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Juan Lucero

What are your earliest memories of being artistic?  As a kid I remember I always like Crafts-Art at schools. When I arrived in the US 1970 I entered grammar school and I thrived in Geography and Art or Crafts classes. When the Moon Landing happen I illustrated from Images of the TV in color but I never thought about taking a photo of it and that was back before I came to the US.

When did art become a pursuit?  I think I was born liking Art in general but I it was in the fourth grade that I really wanted to do artwork.

Are you self-taught or formally educated in visual art?  Like I mentioned earlier I always liked Art but then I was sent here to study since my brother and sister where here already, I went through the school system in Watertown, MA. I graduated and took 2 years off and decided that I wanted to study Art so I applied to NESAD (New England School of Art & Design-part of Suffolk U. right now)I graduated in ’86 and got a job at a printing press in Ayer, MA.  and after that I applied at design agencies here in Boston.

In what other ways are you involved in the local art community?  Yes sort of. I sell my small paintings in Harvard Square when I have time to do it and it goes very well.
I have applied in a contest at CAA “2019 Emerging Artists” and that is when I entered with the  “Golden Ratio” painting but it was not chosen and also enter “Vacant Storefront Design Contest ” but it was not chosen.

What role do you think the artist plays in society?  I think being an Artist you play a great role expressing your views that a society is imposing their rules on a subject and since it’s you that is painting you can express the views or rules of the people let’s say anywhere in the State.

What medium do you currently work in and how did you choose this medium?  I stared using Oil base paints and takes way too long to dry & Oil-based paint usually feels smoother to the touch. I work with water based like Acrylics 90% of the time. Sometimes I use Watercolors, Gouache…but now mainly I design digital Art by that I mean Logos…etc.

What is your creative process? Where are you finding ideas for your art these days?  When it comes to my head I quickly write it down so I don’t forget so the idea stays with me or I go to the Museums to get inspired, colorful magazines…etc.
Or just start drawing on a piece of paper ideas that come to my head and I keep them as a reference for future projects.

How do you choose your subject matter? Is there a reoccurring theme that carries throughout your work?  Since I stared studying Architecture, geometry is my general theme but not always.
There’s one that is really great and it’s everywhere you look but you have to know about “Golden Ratio” or the “Fibonacci Sequence” otherwise it won’t matter if is there or not.
This sequence you’ll find it even in Music composition. It’s an amazing ideas/numbers in mathematics.

In your opinion, what’s your best/favorite piece you’ve made?  It’s probably has to be $900 painting that I did once and 24×36 Kandinsky style I sort of like his style of painting. I love his style and so it’s Picasso, Van Gogh…etc!
The paintings I do for the smaller ones have the same style but i try to keep it simple otherwise it won’t sell or they might not know who the painter style is from.

What is one of your artistic goals?  I’ve been trying to do Murals but I have not had the luck to meet that person that needs a Mural but it will come I’m sure.

What’s your favorite place to see art?  MFA (ICA, SoWa)

What living artists are you inspired by?  Mainly these: Jim Lee, Marco Raimondo, Araceli Gilbert, Rico Gatson.

Do you own any art by other artists?  No I don’t.

Do you have any shows coming up?  Nothing right now.

See More Juan!

Website: lucerosart.carbonmade.com