How old were you when you realised you wanted to be an artist?

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Actually, I can say that I was born an artist as I started oil painting at the age of five, it was something that came to me in a natural way. I was passionate about it, to the point of getting up early to be able to paint before going to school. For me it was a pleasure to paint, it seemed magical. My mother, seeing that I had a natural talent, soon enrolled me in several painting contests, which I appreciate since it helped me to acquire security, ease and courage.

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Starting at such young age how was your evolution as an artist?

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I remember as a child feeling as if I did not belong to that era, as if I had a parallel world that was much more modern and open-minded. My father brought me magazines LIFE, PARIS MATCH, JOURS DE FRANCE and I thoroughly enjoyed watching those photos and lifestyles so much. I think this was one of the greatest inspirations of my artistic career and gave me the drive to devote myself to various areas of art. Before getting into the world of airbrushing, I began to work doing shop windows, set designs and as a photographer of models and famous personalities. I have applied art in everything I have done in my life, I do not conceive it in any other way and this has made me learn a great deal… In fact, I’m still learning.

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You are a versatile artist. What should we associate ABOLI with, the airbrush illustrations or the oil paintings?

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It is not that I consider myself versatile, I am simply an artist, for me this means being free and with no limits. Airbrush marked a before and after in my career. My goal with the airbrush was from the beginning to give life, warmth and exquisiteness to my illustrations. It is a technique that requires a lot of courage and mastery since it does not admit corrections, but result is magical.

I wanted to finish my trajectory as an airbrush illustrator in the way that satisfied me the most, that’s when I created a collection of portraits which I named `Renaissance’.

Answering the question; I think that having dedicated so many years working in advertising and with most illustrations and campaigns signed by me, I would say that Aboli is mostly associated with airbrush.

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Observing your oil paintings one can appreciate a lot of diversity, and in several lines, the influence of the airbrush...

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Yes, definitely. The infinite spaces, the blurred texture that subtly mixes colours when using airbrush is something I always wanted to achieve with oil. It was a challenge for me but I can now say that I have managed to imitate it with oil. In my creations I cannot conceive the fact of being limited, I strive to capture what I have in mind in every creation and that’s a challenge in itself. However, this is what I am passionate about in the world of art, that one does not stop learning.

It is true that I am a painter with many different lines, this is because I feel very free and I have always liked to investigate and challenge myself looking for different themes and techniques.

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What did you want to show with the painting collection on Las Meninas?

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My purpose has not been to show something in particular. It has been more of a personal delight. My great admiration for Velázquez and his pictorial technique, mixed with a sudden inspiration that came to me; which was seeing myself inside that room watching all the characters alive and moving naturally, was what made me dare to make this collection.

I must recognise that when I was immersed in the execution of this project, I felt that I had gotten involved in such a difficult adventure that I either took courage or it would not result as what I had in mind. It was as intense as it was exciting.

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How do you see the future of art?

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It is difficult to see the future, not only of art but of everything in general since we are living in a time great change. What I do know however is that art feeds our soul and therefore as the human beings that we are, it is a pure necessity, like breathing. Music, painting, scenic and cinematographic arts… All art forms are so magical and wonderful in our lives; they make us feel so many emotions. This certainly gives me peace of mind; knowing that although there is a tendency of dehumanising the world and our lives, turning us into half androids controlled at all times, our souls, which are fed by art, will never be dominated.

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