© Copyrighted material - Artcotera-Life expressed through Art
Carlos Alvarez Cotera
Carlos Alvarez Cotera
Fine Artist - Teacher - Author
Cuban born artist living in Spain
At an early age, I became deeply fascinated with drawing, and I haven't stopped since. This lifelong passion provided the foundation for the artist I am today.
I have no formal art training; I did not learn through books, but rather through constant experimentation and the inevitable "messing up." By watching other artists and asking questions, I developed the abilities I use in my creative process today. Because of this journey, I strongly believe in creating all of my work freehand, and I reject the use of projectors, grids, or any other tracing methods.
While I have experimented with many mediums—from pencil, watercolor, acrylic, and oil to clay, glass fusion, tile mosaic, and jewelry making—I have primarily concentrated on painting. Even within this medium, I thrive on diversity. I may work in realism or surrealism, but I have recently found that abstraction brings me closest to my soul. Starting with a blank canvas and using the palette knife to guide each stroke feels as though there is something beyond myself guiding my hand.
I am blessed to dedicate my life to what I was born to do, and I consider it a privilege to teach others. As an instructor, my goal is to help students improve their technical skills and eventually see the world through the artistic lens that has become second nature to me.
Over the past 30 years as a professional artist, I have owned a gallery and frame shop, gained representation by multiple galleries, and helped develop a local art center. My work has been featured in numerous articles and is held in private, public, and corporate collections. While I am grateful for these awards and milestones, nothing matters more to me than the opportunity to use art to express the essence of life and share it with others.
Live, Love, Give"
