Douglas Alvarez is an artist with the unique skill to be able to turn ordinary items into extraordinary paintings. I got to visit his studio and one of the first thing I noticed was how much texture there is in each one of his pieces – something you don’t really experience until you see the work firsthand. I also found Douglas’ story of becoming an artist truly inspiring – since it didn’t happen overnight. And if it takes bravery to trust your heart and follow your gut, then Douglas Alvarez is one of the bravest artists I’ve ever met.
Daniel Rolnik: Why was your last show called Too Cool For School?
Douglas Alvarez: It was about my experience at North Hollywood High, where I got into so many fights that I eventually stopped going altogether.
DR: You got into fights?
DA: Yeah! I know it’s strange because I don’t like physical confrontations now, but I was an asshole in school and unfortunately didn’t have a group of friends to back me up so I was usually out on my own. I ended up having to take accelerated classes at Amelia Earhart Continuation High School, which was quite an experience.
DR: Wasn’t it crazy there?
DA: The big irony was that everyone thinks that continuation high school is where the losers and dummies go, when in reality it’s the opposite. All the free thinkers were at continuation school and it was beautiful because my class was comprised entirely out of outcasts and all kinds of groups that still hadn’t been exploited yet – like O.G. Goths who couldn’t find clothes anywhere because Hot Topic wasn’t around.
DR: Were you painting back then?
DA: I had some skill and could draw He-Man really well, but my parents weren’t artists so I never had that support system. I ended up going to Cal State Northridge and got a degree in political science and took the LSAT to apply for law school – which was a miserable experience because I knew it wasn’t the right path for me.
DR: So when did you start painting?
DA: I ended up getting a below average LSAT score, so all the glamour schools went out the window and I decided to just stay at CSUN and take art classes. And tuition was cheap back then too, so I really feel bad for kids today considering how sweet we had it back then. When I went back to art school at CSUN I focused on graphic design.
DR: Did you end up becoming a graphic designer?
DA: Yes. The pay was great when I started out, plus I finally found a job I could deal with. But, I still kind of considered graphic design like flipping burgers in the art world because it was all about satisfying the customer. I was beginning to paint and show artwork in little group shows here and there which led to bigger exhibits. And now I’ve devoted the rest of my life to painting.
DR: Is your work really as positive as it seems?
DA: Sometimes it can look that way, but my paintings have a lot of dark metaphors in them when you dig deeper. For example my painting of a donut that says Grab above it looks like a fun painting, however it can also represent the experience of a woman being grabbed since the image is quite sensual. And I can work that into a painting where it’s so subtle that you can still feel lightweight even though the piece is heavy. Sometimes people just look at it for what it is though.
DR: Why do ordinary objects fascinate you?
DA: I started painting really ordinary objects and things that I’m surrounded by because I don’t travel as often as I’d like to – so I have to find inspiration around where I live.
DR: Do you use reference images to paint from?
DA: I have a big library of images I’ve taken over the years on my computer. And I usually have my camera with me wherever I go.
DR: How do you create the texture in your paintings?
DA: Sometimes what I do is mix pieces of paper in with the paint. And my intention behind using textures is that it’s supposed to make my paintings look like they are done on walls
DR: Where did that come from?
DA: I have a fascination with walls – I love their grittiness and randomness. And randomness is one of the most difficult things to capture. I mean there are probably a few people in this world who are so out of it that they can do it, but I’m still attached to my reality.
DR: What have you been working on recently?
DA: I’ve been finding ways to take realistic scenes and make them abstract. For instance I have a piece named Something To Do in which a student has made a spit-wad onto an acoustic ceiling, but it looks like an abstract painting. I thought I was the only freak who stared at stuff like that, but it turns out everyone else did it too, since most people recognized what I had painted at the opening reception. It goes to show that just when we think we’re all so unique, we’re really just all travelling in the same boat.
Something To Do by Douglas Alvarez
Mashed Potatoes by Douglas Alvarez
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Answers by: Douglas Alvarez
Questions by: Daniel Rolnik
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UPCOMING SHOWS
WHEN: December 10th, 2011 [7-10pm]
WHAT: Group Show – Tiny Treasures Show #6
WHERE: Cactus Gallery [4534 Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock, CA 90041]
WHEN: December 15th, 2011 [6-9pm]
WHAT: Gifted: Gifts + Gift Ideas by visual artists
WHERE: Bleicher/Golightly Gallery [1431 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90401]
WHEN: December 17th, 2011 [7-10pm]
WHAT: “Transference” curated by Carol Powell
WHERE: Bleicher Gallery [355 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036]
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