Christian Lucena

My story begins in the city of Maracay, Venezuela, where I took my first breath. I then spent my days in Puerto Ordaz, another city in Venezuela, until I was 15 years old. At that point, I traveled with two-thirds of my family to South Carolina in the United States. Growing up, both my parents were doctors, but my dad always had an artistic inclination that inspired me to overcome challenges through art and creativity. More often than not, he encouraged me to think outside the box.

As an artist, my work is a way for me to express and process the things in my life that words just can’t capture. More often than not, problems and emotions overwhelm me and sometimes stop me in my tracks. It is through art and my creative vision that I’ve found a way to express these feelings and process the experiences in my busy life. I love the opportunity to tell pieces of a story in a portrait, and I often use faces as the vehicle for my art. However, I also deeply enjoy worldbuilding in a peaceful landscape. Although acrylic was my first medium of choice, ever since discovering oil painting, it has become the core of all my creative endeavors. Even when working digitally on Procreate, I use brushes and techniques inspired by my oil painting.