Raquel Fuentes is a Venezuelan born, mostly self-taught abstract artist. Since she was young, she had a love for all that was artistic, and now she is a featured artist of our July’s Kaleidoscope Exhibition. Let’s get to know more about Raquel Fuentes and her artwork!

What inspires you to paint?

So many things. There is inspiration for me everywhere: feelings, emotions, different energies that surround us. Sometimes listening to a specific song, looking at a landscape or even memories may spark an emotion, a feeling or connection which may inspire me to paint.   I also love painting as a way of mindfulness and to connect to my inner self, as a mediation and/or journal.

What are your favourite techniques when creating new work? What materials/tools do you use the most and why?

I have been enjoying working with acrylics. I like the versatility of it as there are so many different effects and textures you can achieve. I love using thicker paint, as well as gel mediums for thicker texture. I also really like to use other tools aside from brushes. I really like using the palette knife but one of my favourite tools that I love using is a rubber squeegee and exploring its different effects. 

Do you have a process/method when painting?

I always start my painting session with a short mediation and usually set an intention usually to let things flow. When picking colours I usually go with my intuition in picking the initial colour palette to start off and then work around those colours later in the paint to add in more colours or build different shades/layers. I really love using colour and playing around with different colour combinations so I really just go with my intuition. Sometimes I may have in mind to start the painting with two specific colours but then the rest it is usually just go with the flow and intuition. 

Do you have a favourite painting in the collection you're exhibiting? Could you explain the meaning and/or process behind it?

Flow. I love painting when I get to that point where things just flow and I’m just trusting. Its fun and really bliss. However, I have sometimes really struggled with not letting that overcritical mind and frustrations take over. With Flow the whole process it just flowed. I felt such a strong connection with the whole process and that feeling is the best for me.

You can view and purchase Raquel’s work at our Kaleidoscope exhibition from July 2nd till July 31st.