Behind the Scenes of Creation: My Studio Photoshoot Work — O Gringo Artist

Welcome to my world at La Smart Galerie, in the heart of the LX Factory creative district in Lisbon. Today, I'm opening the doors of my studio to show you what goes on behind the scenes. We'll talk about raw creation, technique, and you'll discover my exclusive creative process during a photoshoot with my models.

Contemporary art is often perceived solely through its final result, displayed on the walls of international galleries or presented in luxury private collections. Yet, behind each piece I create lies a complex process, made up of research, experimentation, and meticulous staging.

Photography: The Starting Point for My Mixed Media Works

For me, a work of art doesn't begin with a paintbrush or resin. It all starts behind the lens of my camera. I use model photography as the essential foundation of my mixed media works. Each studio photoshoot is conceived as a complete creation in itself.

I carefully select my models, their poses (strictly in profile), expressions, and plays of light to build a strong visual foundation that will then serve as the structure for my pictorial compositions. Far from a simple documentary shoot, the session becomes a creative laboratory where every detail counts in creating the visual tension that characterizes O Gringo's artistic identity.

Hyperrealism in the Service of Emotion

Photography allows me to capture details with remarkable precision. This pursuit of hyperrealism is one of the major hallmarks of my work. Skin textures, light reflections, and human expressions become the raw material for works that oscillate between stark reality and artistic interpretation. Through this approach, I seek to create an immediate and tangible connection with the viewer and art collectors.

The Power of Blue and the Inspiration of Mediterranean Azulejos

One of the most recognizable elements in my visual world is my use of intense blue contrasts. This color, omnipresent in my Blue One collection, brings depth, energy, and emotion.

My work also draws strength from the rich heritage of traditional Mediterranean azulejos. These famous decorative ceramic tiles inspire many of the graphic elements and geometric patterns that I incorporate into my creations. By reinterpreting this cultural heritage through a contemporary language, I create a strong bridge between my history, my roots in Nice on the French Riviera, and my life as an international artist in Lisbon.

From the Photograph to the Final Artwork

Once the studio shoot is complete, the real work of composition begins. The photographs are reworked, assembled, and enriched with textures, traditional patterns, and painterly interventions using acrylic and resin. This unique fusion of photography, graphic design, and contemporary art allows me to develop an immediately recognizable style.

Each captured image is an essential step in building a rich, vibrant, and deeply personal visual universe. It is this professional rigor that appeals to collectors in Paris, Monaco, and Lisbon, especially since each final artwork is certified and secured immutably on the blockchain via Verisart.

The journey has only just begun. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

— O Gringo, La Smart Galerie, LX Factory Lisboa.