Get ready for an exclusive interview with Rafael Mesquita, an artist who's breaking all the rules. In this up-close and personal chat, Rafael takes us through his artistic journey, from his first paintings to his powerful self-portraits and abstract works. His story isn't just about how he became an artist; it's a deep dive into life's ups and downs, the overwhelming emotions we all feel at times, and how art can help us understand it all. Learn how personal experiences have shaped Rafael's art, how art can heal, and how his journey of discovery and dedication shows us the true meaning of creativity and overcoming challenges.

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At what point in your life did you firmly decide to pursue art, and what were the pivotal factors in making that decision?

Recognizing myself as an artist was a process, between attempts to change and discovering what made my heart overflow. For a while, I felt insecure and did not know what meant to be an artist, it was only after working with art for a while and seeing how impactful my work could be on people’s lives that I saw myself as an artist. At first, my production was something very personal and intimate, it helped me understand and heal myself. By seeing how I can influence through my art I understood that I had a genuine power in my hands and mind. Being an artist to me means transforming the way people see and feel life. 

I began painting at the age of 8, exploring traditional oil painting techniques for five years (2003 - 2008) in my hometown. My mother noticed that I was always scratching some papers, and she put me on a drawing course, then I wanted to go into painting because I found those colours and textures to be the most interesting. Despite my passion for art, at that time, it was considered more of a hobby than a viable career path.

When I moved to Curitiba (2011) to complete my studies in school, I chose to study civil engineering and art took a backseat. By the final year of my graduation (2017), together with anxiety and uncertainty about my future career, I went back to painting to find comfort and clarity. Art has been my refuge and a way to navigate through my emotions.

At first, I shared my studies casually, but it quickly gained traction among my media and friends. Their support encouraged me, leading to commissioned work and growing recognition. My brother convinced me to create an art profile, so I made an account and started posting. In 2018, I submitted my first portrait to an exhibition in the city, I was selected for an exhibition in the Museu Municipal de Curitiba, and this was a big moment, it validated my artistic process giving me the confidence and strength to pursue art more seriously.

The following year, while balancing urban planning projects in an office during the day and art during the night, I found myself increasingly drawn to the latter. It was during the pandemic, without engineering work, isolated, that I started focusing on working on paintings to occupy my days. I already had some orders so it would be my only income and occupation at that time. I dedicated myself every day to the studio. This period of immersion not only honed my artistic skills but also facilitated immense personal and professional growth. Since then, in 2020, my focus has been solely on visual arts, a journey that continues to shape me as an artist and as a person. At this moment I saw and understood myself as an artist. And I dared to say that to myself and the world.

Elaborate on the creative process is it an outpouring of the soul, a free flow of the mind, or a combination of both?

I believe that creativity is like a muscle that needs consistent work and necessary supplies to develop and evolve. Everyone is creative in some aspects of life, but some people might find it easier to be creative. Creativity involves finding solutions to questions. Whether through a change, innovation, or even by offering a different perspective on a common situation. Nothing arises by chance. Everything comes from a creative process and the construction of what you experience and feel. Sometimes we don't know how something emerges in our minds, but when we stimulate this creativity with elements and issues to work on, the paths of creation become more interesting to tread.

My references and creative process emerge from various sources and moments in my life. They come from music that transports me and provides a soundtrack to moments I've experienced. The inspirations of artists and people who complement and motivate me to move forward. And from texts that I write about dreams, my personal life, the world, aspirations, and reflections. In 2023, I found in writing a way to embrace my feelings, stemming from very painful moments I lived through. In this process, I realized that some works emerged from life moments I wrote about and lived many months ago, not even realizing they would become pieces later.

Creative processes might be nurtured and happening in your life right now, and perhaps you're unaware of it. I don't approach everything in my days thinking a work of art might emerge later. It's a natural process. However, I've come to understand that living poetry in these moments, both in writing and in life, helps me transform these stories into my art. 

Discuss the importance of messaging in your art and the audience’s understanding of it. How crucial is it for your audience to grasp the message behind your artwork? Do you create with a specific message in mind, and how do you gauge its reception?

