Today we’d like to introduce you to Juan Zaragoza.
Hi Juan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in the beautiful city of Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, in 1979. My parents always noticed my aptitude for drawing and painting, and I always had their unconditional support. Although I took a few painting classes during the summer as a young child, it wasn’t until I was fourteen that I began to paint with conscious intent under the guidance of Arturo Méndez—an extraordinary teacher and painter. His guidance and example inspired me to pursue a professional career in Visual Arts; that marked the beginning of my inner and outer journey to master the infinite techniques of art. My time in the city of Guanajuato was a turning point in both my professional and personal life; a whole new world opened up before my eyes, and I soon realized—on a spiritual level—that I was on the right path toward my life’s purpose. Everything became brighter and more vivid; life finally made sense. The reason for my existence lay right before me—a feeling I still experience today whenever I paint. Discovering my life’s purpose brought me an inner peace I had never known before, yet one thing was still missing: actually doing it.
Today, thirty-two years into this journey, I am still learning. I still feel a thrill at the sight of a blank canvas waiting to be discovered. Creating a painting makes me feel both vulnerable and powerful; I still feel like that fourteen-year-old boy who created his very first painting.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course, it hasn’t been a smooth path, yet I wouldn’t call it difficult; it is a strange combination of both. I have faced many challenges in life—sometimes financial, or struggles to define a painting or even a sculpture—but I am convinced that the universe conspires in my favor. Suddenly, the perfect person appears to help with a specific task, the money needed for materials arrives, or the landscape or missing inspiration appears right before my eyes.
The universe aligns itself so that these challenges are surmountable, provided I walk the entire path; there are no shortcuts, but neither is the journey impossible.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Although I could paint anything, my preference has always been landscapes—and within that genre, the desert. My inner compass delights in those expanses filled with siennas, ochres, and yellows; the exploration and experimentation inspired by the desert fill me with a thrilling sense of joy. While Mexico offers a vast array of landscapes—truly almost every type imaginable—it is in the desert that my heart truly comes alive.
I take pride in my journey and the discipline of spending eight hours a day (sometimes even more) at the easel; I am happy and deeply aware of the privilege of making a living doing what I love most: painting. Yet, I will never deny the influence of the great masters who shaped my life: Van Gogh with his brushstrokes, Joaquín Sorolla with his light, Saturnino Herrán with his perfect, stylized draftsmanship, and Javier Marín with his impressionistic sculpture. I took a piece from each of them—the very best of what they had to offer—and used it to create a visual language that I now speak every day with the passion and determination that only love can provide.
I would say that the hallmark of my work is light; it has been my primary subject for as long as I can remember and my enduring inspiration. I love to “breathe light.”
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
As I mentioned earlier, what brings me the most happiness is painting. The reason is both simple and complex: there is something mystical about the beginning of a work. I can liken it to a meditative state where, through silence and controlled breathing, you reach a state of consciousness that encompasses the whole; there is no division there—you are immersed in the totality of existence. That is why, when I paint, it is not just me and the brush, but universal consciousness expressing itself; I am merely a channel for its materialization.
When I paint, everything feels more vivid and joyful; everything comes to me through an ineffable peace.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.juanzaragoza.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/galeriajuanzaragoza/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/galeriajuanzaragoza/
