Interview with Traditional Artist Rubén Belloso Adorna

Today we have the pleasure of talking to an incredible traditional artist Rubén Belloso. Rubén was born in Seville in 1986. B.A. Hons in Fine Arts by the University of Seville. Awarded for the highest qualifications in his promotion: Seville’s Fine Arts Academy, 2010. University Award “Royal Cavalry of Seville”, corresponding to the year 2009 / 2010 he has participated in numerous group exhibitions, both nationally and internationally.  Solo Exhibitions in galleries throughout Spain,Portugal and Italy. Has received several awards among them the 2nd Prize Gruas Lozano in 2009 and the 1st Award Juan Robles Youth values Culture in 2010. His work has appeared in numerous media, including newspapers, radio and TV.

Marcin: Welcome Ruben. Can you start off by telling us a little about yourself.

Ruben: I am a normal 24 year old who is passionate about his work, I really don’t see it as a job and in every new project I always give my best. I feel lucky to be able to devote myself to painting.

Marcin: Why are you so good? Is it practice, natural skill or something else?

Ruben: I think the effort and practice is the most important, along with the desire to excel.

Marcin: As a child, did your friends and family encourage you to draw?

Ruben: Since childhood I was interested in drawing, but only saw it as a hobby.

Marcin: For someone so young, You have participated in many exhibitions and won awards. Which award makes you most proud so far

Ruben: I think I’m most proud of the award for the highest achievement in my class at Seville’s Fine Arts Academy of 2010. It’s a big recognition of the quality of my work during the 5 years I studied at the Academy of Fine Arts.

Marcin: Your work is purchased by many international clients, can you tell me how you promote yourself and your work in Spain and abroad? 

Ruben: I promote myself mostly through Internet and of course, through the exhibitions I do. Word of mouth and referrals also is big.

Marcin: Do you have any favorite pieces that you’ve completed?  

Ruben: Perhaps Studio Portugal 4 for being my first work in large format. 

Marcin: What in your opinion is the most vital element of of an image?  

Ruben: In the portraits that I do try to focus on the eyes, the look of the person.  I try capture a little of his personality, his psychology. 

Marcin: Are you influenced by any artists? Any artist you’d like to meet?  Ruben: Unconsciously, sure by many. Every time I visit an exhibition I look at the painters and wish I’ve known the great pastels painters of the history, like Degas. 

Marcin: Your art tends to be very large, have you always worked at this scale?  

Ruben: No. I started with portraits of human scale, but gradually I sought new challenges of increasing size.

Marcin: On average, how long does it take you to do a commissioned piece?  

Ruben: Depends mainly on the extent and difficulty of the composition. 

Marcin: Can you take me through your process and workflow as you work.  

Ruben:  First I try to make a precise drawing with a pencil, so i can later concentrate on the eyes of the model. I do not care if my work does not look like a photograph. I like to make the viewer appreciate the whole process of the artwork. There are areas In the drawing that I just sketch, whereas in other areas I try to get an almost photographic realistic look. 

Marcin: What tools to you use the most, do you paint as good as you draw? 

Ruben: First and foremost I use pastels, then I can apply them with a smudgier or an old rag ... to the fingertip. The pastel is a technique that i use between drawing and painting. I couldn't really tell you if I paint more than I draw or I draw more than I paint. 

Marcin: What would you say is the most challenging thing about being an artist?  

Ruben: Being different and original and having your own artistic personality. I try to achieve this by using my own technique with the pastels. It’s more common to see artists perform the types of works I create with techniques such as oil or acrylic. 

Marcin: What would you say is the best thing about being an artist? Ruben: Being able to convey your feelings through painting to the spectator and make the spectator feel as the feelings are their own. 

Marcin: How do you feel about the digital vs. traditional painting and drawing? Is Traditional medium slowly replaced by computers?  Ruben: I agree with all forms of understanding art. I think we can complement both digital and traditional. For example, I need to do high quality photos and print them to see small details clearly, and then I paint them into my artworks. 

Marcin: What are 5 words your friends would use to describe you?  

Ruben: In the words of my friends:  shy, steady, realistic, eager, able. 

Marcin:  Do you have time for any other interests or hobbies?  

Ruben: Not as much as I would like. In my spare time I like going to the cinema, walking with my girlfriend and listen music. In addition to follow the games of my team of Spanish football, Sevilla FC.

Marcin: What are the top 3 websites you visit? 

Ruben: FACEBOOK (ONLY FOR COMMERCIAL CONTACTS), my email account and Web pages about art.

Marcin: If someone asked “How do I become the next Ruben?” you would say... 

Ruben: Believe in yourself, hope, work hard and work more :)

Marcin: What would you like written in history books about the great Ruben? 

Ruben: That I helped to shape and added to the technique of pastel.

Marcin: And what is one piece of advice you can give to any struggling artists? 

Ruben: That you must constantly fight for what you believe in.

Marcin: Wise words, by a wise passionate man. That is all the questions for today and our interview. I’d like to thank you Rubén for taking the time to answer these, I understand you’re busy with your clients and exhibitions. If you have never picked up pastels, go out to your nearest art store and get some, find some tutorials on our Sketchoholic TV section and who knows your work may one day be hanging along with Ruben’s:)

To learn more about Rubén follow his blog at rubenbelloso.blogspot.com and say hello to him on www.Sketchoholic.com/Rubenbelloso.