Artist Roman Orellana
Roman Orellana is an American born self taught artist who earned a place as a Finalist in the 3rd Edition of the Boynes Emerging Artist Award.
What inspired you to start creating art?
When I was 13 years old, I got kicked out of band class for fighting and was put in an art class. At the time I had always doodled a little, getting into that art class help me compare myself to other kids my age. I found out I wasn’t as good as I thought I was, I wasn’t even in the top 80 percent in that class alone. But given that any hopes I had in the band were lost, I felt that art was the only thing I had left to be good at something. After that since I wasn’t particularly talented, I had to work for every ounce of skill for the next three years. I finally made a breakthrough my junior year winning competitions and becoming the best art student in that high school for the next two years.
“Marching On” (Finalist Work)
By Roman Orellana
Oil on Canvas
What inspires your work now?
When I look at the skill level of other artists like Joel Rea, Salvador Dali, Guillermo Lorca Garcia, Robin Eley, and Steve Chmilar it is very inspiring. Also, the excessive amount of work behind a painting inspires me in a big way.
“Untitled”
By Roman Orellana
Oil Painting
What mediums do you work in and experiment with?
Right now I work solely with Oil paint and Graphite. I am also experimenting with different brands within these mediums.
“Taking Risk”
By Roman Orellana
Oil Painting
Lastly Do you have any particular ways that you work through a creative block?
To get over a creative block, my first method is a 2-hour run, but if that’s not possible, I observe a few artists that inspire me. I own a few books of Salvador Dali that I flip through to get my mind thinking of ideas that are really out there. I also look at Joel Rea’s work on his website, this is something I do a few days a week anyways in order to make sure I observe the potential of great artist and could be possible for me.
To keep up with more of Roman Orellana’s work