Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriel Ramos.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in rural Puerto Rico. I moved to Florida with my mother and sister when I was 15, and she raised me by herself. I’ve always been a creative individual. As a kid, I loved playing with my siblings and cousins in the woods surrounding our house and making up stories. The canvas has always been an outlet for my inspirations.
It wasn’t until I was in college that I decided I wanted to make a career out of art. My main interest has been in creating images that tell a story, and through concept art/illustration and more recently watercolors, I’ve found my calling. I studied Game Design at UCF while holding a part-time job at a grocery store and also paying to be mentored for Concept Art and Illustration. I got to participate at comic cons and sell my art there, which allowed me to continue funding my online art education while finishing my degree at UCF
A year before finishing college, I was hired by a simulation studio as a concept artist, and there got a lot of experience before graduating. I now make art for tv/film/games/myself. A few years ago, I got reacquainted with watercolors and painting on location, and it has been my go-to media for fine arts since.
Painting watercolors ‘en plein air’ (on location) is the best way to truly capture the moment. We as humans can appreciate the colors in lights and shadows better than most cameras can, so to capture a moment live and in painting, we can convey not only what the real colors and lights looked like but feelings as well.
When painting on location, you are at mother nature’s mercy and must adapt to her changes. If it’s too hot, for example, more water needs to be added to the paints to prevent them from drying quickly, and in a way, the finished painting will more correctly reflect how the weather was and what the mood was in the piece.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Everybody faces obstacles. I have been very stubborn about my career, and when the University couldn’t provide the education that I needed, I sought it outside through a mentor. I had to sacrifice spending time with family and friends while I developed and improved on my craft. I’ve spent countless hours in front of a computer or pulling all-nighters finishing pieces, but after every single one, I’ve gotten better, and opportunities have presented themselves.
It really is a craft that requires us to give everything we’re willing to give but rewards us equally as much.
I’m forever grateful for my mother, friends, and my mentors for their knowledge and support; without them I wouldn’t be who I am and where I am.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
Story is king. In my watercolors, just as well as in my concept art and illustrations, the most important thing is the story. The lights, colors, and shapes all will align depending on the story.
I enjoy painting different subjects, but the common ground is that I like painting Environments/Landscapes both digitally as well as traditionally. I love being able to capture the light in my paintings, and I love colors. The piece I’m most proud of so far is a piece of a young musician playing music to animals at the plaza I named Dreamer (Cuatro por la tarde) because it’s based on some light studies I did while visiting Puerto Rico and the plaza I grew up visiting. I’ve always wanted to see art that represented me and what I love, and I tasked myself with making it.
What sets me apart from others is simply my voice. We all have our different takes in life, and I have a deep love for color and light in the stories that I tell visually.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Orlando is always cooking something new. I like the heritage in the city, older buildings, and seeing them brought back to life by local businesses. I like how resilient the locals are. During the pandemic, my friends and I would go to different spots in the city, set up our easels, and just paint. It seems like the practice has fallen out of favor, and seeing people’s curiosity adds to the charm.
I’ve had the chance to set up my easel and paint outside a handful of countries, but Orlando has given me the best skies to paint. It’s always summer here! (Except when it’s storming out!)
Orlando’s blessing is also its curse. Sometimes the heat and humidity is too much to paint outside, so we wait for the weather to cool down a bit!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gabrielramos.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xiaogabe/
Image Credits
Michael Ramos
Sarayphia Karen McCarthy
