For online article: http://carrollwood2.tbo.com/content/2008/nov/12/cw-surrealist-painter-offering-lessons/
By LAURE PERICOT
The Tampa Tribune
Published: November 12, 2008
When you hear Darwin Leon talk about his art, it sounds so simple. You can feel his passion for the masters. Yet, when you see his work, it is so complex. Darwin Leon describes his art as "classical art of masters in a contemporary mode of expression".
His art combines aspects of the masters of the Renaissance with his own surreal style. Scenic images portray the nature of expressive design through the movement of action and textured aspects. With a sharp sense of humor and figurative imagination, Darwin Leon details the social context of pseudo-political, human involvement with a flair for enhanced form and characterization. Displaying the imbalances of society with a sarcastic perspective, Leon's artistic creations animate the discontinuities of the industrial order. Leon's paintings play on the interpersonal deceptions that move culture.
"My art is a reflection or mirror of life. It depicts historically aspects of humanity, social issues and representation of the times. The figure as the main character is used symbolically with a surreal flair. I include classical and traditional subject matter as a constant dominator in my paintings and drawings. My artwork also portrays the hierarchy of dominance over others as the characters display their motives. At the same time, I work to include humor as a foundation for serious commentary, so people can grasp the meaning without feeling too offended by the message".
Leon was born in 1972 in Santiago de Las Vegas a small town in Havana, Cuba. Due to political and economical crisis, he and his family left Cuba and went to Spain where they continued to the United States. He earned his Bachelors in Fine Arts degree from Miami International University of Art Design in March 2005 where he was awarded best show for the First Juried Student Show Exhibition in 2004 and first place in the Visual Arts Scholarship Award of Excellence in 2003. He was also awarded best in painting at The Art and Music Festival in 2004 Hollywood, Fla.
Darwin's first focus of style was religious portraits. However his passion seemed to be with figurative and expressionistic. He began developing the characters he drew as a child and transferred his thoughts to canvas. Along with personal experience Darwin incorporated sarcasm, satires, irony, theatrical elements and finally surrealism and cubism into his work. In some of his recent work, he is experimenting with chiaroscuro -- a master technique used by many artists during the Renaissance.
Darwin's work is fresh and alive, and the colors are radiant, dominant style surrealism, cubist-expressionism, and a mix chiaroscuro. His brilliant use of messages hidden and obvious leaves the admirer wondering while constantly discovering something new.
Leon Darwin is the founder of The Figure Network - The Complete Artist Development Seminars, an online workshop program for the fine art artists interested in taking their art to the next level (thefigurenetwork.com). He taught at the Art Centers in Miami Beach and Bradenton.
He currently teaches painting and drawing, portrait painting, still life painting, and modern modes of expression at the Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road, Carrollwood. His classes are open to everyone 13 and older.
Visit CarrollwoodCenter org or call 269-1310 for more information.
Laure Pericot, is the marketing director at the Carrollwood Cultural Center.
The Tampa Tribune
Published: November 12, 2008
When you hear Darwin Leon talk about his art, it sounds so simple. You can feel his passion for the masters. Yet, when you see his work, it is so complex. Darwin Leon describes his art as "classical art of masters in a contemporary mode of expression".
His art combines aspects of the masters of the Renaissance with his own surreal style. Scenic images portray the nature of expressive design through the movement of action and textured aspects. With a sharp sense of humor and figurative imagination, Darwin Leon details the social context of pseudo-political, human involvement with a flair for enhanced form and characterization. Displaying the imbalances of society with a sarcastic perspective, Leon's artistic creations animate the discontinuities of the industrial order. Leon's paintings play on the interpersonal deceptions that move culture.
"My art is a reflection or mirror of life. It depicts historically aspects of humanity, social issues and representation of the times. The figure as the main character is used symbolically with a surreal flair. I include classical and traditional subject matter as a constant dominator in my paintings and drawings. My artwork also portrays the hierarchy of dominance over others as the characters display their motives. At the same time, I work to include humor as a foundation for serious commentary, so people can grasp the meaning without feeling too offended by the message".
Leon was born in 1972 in Santiago de Las Vegas a small town in Havana, Cuba. Due to political and economical crisis, he and his family left Cuba and went to Spain where they continued to the United States. He earned his Bachelors in Fine Arts degree from Miami International University of Art Design in March 2005 where he was awarded best show for the First Juried Student Show Exhibition in 2004 and first place in the Visual Arts Scholarship Award of Excellence in 2003. He was also awarded best in painting at The Art and Music Festival in 2004 Hollywood, Fla.
Darwin's first focus of style was religious portraits. However his passion seemed to be with figurative and expressionistic. He began developing the characters he drew as a child and transferred his thoughts to canvas. Along with personal experience Darwin incorporated sarcasm, satires, irony, theatrical elements and finally surrealism and cubism into his work. In some of his recent work, he is experimenting with chiaroscuro -- a master technique used by many artists during the Renaissance.
Darwin's work is fresh and alive, and the colors are radiant, dominant style surrealism, cubist-expressionism, and a mix chiaroscuro. His brilliant use of messages hidden and obvious leaves the admirer wondering while constantly discovering something new.
Leon Darwin is the founder of The Figure Network - The Complete Artist Development Seminars, an online workshop program for the fine art artists interested in taking their art to the next level (thefigurenetwork.com). He taught at the Art Centers in Miami Beach and Bradenton.
He currently teaches painting and drawing, portrait painting, still life painting, and modern modes of expression at the Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road, Carrollwood. His classes are open to everyone 13 and older.
Visit CarrollwoodCenter org or call 269-1310 for more information.
Laure Pericot, is the marketing director at the Carrollwood Cultural Center.
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