Nel ritratto II / In the portrait II Painting

I am a self-taught figurative painter. My early formative years at the atelier of the esteemed painter and dear friend Rodolfo Guzzoni directed my artistic path towards a profound exploration of portraiture, an art form with which I tried to capture the essence of a moment, of an emotion or simply a memory. The realism that accompanies my works is partly figurative and partly magical, I like the childish vision of things, so pure and innocent, full of amazement, wonder and imagination. I love painting childish subjects in communion with their spirit animal. Animals represent Nature, our magical, mysterious, instinctive part, our truest self, from which we cannot disconnect. My portraits almost act as windows into the human soul, through which melancholy, loneliness and fragility emerge. I have an impatient nature, I need to instantly realize what I have in mind. I prefer acrylic colours, which have a short drying time which allows me this. I also love their matte finish, which doesn't hinder the view of the work depending on the angle of the light. I am aware of the power that colors have. I started by painting in black and white, almost whispering. Now I use colors sparingly, few and in large areas, trying to create an unreal, almost metaphysical atmosphere, in contrast with the concreteness and realism of the portrayed subject. I love to always experiment with new techniques, new materials, create contrasts and continually test myself. We are constantly evolving and this change, although sometimes imperceptible, helps us grow and improve. My paintings can be found in private collections located in Europe, America, Australia and Asia. I live and work in Milan. Represented by ONART Gallery in Florence. www.federicabelloli.com @federicabellolipainter