 Amneris Fernandez
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Gallery Direct Interview with AMNERIS FERNANDEZ
Amneris Fernandez is a Canadian artist who is widely recognized for his realistic depictions of Canada’s wildlife and the history of the Inuit people. He also creates vividly coloured pieces that keep the viewer mesmerized by the flow of colour that he uses to blend real subjects into surreal images.
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I understand you are the eldest of 10 children, yet your mother had the time and insight to see your artistic talent. Could you tell us a little about your mother and the role she had in your becoming the artist you are today?
She convinced my father to let me go to the big city to continue my studies. At this time, the only thing she knew about my artistic talent was, that every time I drew the image of Jesus Christ on the wet clayish surface of the patio, (which was used to dry the coffee beans) she asked me to erase it after, with my hands, not with my feet.
Could you tell us a little about your education and how you pursued your artistic talents while attending high school and later when you attended a school of technology?
When I went to the big city, to continue my studies, I had nothing to do with any art school. However, I continued to draw things from my imagination, including the animals that I used to deal with at the coffee farm, such as horses, donkeys and cows. Three or four years later, I moved to the bigger city, where I had to work as an elevator operator, bringing people up and down in a Downtown hotel in Caracas. It was here that I met my Professor, Pascual Navarro, a Venezuelan impressionist artist who had just came back from 22 years in Paris, my first and greatest teacher. Two years later, I joined the National Art School in Caracas, while I was going to the technological school where I graduated in electronics. While attending school, I was working for the Venezuelan Air Force as a draftsman. Three years later, in 1975, I left and travelled to London England.
During this time, what media were you using and what types of art were you creating?
At the beginning, I was using only pencils, but after I met Pascual Navarro I became a master with Pastels. I was doing mostly portraits of people who asked me for them, but at the same time I was doing images of old men with beards, philosophical looking men..
You travelled to London and lived there for a time. Could you tell us a little about your stay in London and how it contributed to your career as an artist?
London, I miss London, I had such a great time there, working under the table, studying English, studying art at Saint Martin's School of art and going to Paris every time I could. I wanted to study there but it was too expensive to do so.
What would you say was the turning point in your life that made you decide that art was going to be a lifelong career?
I never had the idea of becoming a full time artist, I was just living my life as an artist and selling my paintings, I never worried too much about working as an employee again. I always loved my freedom and the idea of being somehow a creator who was able to show the world the beauties that God created through the gift he gave me.
After a visit to Canada in 1977, you then decided to move there in 1988 where you remained to this day. Tell us a little about those first years in Canada and how you lived as an artist in Old Montreal.
I came to Canada in 1977 for the first time, then I went back to England, and then back to Venezuela. Then again in 1980 I returned to Canada and then back to Venezuela again. It was in 1988 that I decided to return to Canada once again. Montreal opened the doors of the world for me, I went to the Old Montreal the that same summer of 1988 and did about 60 portraits there. This was my first experience on the street and I loved that experience. I never went back to paint on the streets..it was a bit hard at the beginning, but I survived.
During your career as an artist, who would you say has inspired and encouraged you the most?
Who has encouraged me in my career?..inspired me??. The need to express my feelings is one and the other, is the need to live. Here, I realized that I have to work if I want to live, thank goodness, I was never a bohemian. At times it was very hard, especially when you are blocked and cannot paint.
What was the biggest challenge you have experienced in your career as an artist?
My biggest challenge? Actually, I never had difficulties adapting to cultures and customs, even though I moved from a tropical country to Canada, I kept the warmth in my paintings, even when I paint snow. Even the language barrier, English and French, my first language is Spanish, did not pose a problem. I have lots of friends here, I belong to two art associations in Montreal, The Beaconsfield Artist Association and the Lake Shore Artists Association.
Your surreal images are very colorful and the movement you have created using ordinary subjects is wonderful. Could you tell us what inspired you to do these images.
I love my surrealistic depiction of the fruits. It allows me to use my imagination and gives me the freedom to create and a different way to use vibrant colors, sense of movement and depth .I love my animals, although they are more detailed.
What do you enjoy most about being an artist?
The fact that I can make my living as an artist, the fact that I bring some joy to people who admire my art and the fact that I am free to do whatever I want, within limits of course. There are times when I blame the sun and the noise, when I don't want to paint.
If you had a story of encouragement to tell an up and coming artist, what would that be?
My words of encouragement would be to just be yourself, don't be afraid of using colors. I work every day, so I would encourage an up and coming artist to also paint every day. One other thing is that your studio is your best teacher.
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