Artist in Focus - An interview with Dairo Vargas

With life in lockdown affecting everyone, we catch up with our Blackwater Gallery artists about life as an artist, talk to them about what’s going on in their world at the moment, and how they are maintaining creativity during the Covid-19 Lockdown period. 

This week we chat with painter Dairo Vargas, a Columbian born fine artist who is currently living and working in London. With a distinctly Baroque and Renaissance influence, Vargas combines these elements with his own uniquely abstract style to create something that is both familiar and at the same time completely fresh.

With the journey of an artist constantly moving forward and evolving, looking back, what were your first memories of art?

My earliest memories of art probably come from my mother taking me to church when I was about seven. There were enormous paintings of saints and angels and stained glass windows depicting biblical passages. It was a delight to see those refined paintings with dramatic colours. 

Being surrounded both conscious and subconscious influences that can affect our artistic mindset, what is it that directly sparks inspiration in you to create something new?

I get inspired by direct and indirect interactions with people - looking at their external responses from internal experience and vice versa.   I also get inspired by old masters from the Renaissance and Baroque periods and my work links these with our behaviour in modern society.

In your time as an artist you have had collectors and fans from across the globe, but who was your most memorable client?

Well, I had a surprise once...

A man bought one of my paintings and a few days later I delivered it in person. After a long conversation, towards the end I asked his name. He was Maxi Jazz from Faithless! I was so excited to meet him as it brought back so many memories. I’ve been lucky to meet a lot of very interesting and well known people through my art but this was really unexpected!

With the Covid-19 lockdown affecting every aspect of our lives, how in particular has it affected your work?

Lockdown, oddly, has had a very positive impact on my work. I have spent more time analysing work of the old masters, paying attention to detail, technique and colour. I have created a series of work inspired by different feelings and emotions channelled in this uncertain time. I have developed a new style as a result - it's keeping me positive and happy. 

Want to know more? Read our other articles about Dairo Vargas here