Art Musings from inside the Bubble: Hilario Gutierrez

Shadow Canyon 54 x 72 Acrylic

On New Year’s Day 1994, Hilario Gutierrez faced the monolithic stone temples of Monument Valley, Arizona and recognized for the first time his true nature. He returned home two days later and began to paint. As an Arizona native with a rich ethnic heritage consisting of Aztec and German from his maternal side, and Yaqui Indian and Austrian from his paternal side, Hilario always identified with the spirit of the American Southwest. This unique identity became evident with his earlier paintings.

Hilario believes that as an artist, he must be free to explore all directions and materials to bring forth his creativity. He believes in order to successfully create a piece of art, he must seek out and interpret all the influences that pass through his conscious and subconscious self. These influences, what he calls the ethereal chaos of his spirit, allow him an endless flow of creativity and give his art authority and truthfulness.

Hilario was drawn to acrylics as his medium, which allowed him to experiment with color and form. He studied the work of master artists, in particular Gerhard Richter and Dan Namingha, to develop and perfect his technique.

"Jewel at my Feet" 60 x 48 Acrylic

Lize Brittin, assistant manager at SmithKlein Gallery, states the following:

One of the artists I am most drawn to is Hilario Gutierrez. One painting in particular, "Jewel at My Feet", captured my attention and keeps me intrigued. No matter how many times I look at the piece, I never grow tired of it. Whether I stand far away or step closer to the painting, I find myself getting lost in the colors and details. It's rare that abstract art grabs me so thoroughly. I can see the influence of the Arizona desert in Hilario's choice of colors, especially in this piece. The reds, oranges, browns and greens bring to mind landscapes of the Southwest.

I feel a connection to Hilario's work, because it evokes an emotion in me that I can't fully describe. There are no true patterns or intentional shapes in the abstract work, yet there is depth and dimension. It appears to have purpose, despite lacking any concrete realistic features. Hilario states that a piece must have meaning for the artist. It is this meaning to which the viewer connects, but his paintings allow this concept to be taken one step further in that the viewer is able to ascribe his or her own meaning to the work.

Through the chaos and randomness of the abstract piece, there is tranquility and peace. Hilario states, "We are continually bombarded with images, information and half-truths that produce a sensory overload. We begin to mistrust and show caution to what is around us. Think of the innocence of a child's drawing, how nothing guards you from wandering through it. That child's careless and unrefined attempt creates an innocent atmosphere that is universal to our humanity and well-being. Art, and in particular abstract art, can harbor the same safe journey that a child-like point of view does with an atmosphere that is open to connection and interaction."

The paints, brushes and tools of Hilario Guiterrez.

Hilario in his studio.

Hilario working on a painting.

Hilario applying the paint.

SMITHKLEIN GALLERY

Interview with Hilario Gutierrez

November, 2014

Q) Are there any subjects that inspire you more than others or are you open to painting anything?

A) Deserts are my main influence, the exposed topography and the dustiness of colors. I draw from the feelings and emotions I experience when I explore all the seasons of the desert and surrounding land.

Q) Do you work on location, look at a photograph or create what you imagine in your mind?

A) I don’t work on location but I do travel to all regions of the Arizona desert. Someday, I would like to travel to other deserts such as the Great Basin in Nevada or the Atacama Desert in Chile.

Q) Do you see any trends currently unfolding in your art - developing techniques, new styles, different subject matter, interesting colors, etc.?

A) I study the changes of other artists and I can be inspired by them but I stay within my origins of the desert and vary the composition of my art.

Q) Are you a full-time artist? What is your studio space like?

A) Yes I paint nearly every day and usually for 6-8 hours at a time. And, like most full time artists, my studio is not big enough even though it is nearly 700 square feet.

Q) Is there anything you would like to highlight about your work in general? Do you feel like you have a message that you are trying to convey through your art?

A) My talent is my own but it is for the beholder to enjoy. The message is whatever the beholder would like to take away from the atmosphere I create in my work.

Q) What inspired you to become an artist? How old were you when you started creating art?

A) I did a number of creative things in my life such as fine art photography and I was a Master hair colorist for more than 30 years. But it was when I was 44 years old that I had an epiphany during a visit to Monument Valley Arizona on New Year’s Day 2004. It was at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. I wasn’t artist but then, as the sun shifted over Thunderbird Mesa, in an instant I was an artist.

Q) How did you develop as an artist? Did you take classes or read about painting/sculpting to improve your technique over the years?

A) I am self-taught; I study and try different techniques that fit my style of painting.

Q) Where do you see your art going in the future? What about art in general?

A) That will be up to the historians.

Q) What advice would you give to anyone who is thinking about going into art?

A) Do it for yourself first, don’t be swayed by opinion and don’t be critical of other artists’ work. If you want to make a living by selling your art, in my opinion, it is 80% business and 20% about the art.

Q) What keeps you inspired as an artist?

A) Getting started on the next painting.