mostly interested in line drawing as I like to jump fast from one drawing challenge to the next. I paint mostly late in the afternoon and early in the evening.
Where do you find inspiration for your art?
I'm always thinking ahead of what I'm going to paint. I collect vintage or common objects that inspire me to tell a story. Some ideas come easily, while others require some time to develop. I´m always on the lookout for new and unique themes to paint.
Tell us about your evolution as an artist.
I started to draw at the age of 7. One of my first inspirations was the Phantom and other comic book heroes like Spider-Man, Daredevil, Fantastic 4, etc. As a teenager, I shifted my interest to drawing portraits, figure drawings, heavy metal rock album covers, and movie illustrations. At 21 years old, I took my first oil painting lessons in 1996, and ever since then, I have fallen in love with the medium. In 2006, I started pursuing a career as an artist and discovered an interest in highly detailed still life and trompe l´oeil painting. From time to time, I have taken workshops and classes virtually or in person with some of the best contemporary realist painters to help me further develop my knowledge and skills.
I consider myself a classical realist painter and try to work from life as much as possible. I use photographs as references from time to time, but most of my works are done from life. I have developed a unique style that combines humor, symbolism, and nostalgia. I collect many cool objects to be used as props for my paintings. I want to be able to entertain, fool, and make the audience smile. As of lately, I have also gotten interested in miniature paintings and would love to continue learning and challenging myself in this new genre or style of painting.
How do you decide when an artwork is finished?
An artwork is finished when the values look right, when I have a strong drawing foundation, and all the details look right.
What is the most interesting observation someone has made about your work?
Some people initially believe the objects in my paintings are real. To me, this is a compliment as I create a lot of trompe l'oeil paintings meant to fool the eye.
Is there an artwork from another artist that has had a significant impact on you
I myself am an art lover, and it would be very hard to choose an artwork that has had a significant impact on me. I can think of seeing Rembrandt's An Old Man in Military Costume at the Getty Museum for the first time, and it continues to move me each time I see it. Also, William Bouguereau and William Harnett!
What’s your favorite museum?
My favorite museums are those where I can go and admire the works of my favorite painters from the 16th to the 19th century. So far, I have had the pleasure of visiting the Getty, LACMA, the Norton Simon Museum, the Hammer Museum, and Forest Lawn in Los Angeles, as well as the Haggin Museum in Stockton, the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Chile. I would love to visit The Met, Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the National Museum of Art in Washington, DC, The Hague, the Rijksmuseum, and other great museums one day.
Is there anything else you’d like to share to help viewers better understand your work?
My works are based on realism and classical realism. They're based on symbology and elevating common objects to the extraordinary.
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