An Extra Special Conversation with Felix Zilinskas

Felix Zilinskas was born in Venezuela, of German descent, with Italian nationality, and is currently based in Barcelona. Félix is ​​a world artist who has achieved with perseverance and passion his own language in the contemporary art space, already recognizable by galleries and collectors in Europe and America. His pieces blend cheeky handling of color, a unique stroke technique, and a deep level of human thought, mesmerizing his audience, creating what he calls “Pauses to Think.” This strange combination has allowed him to impact modern culture, both nationally and internationally, significantly. His paintings are considered a sample of the more human side of society, where those who want or need it can see beyond the image and find stories that invite them to what makes us unique, to think. His works have been exhibited in countries such as Spain, Venezuela, France, Holland, and the United Kingdom, even reaching the great galleries and collectors in the United States. He has exhibited in art galleries such as Galería Sonia Monti, Galería Gaudí, Centro cultural Saint Gervasi, Galería Liquid, and so many more.

I had the pleasure of asking Felix what made him an artist, how he would describe his artistic process, and much more.

UZOMAH: How do you use colors to draw out the emotions of everyday facial expressions?

FELIX: The colors in my pieces make up part not only of the individual but the meaning of the general scene, helping to understand the relationship between the characters or the situation.

Technically speaking, although I work with very different colors and even opposite temperatures, I use a broad base of neutral color that helps to unify the chromaticity.

U: What made you want to be an artist? 

F:  It's a question artists are asked quite often. My opinion: You don't choose art; art chooses you. Art often appears unexpectedly, and it installs itself in your thoughts. It installs itself in your day-to-day life. It's like having a horse in the living room of an apartment and knowing that he will not leave your head until you make it happen. Rationalizing this is like justifying love. Painting, I have learned to separate myself from the moment and meditate. Now painting is part of my basic needs, like breathing or eating.

U: What has been the most rewarding part of being an artist?

F:  Nowadays, where an artist must be not only an artist but also a communicator, manager, administrator, salesperson, and endless roles, it is very easy to forget the spark that initially ignited the need for art in you. Knowing that you can see something different and getting someone else to connect with that message that will undoubtedly outlive you and your presence on this plane is what moves us as artists. It is a mixture of ego, in a good way, but also of secretly connecting with other people, people you may not know but whose energy reminds you that we are a tiny part of a whole that, for some strange reason, we insist on separating.

U: What advice would you give an artist to build a social media following?

F:  Here, I have used my knowledge as a publicist. Social networks are a communication channel. It is certainly comforting to receive messages and likes and see that people admire your work, but if you want to dedicate yourself to art, it is essential to learn how to transform this channel into a source of income. First of all, as an artist, you are a brand. You must be clear about your personality and speak and build around it coherently. It would be best if you thought not only about your interests but also about the interests of your followers or possible clients without losing your personality. In this channel, it is crucial to have a strategy and always think the results are long-term. Lastly and perhaps most importantly, transform these social media followers into your database so that you can maintain contact with them in a more specialized and professional way.

U: How would you describe your artistic process?

F: Over time, I have developed a style with its own characteristics and language that allows me to be identified in the market. My creative process is more focused on the message and its development. I have identified three significant steps in the process:

1- The hunt. There are thousands of ideas, but we must be selective in what to develop as artists with limited time. I demand from each piece not only that it be visually striking but that it allows me to convey a message, which is why this first step, which I call the hunt, is vital. Here I am filtering all the ideas that come to my mind. I do a lot of drawings (I draw daily), and I pre-select some of them to take them to a higher stage. At this stage, I am free not to filter and to be an executor of those ideas that come and go.

2- The translation. The translation is a process of understanding the image. Once I've nailed down a basic idea, I spend time trying to understand the message behind that idea. What need exists behind that image? What do I want to achieve with it? Is it the best way to execute it? Who can be interested or touched in one way or another? It is a stage full of questions.

3- The execution. Once I have understood the message and consider it relevant both for me as an artist and for my audience, I enter the execution process where I rework the image and look for the best way to express it; I analyze colors, sizes, proportions, etc.

U: What is your favorite thing about making art?

F: As artists, we have tremendous power and a great responsibility. I believe that there are more than enough things that are only beautiful in the world, so I hope my work helps people, in one way or another, to think, to express themselves, to feel connected with something, and in this way, to be able to improve their world.

U: How do you know when a painting is complete?

F: Oh, that's a special moment. I always have a reasonably clear idea of what I want to do and express, but I also allow the piece to grow or change depending on the moment and the process. So most of the time different from what you had in mind, as the ending will be the ending of the piece you've done. The time you spend admiring the work, considering alternatives, and experimenting before making final decisions is crucial here. If you are willing to listen, the piece will tell you when it is ready.

U: Is there anything else you want to do but be an artist?

F:   Well, honestly, even though being an artist is very important to me, and it's something you can't turn on or off but present all the time, it's just a small part of who I am. I am a Father, I am an advertising creative, I am an entrepreneur owner of an advertising agency, I am a husband, a musician, and maybe I am someone of life. I believe, like you, I am trying every day to discover new limits so as not to get bored with the monotony that we can no longer think in an absolutist way about "what we are." The sooner we understand that we are human and understand how to make our way through this planet better, we will be able to grow.

 For more information about Felix’s artwork, please visit his site. You can also find him on Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube.