Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos Martinez.
Carlos, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Art has always been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember, however, it wasn’t something I had wanted to take too seriously. I began with little doodles here and there. Copying cartoons and drawing from memory. Filling the sides of notes with made-up faces and things that I saw around me. It was around my teens when I started to really enjoy the troubles of capturing reality. I was drawn to creating realistic renditions individuals that I knew, as well as people that I admired. I never thought of it as something I could make a career out of. It was more a personal adventure of what I could accomplish and how close to reality I could make my drawings. A moment in my soon to be art career was when I took notice of traditional, contemporary artists on Instagram, who were making a living out of selling their paintings. That was the first indication in pursuing art, realizing that there were many opportunities. I thought to myself, “if there were artists that could make it today, so can I.” Reaching the success of modern masters such as Sean Cheetham, Eloy Morales, or Kevin Llewellyn is no easy feat. I knew that if I was going to succeed, I had to learn the most that I could, which lead to my academic painting career at SCAD in Atlanta. Living in a city rich with culture and an artistic pursuit was an inspiration, as I worked on developing my own identity as a painter. I was trained in a classical manner, studying drawing fundamentals of old masters. I was then forced to grow out of my comfort zone of strict rules in drawing and learned to use what I was taught to paint freely, allowing myself to explore the paintings that I’ve created. After graduating and having sold my works in a few exhibitions, the excitement of art making has never left me. I continue to create a voice with my paintings, creating narratives and telling stories with art. I also learned to be a more versatile artist, finding myself creating the character and environmental concept art.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The hardest part of it all was probably having the courage to pursue something that may or may not work out. Thankfully, with the support of family and loved ones, I was able to confidently go after a career that I was passionate about and loved doing.
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I specialize in contemporary realism. I’m most proud of the direction of realism I’m taking with my paintings. I don’t necessarily want the finished piece to come out picture perfect, however, I want it to come close enough to have this sense of life within it. What sets me apart from others in Atlanta specifically is that level of realism. Most art in Atlanta is very abstract and conceptual.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Personally, I define success as the result of hard work, learning from failure, and resilience. I make sure that I improve every day, being able to see stylistic and technical improvements in my work.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 678-457-2815
- Email: cgzmarti@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/_picarlos
- Other: https://cmarti.artstation.com/
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