March Artist of the Month Diego Sanchez

"I was born in Bogotá, Colombia, South America, and arrived in the United States in the summer of 1980.  I obtained an MFA from the Painting and Printmaking Department from Virginia Commonwealth University.  I have been teaching art classes for the past sixteen years to people of all ages, including The Virginia Museum, The Visual Art Center of Richmond, VCU, VUU, and currently at St. Catherine’s School.   I have shown my work throughout Virginia, and in Peru, Italy, Belgium, Colombia, and France.  I was the first recipient of the Theresa Pollack Artist of the Year Award. I have served as a juror for different art competitions including the Virginia Museum Fellowship, Scholastic, and Visual Arts Award for the State of Maryland Arts Council.  My work is in several collections including: Sidney and Frances Lewis, Charlotte Minor, Media General, First Market Bank, Capital One, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Markel Corporation, and Phillip Morris."

- Diego Sanchez 

To see Diego's collection CLICK HERE

To see Diego's video in the gallery CLICK HERE

Statement

Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things." — Noam Chomsky, 20th-century American linguist and political activist

This body of work continues to reflect my interest in finding a comfortable place between representational and non-representational elements in the picture plane.

Initially, my approach to painting is purely intuitive. After priming the surface of my panels, I take over the surface applying large areas of colors and developing interesting surfaces. This part of the process is tremendously enjoyable to me. I often wonder how making a painting resembles an act of faith. Not having preconceived notions of where the work will take me or what the painting will look like in the end. After I have a surface that I like, (or one that I truly despised) I precede to paint a single representational element. In this series I decided to work with water towers. I enjoy their shape and their function.

For the past eight years my approach to my work reflects my love for the act of painting, for the process itself rather that the final product. Painting to me is about process, whether you are developing a surface, mixing the right color or figuring out a different way to approach a problem. Painting to me is a fluid activity that changes as I change.  Painting requires discipline and time. Developing a painting to me is an activity that can be frustrating, rewarding and humbling.