For me, my art is a medium through which I convey emotions, perspectives, and narratives. While not every piece is created with a specific overt message, there's often an underlying essence or feeling I aim to evoke. My paintings reveal personal matters and broad emotions that we all can experience. I use my narrative to explore themes like solitude, love, profound gazes, and internal insights we undergo. In each piece, I aim to grapple with these themes and evolve. It's also a therapeutic process for me. I personify emotions to confront them head-on. I live through this process and present the work so that others can feel it too.

 

My art talks openly about artistic and personal processes. Painting and relationships as a construction of layers that are part of the result. The connections between wet paint and affections. Just as each brushstroke turns into a work, each stage of our lives also builds who we are today. This process needs to be taken care of in these two situations. Some pieces have incomplete parts of the painting and initial sketch drawings complementing the final painting. My art is the culmination of all physical and subjective layers of life. When I do these paintings with incomplete parts or abstract drawings on the surface with realistic figures and objects, I suggest to the viewer to complete it with their baggage. I don't want them to see just Rafael's moment in that situation, but rather to see themselves and construct the artwork with the feelings they carry within. My work was completed with the spectator.

 

When I present a piece to people, I try to establish a connection of growth and maturation with that issue. I feel like I've marked that story about myself, learned from it, resolved or not that feeling. If my part is "okay", how the viewer will feel and understand the artwork is entirely dependent on the baggage they carry. This is considering subjectivity, not the technical aspect.

 

I believe I need to have a critical eye on my productions because being creative and evolving involves analyzing with this perspective what I can deliver or improve upon. Understanding both the good and the bad works. I'm not going to be amazing all the time. And sometimes I know how far I can go in a piece. We must know how to look at our paths. I infuse a part of subjectivity into my pieces because they have a narrative. It's a story that begins and has its development there, but it doesn't show or make clear the resolution (in some cases, there might not even be one). The journey each person takes in my work is what makes it even more incredible—the various stories and feelings it can evoke.

 

If art heals me in this way, and today I create art, I feel that I need to deliver to people this beautiful and special form of solace and healing as well. Art is subjective and I find beauty in the fact that each person perceives and connects with it uniquely. Even if someone doesn't fully understand the intended message, the mere act of stirring emotions or thoughts is meaningful to me. Ultimately, I create to inspire introspection and emotional connection, allowing viewers to derive their meanings from my work. 

Describe your artistic process from conception to completion. Could you walk us through the steps of your artistic process, starting from the initial idea to the finished piece? How do you develop your concepts, and what are the key stages in creating your final work?

I'm not exactly sure when my artistic process begins, but I can sense when something starts happening in my mind. I keep a notebook where I write about everything. From therapeutic exercises to thoughts, I have throughout the days. Feelings I've been experiencing or even painful situations I need to offload from my mind. I unload these issues onto paper through writing and later revisit them.

 

My mind is always envisioning scenarios, naturally completing this mental image. At a certain point, this image is well-formed in my mind, or an idea of a theme emerges that propels me further into creating the piece. I sit in the studio and begin developing this image and feeling. Here, I access my texts and memories, contemplate colors, and consider the narrative, until I have something slightly more structured to begin the actual production.

 

I sketch on paper to establish the composition and make necessary adjustments. Choosing the initial color palette and the size of the piece. Once these decisions are made, I start painting. Typically, I use acrylic paint for the initial layers to build the composition and see it in colors beyond graphite. Then I proceed with oil paint layers until finished. The time taken for each stage varies greatly. Sometimes a technical aspect becomes challenging, or I'm emotionally affected by a subject that still causes me pain. These healing processes aren't easy! The drying time of oil paint is slow, much like a personal evolution.

 

I allow things to progress comfortably, giving them the necessary time. At a certain point, I need to look at the painting and understand what it communicates. Whether it aligns with the initial message, or whether it has transformed into something acceptable. I also consider the technical aspect, ensuring everything aligns with what I can and want to deliver.

 

The moment of defining a finished piece is a process that spans several days. I pause. I work on other pieces. I reflect a bit more about all painting and history and make the final decision. Sometimes during these stages, I share with people because I strongly believe the artwork is about its process as much as the result. I think this approach brings people closer to these stages I as an artist undergo with each painting. I live through these processes in a very profound manner.

