Hermosa Beach Artist, Mario Caspedes painting the Amazons
by Alex Khatchadourian
In the early sixties, Brazil’s third largest state, Mato Grosso, boasted miles of lush wetland terrain, myriad of exotic birds, and a rich culture created by the state’s indigenous communities. Today deforestation and environmental deprivation prove impeding forces on the area’s future sustainability.
Yet despite the looming politics that have created such damage to the Amazon region, Southern California-based artist Mario Cespedes continues to create paintings that emphasize the beauty and liveliness he discovered in the rainforest and those that inhabit it. Cespedes’ artistic inspiration takes organic shape in the luminous colors of the flowers, butterflies, and elaborate vegetation that surrounded him during his early life in the Amazon River basin.
His overwhelming appreciation of its natural allure shines through on all of his pieces, including the one he created specifically for the Hermosa Beach Art Walk taking place this weekend.
“I used water-based acrylics over the canvas and applied acrylic gel,” he noted recently. “But then I like to use natural textures as well, like gold leaves or different types of paper in order to build up the textures on the canvas.”
Cespedes’ paintings pick up from where nature and humanity’s intersection leave off. His donated piece titled, “Holiday in the Park,” depicts a small community art walk, but through the imaginative eyes of this year’s featured artist. It’s his ability to incorporate people and birds amongst the swirling pastels of orange, red, and blue that not only gives this painting, but all of his creations, a harmonious touch.
“I wanted the painting, for this show in particular, to honor the artists that are involved in the Art Walk,” he said. “The painting depicts an uninhibited atmosphere where people that love the art being made and the artists themselves should be honored.”
Though many of his paintings incorporate warm and luminous color, several of his most recent works of art have a specific motif. Having grown up and prospered artistically in the Amazon, Cespedes continues to create paintings that portray the issues of humanity’s impact on the natural environment.
A regular to the Art Walk community, Cespedes considers this type of venue one of the most enjoyable for showcasing his work. “I am an artist and I always love showing my work, but it’s even better when you can interact with the people that are interested in the art and have a conversation with them about the paintings,” he said.
The Hermosa Beach Art Walk will be held along lower and upper Pier Avenue Saturday and Sunday, June 9-10. ER