Vincent Zuniaga

Vincent Zuniaga is a self-taught artist based in Orlando, Florida. Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, Zuniaga was first introduced to the art world through his grandmother. Today, his digital painting and photography focus on a variety of topics including nature and wildlife. What a coincidence, Vincent feels a personal connection to Van Gogh!

Hi Vincent!

Can you tell us a bit more about your work and what mediums you like to work in?

Hola!

My time is divided between digital painting, fine art photography. Lately it has been mostly digital art, many ideas and projects that I’m working on.

When I start a new project, I work around the concept and the “why” of the next painting. I research to look for ideas or something similar to what I have in my mind.

I usually have between 3-5 projects going at the same time, so when I get stuck in what I’m working on, I can jump to another project. Endangered species are present in my artwork because I’m passionate about raising awareness to the importance of protecting wildlife and preserving more species against extinction.

Dogs are also a very important part of my life. I worked as a professional dog handler for more than 20 years. I have been on AKC shows broadcast on TV. That job took me to many countries, both traveling and relocation. Traveling with the dogs gave me the opportunity to see so many amazing thing in the art world.

I decided to retire after more than 20 years working with dogs. While I was thinking what to do next, I decided to honor my Grandma’s wish and go back to art. Photography was my way to do it. I’m fascinated by water movement and do long exposure photography.

Fine art photography led to digital painting when I bought my first drawing tablet to improve my editing process of the long exposure photography. I started experimenting and learning more about digital painting every day.

This project was based off of Van Gogh, do you feel any level of connection since you share the same name?

Yes, the name connection is real and very important to me. Vincent Van Gogh signed his artwork as Vincent, not as Monet, Picasso, Manet, Pissarro, etc. did, because he thought nobody could pronounce his last name correctly. That is the same reason I do it as Vincent and not as Zuniaga.

My approach to this project was by imagining that I had the opportunity to meet Vincent today: Where would I take him? What would I show him? All my avatars have a small story to tell that I created on my mind in “My Adventure with Vincent” as I called my 15 avatars. 

One idea was to take him to see “Van Gogh: Immersive Experience” to show him how much people love and enjoy his art.

This was something he never experienced in his lifetime. It took him to dark places that pushed him to commit suicide. I want to do something to honored him as a the Great Artist and probably The Greatest Ever but also show him his human side, as a fun but troubled person

If you zoom into his face, he has tears from watching all those people enjoying his artwork:

What would you want a collector to know about your work? Or The Other Avatars?

My work is a tribute to my Grandma for her love of art and my Mom that when I was a kid bought for me so many books to read that helped me not to be afraid to travel around the world.

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Source: saatchiart.com