Reflect on your favourite creation and the reasons behind your choice. Could you tell us about your favourite piece that you have created? What makes this piece particularly significant to you, and what was the inspiration or story behind it?

The most significant work of my career is the piece "100 dias de isolamento". It's my third self-portrait (2020), an oil painting on canvas. It emerged during an extremely delicate global period. And I managed to infuse within it a very pure and real sentiment without truly comprehending how it might impact others. In 2020, I incorporated self-portraits to navigate the emotions experienced during the cruel COVID-19 pandemic. Numerous moments of anguish and darkness prevailed in Brazil during this period. Amid a political environment filled with intolerance and irresponsibility. With a little hope in the face of all these events. Many lives were lost quickly reaching numbers of 100, and 200 thousand people in a short time. By 2023, there were more than 700 thousand.

 

It was a piece where I opened myself up. Looking toward the horizon with a shred of hope yet feeling powerless to move from that state. Melting away on the table, embodying someone who couldn't bear the situation anymore but had to continue. I created this piece on the hundredth day of isolation, and it quickly gained attention once I shared it on my social platforms. I made it from the heart and about my experiences, but it resonated with so many people going through similar struggles that it was swiftly embraced and understood. Consequently, it gained considerable reach (which also startled me). The theme, my figure, was featured across various platforms. It was an intimate portrayal of mine. A moment of vulnerability that also made sense to others. It was a mix of emotions, but I felt immensely proud of everything it represented.

 

Furthermore, it was through this piece that I managed to participate in a virtual competition in London, a milestone in my career. With this visibility, I was invited by Artit and had my first artwork published in a magazine, the 12th issue of the "Voice of Artist". I have never been so moved in my life. This piece and everything that has unfolded from it has left an incredible mark on my journey. It stands as my most sensitive and honest creation, the pinnacle of my career.

Explain the evolution of your artistic style and your aspirations through this technique. How has your artistic style evolved over time? Can you describe the journey and changes in your technique? What are your aspirations for your style and technique moving forward?

I enjoy portraying my figures with both realistic and abstract elements to evoke diverse feelings and sensations. I pictorially use thick layers of paint to bring textures and finishes into my work. My art engages in a dialogue between reality and surrealism. There are melted forms, entirely abstract, and everyday scenes with visual and poetic interferences. It's a blend of imagination, reality, and dreams. I draw a lot of inspiration from various sources. Francis Bacon's expressive figurative painting has always captivated me; much of his essence can be found in my portraits. Paul Neberra's surrealistic paintings also influence me, along with Emilio Villalba's expressive gazes. In Brazil, I have incredible artists who influence me regarding colors, personal and political themes, and the experiences of someone LGBTQIAP+, such as Luan Zumbi (SP), Jade Marra (SP), Francisco Hurtz (SP), Jessica Vieira (BA), among others.

 

In my paintings, I aim to transform reality, emphasizing paints and brushstrokes. I play with colors, strokes, and textures as I sense their complexity. I'm always open to experimenting with different materials. I believe it's crucial to observe how various materials behave in artwork and use these differences to create something unique.

Discuss your methods for entering a creative state of mind. What specific techniques or practices do you use to get into the right mindset for creating art? Do you have any rituals, routines, or a particular environment that helps stimulate your creativity?

I believe part of the artistic process is solitary; a lot of time is spent solely in the artist's mind, and sometimes, that can be a challenge. I see certain points in my journey as moments of profound solitude. At times, it's intentional; I confront and work with what emerges in my imagination—bringing those personal life issues between the strokes of paint. Some processes require solitude. Some I need to step away to comprehend better. Others might happen for different reasons. Solitude can be essential when it doesn't hurt or belittle you. I seek solitude over loneliness, though I understand that I experience many of these feelings throughout the day. Not just in artistic work but in various layers of life. I try to normalize moments of sadness, being alone, and a certain sense of anguish. I try to regard these moments with the calmness I can muster and aim to move through them swiftly. Just as happiness and company arrive, solitude and sadness can also be part of our days—and that's how poetry is written.

