In taking art as a form of expression is seeing beyond what is depicted. One could not understand at first glance, but only when the connection starts to unravel between the two, the subject and the artist.
Solace created the connection between art and Antonio Pelayo. He was born in Glendale, California, in 1973 and was raised in the Mexican countryside. He went through culture shock when he moved from an American suburb to a Mexican countryside at the age of nine. He had difficulty learning Spanish; thus, he had been teased and ostracized by kids for his language barrier. In the village church, he found a pencil in the pew and discovered solace while sketching the artwork covering the walls. He found solace in the form of art and mentored himself in Mexican art through Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Orozco.
As his family moved back to Glendale, Antonio did not feel home again. He knew that only through art that he can find solace. As he puts it, for the artist, solitude is the only true home. He explored American art through Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo, H.R. Giger. His exposure and orientation, both in Mexican and American art, influenced him into becoming the American artist he is today.
He joined Disney Studio’s Illustrious Ink and Paint Department and learned the traditional celluloid animation techniques. As art has given him solace, Disney Studio provided his home as an artist. It was the start of his career when he envisioned his art to be exhibited and created a powerful impact on its audience. Since 2006, Antonio has been participating in solo and group exhibitions. Although he tried landscapes, fantasy scenes, only portraits fascinated him. Thus, creating his niche on hyperrealistic portraits.
Antonio explains that intimacy and vulnerability between the subject and artist are his inspiration in creating hyperrealistic portraits. As contemporary art revolves around the practices of digital art, he is upholding the basic and traditional techniques of drawing with the use of pencil, ink, and paint. Precision is the key to achieve that intimacy and vulnerability in every masterpiece.
Antonio is the only artist who creates and values art through pencil hyperrealism, hand-inked, and hand-painted animation. Influenced by his exposure to both Mexican and American art, he believes that art is true in its form when created and brought to life with the use of the hands.
He is the modern art in the world of contemporary art. As he continues to question the ideologies of home, identity, and trust, Antonio will create portraits that reflect everyday life and instill a connection to the audience. He is an inspiration to artists who find solace in traditional drawing but are not keen on transitioning towards digital art. He will continue to revolutionize and be the living proof that art is not always surreal but explores the intimacy of life.
Check out Antonio Pelayo’s exceptional work on his official website.
