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The Spanish artist Santana, was born in the province of Alicante, in 1965. From very early, he felt attracted by the art of painting, for this reason after his first studies in this noble art, he completed them in the Superior Fine Arts School in Valencia.
Every summer he spent many time on the beach, with family. However, when the summer was over, he always returned to his hometown in the mountains of Alicante and longingly he drew the boats, the fishermen and the coast. Unfortunately, he had to wait 9 months to return and wait for that moment became more bearable in the company of his drawings and later, his paintings.
His villages and boats achieve in each of his works of a pure realism distinctive from his creative style perfectly harmonized and full of life and color. He has made many exhibitions, national and international, in places such as: Artexpo (New York), Russia, U.K and Japan.
Over the years, he has refined his style and has become one of the most appreciated artists for his technique and strength of his works.
His skilful manipulation of colour, in particular his use of a wide spectrum of blues, creates a powerful sense of light which is enhanced by his broad and vigorous brushstrokes.
Biography of Santana: The Art of Movement in Modern Boats
Santana is a contemporary painter known for his bold and expressive approach to the depiction of modern boats. Born in Alicante in 1965, he developed an early fascination with the sea and its elements, particularly the vessels that traverse it. His style is characterised by the vibrant use of primary colours—blues, yellows, and reds—and a loose, fluid technique that captures the essence of movement and energy in boats within an urban and contemporary context.
Santana’s artistic formation was largely self-taught in his early years, influenced by artists such as Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró, as well as the contemporary aesthetics of pop art and abstract expressionism. His connection with the sea began in his childhood, spending summers on the Mediterranean coast, where he was captivated by the graceful movement of boats. Through his works, he sought to capture not only the shape of the boats, but their dynamic essence—a sense of being in constant transition, much like life itself.
Santana’s style is defined by his symbolic use of colour. The deep blue evokes the vastness of the ocean, the bright yellow reflects the sunlight that kisses the water’s surface, and the vibrant red conveys the energy and passion the artist feels for his subject. His loose and free brushwork allows the canvas to breathe, displaying the gestural force of the artist’s hand. Rather than adhering to a detailed representation, Santana prefers to emphasise emotion and movement, using quick brushstrokes to shape the boats without losing the sense of fluidity and agility.
One of the most distinctive features of his work is the use of paint drips at the bottom of his paintings. These drips, which naturally descend from the boats or the water’s surface, represent the uncontrollable energy of the sea and the freedom inherent in the painting itself. The drips are not accidental but a deliberate technique that underscores the connection between art and nature, between serenity and chaos.
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