Karol Canto - “The art of living with art”, by Edmundo Cavalcanti

1- Where did you born? And what is your academic training?

I was born in Divinópolis, MG and I'm graduated in Interior Designer.

2- How and when you give your first contact with the Arts?

At eight I was enchanted by the first canvas painted by a classmate.

My mother as a birthday gift put me on a painting course at Iolanda Souki's studio.

3- How did you find this gift?

Since I was a child I liked to draw and color, painting classes only contributed to everything creating a shape. The arts were already there in the blood waiting for the right moment to emerge.

4- What are your main influences?

I am influenced by the quick and misshapen strokes of impressionism, with the light shown in various shades, as, the shadows. The daily life with so many elements that seek my look at scenes and moments that are transformed into a desire to paint.

5- What materials do you use in your works?

Oil paint, screen, brushes, spatula, watercolor paint, papers, graphite pencil, color pencil, colorful lands, chicken's egg. Lol

6- What is your creative process itself? What inspires you?

Nature as a whole inspires me a lot. I am always with a watchful eye to enjoy a good moment and register through photography that will probably be used as a model for a work.

7- When you started effectively to produce or create your works?

I started makes 23 years teaching painting classes and from then on I improved and learned more and more. For three years now I have been developing a more personal technique and I believe that now I can feel professional in the arts. 

8- Art is an intellectual production exquisite, where emotions are embedded in the context of creation, but in art history, we see that many artists are derived from other, following technical and artistic movements through time, you own any model or influence of any artist? Who would be?

As I mentioned earlier, Impressionism charms me and I see myself a lot when I'm developing my works, but, he's just an inspiration. The brushstroke can remind impressionists, since Claude Monet is my favorite. So that now, I am present in each brushstroke and in the shapes that I draw with the brush through the lights and shadows in very specific brushstrokes.

9- What does art mean to you? If you were to summarize in a few words the meaning of Arts in your life.

Art is one of the reasons of my life. It is through it that I support myself. I use art as a medicine to heal my soul and that of my students and I still make people's lives more colorful and joyful.

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10- What techniques do you use to express their ideas, feelings and perceptions about the world? (Whether it is through painting, sculpture, drawing, collage, photography… or uses several techniques in order to make a mix of different art forms).

Painting is the technique I use the most, but, transit between the graphite drawing, colored pencils and adventures in embroidery as relaxation. kkk

11- Every artist has his mentor, that person whom you mirrored that encouraged and inspired you to follow this career you, going ahead and taking your dreams the other expression levels, who this person is and how it introduced you in the art world?

My mother was the first person to invest in the dream of a child and Celeste Brandão painting teacher, autodidact, who taught me a lot of what I know and use today. Currently Waldir Caetano, plastic artist, doctor of art, art critic among other functions within art, has helped and encouraged me a lot. Regina Moraes, friend and artist, opened many doors for it to be known and recognized. Gratitude to everyone who went through my life adding a little bit to me.

12- You have another activity beyond art? You teaches classes, lectures etc.?

I am a painting teacher at the Arte de Pintar studio of my property and a curator at SENAC Divinópolis setting up exhibitions by artists from the city and region.

13- Its major national and international exhibitions and their awards?(Mention 5 most recent)

• Virtual exhibition “Art is life” - Raphael Art Gallery – September / 2020 – Edmundo Cavalcanti;
• Café com arte exhibition - Expominas, international coffee week – Belo Horizonte, MG (2019);
• Applause virtual exhibition, Restaurant Casa dos Contos, Belo Horizonte MG;
• Virtual exhibition Days of seclusion – E-book - Maria Vieira;
• Congado Virtual Exhibition Plastic Repercussions (2020);
• Santa Teresa Neighborhood Exhibition Tales and Meetings, Belo Horizonte, MG (opening 12.11.2020);
• Honor Award for merit for works rendered to culture in the city. Divinopolitan Academy of Letters. (2020).

14- Your plans for the future?

Keep improving and finding myself in my style.

Realize the dream of having an Arts Center in Divinopólis / MG again.

15- In your opinion what is the future of Brazilian art and its artists? (in the general context) and why so many artists are giving preference to show their work in international exhibitions despite high costs?

I believe that Brazilian art had a great incentive with the new format of virtual exhibitions. That way more artists are able to show their works without necessarily having to invest financially. The possibilities for online art courses have grown and opened doors for greater learning and training for artists.

I don't know if artists are preferring international exhibitions, but, I see that many opportunities have arisen, not always reliable, to expose yourself outside of Brazil. Many artists believe that abroad they can sell their works at better prices, although, it is not always what happens.

Facebook: Karol Canto

Instagram: @ canto.k

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EDMUNDO CAVALCANTI
São Paulo – Brasil
Facebook Profile | Facebook Fan Page
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Columnist at Website Obras de Arte
E-mail: cavalcanti.edmundo@gmail.com