Francisco Baldonado

My artwork originates from firsthand experiences but also from the fascination of
other people’s stories and scenes of everyday life. My aspiration as a painter is to
inspire, motivate and encourage the beholder with my creative activity. I am convinced
in the power of art to transform minds and can lead to new ways of thinking, emotional
reactions, and behaviors because I am living proof.

I work primarily with oil paint on stretch canvas and occasionally on masonite
board. My favorite subject is portraiture and the human figure which I approach with
various drawing techniques. I begin my process with loose sketches, construction of
positive and negative shapes, and the grid method of enlargement to be more precise. I
find myself captivated by the portraiture and figure paintings of the old masters, their
ability to create such grandiose works of art. I’m intrigued by Michelangelo’s figure
paintings, the way he is able to capture the human form and tell a story without any
words, just paint and brush. That is something that encourages me to paint because I
seek to do the same with my artwork. Uplift the observer with my experiences. As in one
of my paintings titled, “I Surrender”, I utilize symbolism and invite the viewer to make
their own interpretation. In this painting, it depicts a scene of a young man on his knees
in a particular space and time, with a bright light coming from above with a bird coming
into frame. My hope is that the viewer may feel some sort of peace and create a spark
of positivity in their mind, no matter what they believe, or think is right or wrong.

I am currently working on a series… and getting ready to work on some pieces for
the LBCC Art Gallery Justice Scholars exhibition. My mission in life as an artist is to
continue using my critical thinking skills to create meaningful art that inspires joy and
raises awareness on issues where there is a need of healing and empowering humanity
to do good to help others and make a change in the world.