Vivid colors, shape creations, fantasy world on his canvas. Juan Romero Sabi painter and architect talks about his career, his inspiration, and the life of a modern artist.

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Where are you from and what do you do?

I was born in Buenos Aires, to an Argentinian father and a Spanish mother. I have always been surrounded by art and architecture. I am the fifth generation in my family in the arts. My grandfather was a well known architect and painter and my father was a painter and professor of fine art. They were with me on my journey as friends and teachers. It was obvious to me that one day I would follow their path and become an architect and painter myself.

Was it that simple, you are from a family of artists so you became an artist?

I would say yes, it was that simple. Pictorial art came to me naturally and it has always been present in my life. Thanks to my family I have practiced art since I was a child and had many opportunities along the way. We moved from Argentina to Barcelona where I graduated from the School of Arts.

Shortly after my graduation I got a great job on the island of Menorca as an a rchitect. We worked on unique projects that blended nature with the modern and traditional architecture of the island. Also, living in the Mediterranean with the most intense light and the purest greens and blues motivated the painter in me.

I painted around 200 canvases and had several exhibitions in Palma de Mallorca and Mahón (Menorca). I had my own art gallery in Menorca that helped with commercial expansion. My work became widely distributed in Europe, mostly in Great Britain, France, Germany, and in California and Latin America, mainly in Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Colombia.

After 30 years in Menorca, I moved back to Barcelona in the mid 90s and I have been living here since.

What inspires and influences you the most?

Influence and inspiration are two vastly different things.

My artistic work is peculiar because it does not denote any one significant influence. Nevertheless, for me, it is evident that Picasso, Dalí, Kandinsky, Sert and Casas, among others, have a place in my heart.

I also had my own evolution. I went through impressionism and with great effort through fauvism to expressionism.

I have a revolutionary spirit and I have adapted my own pictorial style that gives me great satisfaction - it is an amalgam of surrealism, realism and fantasy. It all works if you have a good base and professional knowledge of drawing and painting, color theory and perspective.

The inspiration in all my work is the fruit of imagination. All themes, planes, shapes and colors must be considered as a creation. The only thing that stands out is what gives way to imagination, which is like a spark that can appear in any natural place - whether it is a forest, a beach, a tree, a woman, a smile, a sunset...

I live in a picturesque village on the coast near Barcelona, in the middle of a wooded area between three natural parks and only 20 minutes from the Mediterranean Sea. Nature talks to me. I already understand the language of the birds and the sound of the trees. The air, the sky and the nearby sea have given me new shapes and colors that help me create new art. I have completed more than 1000 paintings since I moved here.

Is painting a hobby, a passion or a business for you?

All my life I have continuously searched for art. I have been lucky to be able to express my feelings through my passion. Painting is always very personal for me. In architecture you must follow rules but everything I designed and built has always been authentic. I was fortunate to work on lake villages and country houses in Menorca with the details of traditional architecture and popular art that still exist.

At my age painting is about using my time to work, teach and help without stopping. I think if I stopped I'd cease to exist.

Of course, there is a business side too. Selling work is an incentive in itself to be compensated for the time spent finishing a picture and it does provide satisfaction. Although the best thing about any subject with artistic content is the work itself and the result you get.

There are so many talented and creative people out there but not everyone is able to make it. What does it take to be a professional painter and get the big jobs and reputation?

When the word professional is used, anyone considered professional must be good at their job – work hard, be honest, be knowledgeable, practice a lot... If you do all that, you will have a chance to succeed, especially if you are in the right place at the right time and have a bit of luck.

What is the best part of being an artist?

I know artists who have a lot of fun and their profession gives them satisfaction. Perhaps the best thing in certain cases is to get some important recognition from receiving a prize, selling a piece, etc. For me, the greatest satisfaction is finishing a work that fulfils your perspectives and you notice that people enjoy it or it causes a sensation - the more indefinite and strange, the better.

What is the hardest part of being an artist?

It has always been difficult to be a proper artist. Only a few have had an easy career or early success. This is a profession where things come late, and you need long and intense preparation. Creating art is almost a spiritual matter. It can be an intense undertaking that isn't always aligned with a competitive world and success.

What would be your advice to someone who wants to become a professional painter?

Being an artist nowadays is not the same as it once was. Having a good artistic base, extensive knowledge of art, its history, its techniques, etc. can make it easier in new professions that are art-related such as audio-visual, video games, advertising art, etc. In other words, an artist now must adapt to the future.

What has changed in the art/painting scene since you started?

I think things have changed everywhere. In art, and in painting, there are people who can have a lithograph in their hand and they like it more than an original painting. The difference in criteria and tastes is completely different from one area or country to another. I have seen this in small towns in the USA and in Great Britain where art galleries have opened with a certain dynamism. This does not happen in other countries where gallery activity is almost non-existent. This is part of the competitiveness and lack of understanding of art and culture in general. An artist nowadays must consider where to develop his activity and work with many resources.

What are your plans for the future?

When the current pandemic situation is over I will organize more exhibitions. I will continue to give lectures on art history, and I will continue to paint canvases and probably work with on fired clay pottery. I also like to walk in the woods, pick mushrooms and and respectfully enjoy the habitat of the wild boars and deers that live by my home.

Anything else you would like to add?

I am grateful for the attention I have been given and hope that my answers and comments will shed some light on all those who seek to be in the world of art. As in any profession, without effort and dedication you will not achieve your goals. Above all, if we want a better world, be prepared to be honest and share your knowledge with others.

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