 

Perhaps an artist's mind is full of misunderstood creations, even to the artist. Incomplete texts, unfinished works, yearnings for artworks with intangible and unreal meanings. Solitude may not always be bad; it serves as an escape, just like others. But it requires attention so that we don't hide ourselves too much from everything and everyone. I have my moments of solitude and I try to understand how I feel and their meanings. Certain things I need to experience on my own to feel them fully. At certain times, sharing and companionship become necessary and are important. I don't need to carry everything in my mind, but I'm cautious about exposing myself because I expose myself in a vulnerable state when portraying a piece of my life in my artwork.

Discuss the importance of personal connection to your subject matter. How important is having a personal connection to the subjects or themes of your artwork? Can you give examples of how this connection has influenced your work?

My research is centred on oil painting as the main medium, and my narrative revolves around my own experiences in a series of self-portraits, which emerged during the pandemic. I produced a series called "Olhares", where I delved into the depths of the gaze, carrying various stories in a world of textures, tales, and adventures through the eyes of different individuals. The series began in 2019 as part of a study and due to it being my strongest memory from painting classes. Until 2023, when I concluded the series, I painted over a hundred gazes that opened my eyes to see the world from a renewed perspective.

 

I've always found it beautiful and honest to try to understand others through their eyes. Additionally, I bring figurative series to life, either through invented characters or real photographs. Using the gaze, I bring personification to something and blend reality with imagination in various textures and abstractions. The artworks may not necessarily depict a specific person; sometimes, I only humanize what is subjective and internal. I explore various themes continuously, using each piece as a study and for refinement. A more discreet series where I painted pets for friends became a theme that many people embrace, wanting to immortalize their beloved animals. I appreciate how people cherish this series. If I can do this for them, I dive into and embrace this theme too. I ended up working on several pieces simultaneously, writing about future themes and my desires as well. I track my current life moments and my improvement. This year, 2023, I began woodcut printing, and it's been incredible. It's fascinating to see your work from different tools and surfaces that bring it to life right in front of you. The themes are always ongoing; currently, I've been focusing more on this figurative and everyday life research.

List five key insights or lessons you wish you had known when you started your artistic journey.

✧ Create a financial reserve to feel more secure about making a living from art.

✧ Being a painter isn't just about painting; there will be many other things to dedicate yourself to beyond the colours.

✧ The slow drying of oil paint will be your greatest ally once you understand this process.

✧ Dream big; there are no obstacles that can stop you from dreaming.

✧ Don't forget to clean your brushes (this one is for my present self—I always forget).

How do you envision the evolution of your art in the coming years? 

Experimentation is constant here and I hope it continues that way. The process is alive and ongoing. It can take countless paths and desires. Just as I recently started a new technique, I have much to discover and feel with other materials in my research. I would like, at least once, to create something on a grand scale, like an installation or sculpture. I'd love to see my creation in three dimensions, in an immersive way. It would be incredible! I also aim to reach larger art and culture spaces. Exhibiting at the Oscar Niemeyer Museum in Curitiba is my biggest career dream. I hope to experience that moment! I'd also like to reach more countries with my work. That's something young Rafael could never have imagined achieving. Incredibly, I have amazing art collectors in over five countries. My future wish is to present some artwork at an international exhibition. I'll have my way to achieve this. I believe I'll shape my feelings and desires with the current world every moment. I'll have experiences that could be told through my paintings. Creating new series, improving technically, and allowing myself to feel art. Without much guilt or fear. I transmit what I feel with truth, care, and attention, just as I take care of myself. My artistic work tells my story; the transformation of my art will also be my one. I hope that, despite all the obstacles I'll face, I can build my path and show my world as an artistic poem.

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Rafael Mesquita's artistic journey is a tale of finding oneself and expressing emotions that have led to a deep transformation. His masterful use of paint and canvas to convey meaningful experiences showcases the power of art as a means of personal narrative and connection. As he delves deeper into his artistic pursuits, Rafael inspires fellow artists to embrace their individuality and express themselves authentically. His featured Artist Spotlight serves as a vibrant reminder of the limitless potential we unlock when we have the courage to follow our dreams and pursue our passions with unwavering determination and honesty. Follow Rafael's journey of discovery on Artit.