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Carlos Alvarez Cotera

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  Carlos Alvarez Cotera

Fine Artist - Teacher - Author

Cuban born artist living in Gastonia, NC where he has his studio.

"At a very early age, I became very interested in drawing and I have never stopped since.

This passion for drawing gave me the foundation for becoming the artist I am today.

I have no formal art training, and I did not teach myself through books, but rather by experimenting, a lot of messing up, and by watching other artists and asking questions I was able to develop abilities that I now use in my creative process. I strongly believe in doing all of my work freehand and reject the use of projectors, grids or any other kind of tracing methods.

I have experimented with many different mediums, from pencil, watercolor, acrylic and oil to clay, even glass fusion, tile mosaic and jewelry making as well. However, for the most part, I have concentrated on painting; but even in this medium, I enjoy diversity. I can be working on abstracts, realism, surrealism, but I have found that recently it is abstraction that makes me feel more in touch with my soul. Starting with a blank canvas and using the pallet knife to guide my next stroke and the next one and so on, feels like there's something more than me guiding my hand.

I am blessed to be able to dedicate my life to that which I was born to do. It is a privilege to teach others. As a teacher it is my goal to help students develop and improve their skills and abilities and to see that which has become second nature to me.

Over the past 18 years as a professional artist, I have owned a Gallery/Frame shop, I have been represented by multiple galleries, I have helped develop an art center, I have been part of many exhibits and I have been featured in many articles. My work is in private, public and corporate collections, and I have received many awards.

As grateful as I am for all of this, nothing matters more to me than the opportunity to use art to express life and share it with others.

Live, Love, Give"