Swimmers 905 in Forest Green Coral Reef Painting

I HAVE HEARD THAT YOUR STORY IS UNIQUE … Probably a bit. One day on the beach during summer 2017 I saw what the Portuguese painter Carla Sa Fernandes was doing, and I decided that I was doing it too. Since then, l have not received yet a painting lesson. My field has always been marketing in multinational companies in the food industry. I still feel I know much more of that. SO, YOUR BACKGROUND IS DIFFERENT TO THE REST OF THE ARTISTS … Yes, and I feel so much respect when I hear or see the technique from artists doing watercolour or oil paintings, fine art, sculptures. I just feel I am a fan of modern art. HOW DID ALL START WITH SWIMMERS? It all happened because of what I call a “confidence-trampoline” in my life which was finishing my first Ironman full distance triathlon in Lanzarote. I love that moment where we are all in silence together starting the swim and knowing that it’s all finally happening after so many dreams and efforts. On the other side, when I think of my concept of paradise, I don’t see myself laying in a hammock under a palm tree, but I am swimming in transparent water looking at the shadow of my body under the sun. WHY OF YOUR ARTISTIC NAME? Well, haha “Rodriguez” did not sound to me too artistic and “Abstract” gave it a realistic touch of what I was ready to do for many years. The story of my logo I like because the two halves represent my brain and how it works, and it also reflects my parent’s contribution to my artistic life. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOUR ART? OK, I will share the keywords that I use to define it when I upload my artworks on the online art platforms: Pop, Abstract, Modern, Contemporary, Figurative art. (I hope art curators feel I have it right!) SO, TO WHAT GENERATION OF ARTISTS DO YOU FEEL YOU BELONG TO? I don´t really know, but I guess that to a similar one that other artists I admire such as Juan Genoves, Ahmet Gunestekin, Callen Schaub, Okuda, Niki Hare, Ronald Hunter or Carla Sa Fernandes for example. WHAT MATERIALS DO YOU USE? Well, I started going to a shop that opened for long hours as I knew that I would keep going all the time due to my lack of knowledge in art, so I ended up painting with enamel paint on wood, and then I add epoxy resin. I am definitely not a classic acrylic painter that buys in an art-supplies typical shop. WHAT ONLINE SEARCH WOULD GO STRAIGHT TO YOUR OFFER? That is a very contemporary question haha! and I think it should be these: “blue water”, “blue ocean” and “blue sea” and obviously “Swimmers” too, although the sea can also be of any colour: blue, white, green, red, pink, grey, yellow, orange, or even silver or gold. APART FROM ONLINE, WHERE ELSE CAN WE FIND YOU? At this stage, I am not diversifying too much and for example, I am not even doing prints, but just one-of-a-kind authentic original artworks. At the moment and since a year ago, I am working with a known local gallerist mainly doing fairs and shows, she is Soraya Cartategui, and she has been in this art world for years. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS TIME? Well, if I am honest, the first two flash ideas in my mind were Moma and Metropolitan Museum of art, but who knows. Right now, I am not into wall painting, so I might continue doing what I do, but maybe more people would know about Swimmers Collection and will connect with the message behind it, as that swimmer going in a different direction not just represents my story but the story of many people that are trying to fight for their dream, no matter what people say, no matter what it takes.