We recently connected with Mauricio Torrescano and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Mauricio, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Since the invention of modeling clay around 1880 kwon as Plastilin or Plasticine too, it has been considered as sculpture base material or as a Children’s art material but never as a final artwork technique as it seems fragile and disposable.

Since 1993 I have developed a technique using modeling clay as a direct, final artwork material to create 2D and 3D artworks becoming the link between painting and sculpture, because of that my artworks can´t be defined just as a painting or a sculpture, it´s both.

One of my main goals is to share with the art world this option of creation and that it´s limitless, It doesn´t flow as paint, so that makes it difficult to create visual effects as gradients, lights, shadows, as many other painting effects, but still is possible with the opportunity to add many textures or volumes as you want not possible in painting, you have the best of both worlds.

One meaningful project I´m working on is based on reproducing Masterworks paintings with this modeling clay technique to probe that anything can be done using this material and can be considered fine art, another important thing is that many people don´t have the opportunity to travel around the world to visit the Museums and Galleries to appreciate historical Masterworks in person, so the closer approach to them are just internet pictures, posters or books and learning about art history can be boring just to read all the dates and data in a black and white book.

This project idea is to do an exhibition tour across South and Central America so people that don´t have access to know in person these Masterworks somehow to feel the experience of interacting with them, and as the artworks will be full of textures and volumes, the visual connection will be on a deeper level and it will be complemented with Augmented Reality, so each artwork will talk about the author and history around it, this way you can learn about art history in a dynamic and interesting way.

I already did a test with a 3 artwork exhibition with more than 17,000 assistants in a couple of days where I saw the people’s reaction and I was amazed at how the people embraced the idea, like they were interacting with the real artworks, taking pictures with them and they were happy, so I knew I have to take this experience further, so still is a developing project that I hope to have ready in a couple of years, Masterworks takes it´s time…

Mauricio, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I´m a visual artist from Mexico City I´ve developed an art technique using just modeling clay to create 2D and 3D artworks since 1993, they look like oil paintings but they can have a lot of textures and volumes fusing painting and sculpture in a single technique as a direct material and it can last longer than oil paintings.

In my career I have had several exhibitions, international recognition as an awarded artist, and judged in national and international contests, I´m the author of the book The Art of Painting with Plastilin available worldwide in English and Spanish versions so people can learn how to do this technique.

My inspiration comes from the beauty that surrounds us as animals, landscapes, and people, I love to express them from my point of view with the artistic style that I have developed called Fusionism which is defined as the fusion of painting and sculpture in a single technique, fusing fantasy and reality, different art styles into one artwork, uniting past, present and future.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mission is that the technique becomes a usual way to create art for many people around the world through time as it is now with all other artistic materials such as oil, watercolor, and pastels among others.

At the beginning of my career people hadn´t seen this kind of artwork, nobody else was doing it, it was very hard to open a road since even the galleries or contests didn´t have a section to consider this type of art, in the recent years now I can find on the web many people doing great things and it´s becoming more as I have dreamed and worked for, so I will continue working so it becomes a stronger movement.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

One of the most rewarding aspects of being an artist is to see people’s reaction to your artwork, as it can be negative, positive, or even they don´t understand it, all these reactions mean that somehow the people are moved, affected about your art and maybe in a positive way.

Another rewarding aspect is to translate what you have in your mind into the final piece as you thought, When you can´t do that is very frustrating so you have to keep working to gain abilities and knowledge, is a very long career to reach to dominate all aspects that a fine artwork must have.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.torrescano.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauriciotorrescano/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauricioTorrescano
• Email: [email protected]
• OtherS: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-art-of-painting-with-plastilin-mauricio-torrescano/1138701476 https://www.amazon.com/ART-PAINTING-PLASTILIN-Plasticine-Plastilina/dp/B08TZK8SQT https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1453135040 , https://www.torrescano.com/VanGogh.mov

Image Credits
Masterworks presented are in Public Domain.