people were drawn to his work. “I just kept painting, painting, paint- ing,” he said. “Then somebody told me about an art show in the neighborhood. I went and I remember when I sold my first piece. So, it just started like that. I never thought about making it into a business. One thing led to another.” Adolfo chose to ride the wave, allow- ing his heart and intuition to guide him and his art––something he committed to staying true to even as his career has taken off. “The work I produce today all comes from that same place of quiet and stillness,” he said. “It’s a place for me to really ground myself. Even to this day, when I’m feeling stressed, I always go to my work because it really can calm me down.” For Adolfo, the biggest lesson in creat- ing art has been learning to work from the body rather than the mind. This is when intuitive messages come through the strongest, and he’s learned when he trusts that guidance, it rarely steers him wrong. “It’s this communication that comes through––I feel like I have something guiding me,” Adolfo said. “I never over- think colors. It’s whatever color comes to mind, that is the one I acknowledge because I believe in the first thought. I don’t believe in overanalyzing it. When I’m in that area, it just doesn’t work be- cause I’m working from the mind.” While Adolfo’s work is rich with spon- taneity, it’s also easy to see that it’s guid- ed by something deeper. There’s a sense of deep exploration in each of his pieces. This is in part from the many layers and textures Adolfo uses, but also because each piece is an act of self-discovery and expression as he journeys within. “My work is more spontaneous. It’s more about just being in the moment,” he said. “That’s how I express myself. That’s how I express the beauty that I feel. Words are not enough for me. Art is really an expression of being alive and being here.” Allowing intuition to guide expression Sharing calm, beauty and love As much as Adolfo’s art is a personal journey and an expression of the love and beauty he is experiencing in that moment, he believes others can feel it too when they view his work. For that reason, he’s made it a priority to always create from the heart. “My art is a place where I can dis- charge,” he said. “It’s very personal and people feel that when they see my work. They feel a sense of peace, calmness,
balance, and creativity. It comes from the heart.” Adolfo believes in the powerful impact art has on humans and sees it as his responsibility to create and represent beauty, positivity and tranquility in his work. “When you look at art, it creates an ex- perience of sensations––and you might not even realize it,” Adolfo said. “For in- stance, if you like blue, you may not even realize it but there’s part of your body that responds positively when you see it. Those feelings come from sensations in different parts of your body. Colors and shapes have a big influence on us humans. It’s how we express ourselves and create everything around us.”
Watch Adolfo's interview here.
“when people see my work they tell me how peaceful it seems to them.”
“Art is really an
Mixed media artist Adolfo Girala never intended to pursue art as a pro- fession. In fact, it wasn’t even on his radar. Growing up in Cuba, he wasn’t exposed to art. It wasn’t much talked about or celebrated for that matter. As such, Adolfo had his sites set on pursuing a career in technology. In 1980, he moved to the US to earn a degree as a technician and subse- quently landed a job with Learjet. He repaired computers for the defense industry for nearly two decades. But somewhere along that path, he felt like something was missing––he wanted something more soul-filling. “I was a pretty good technician, but halfway down the line, I kind of got bored with my job,” Adolfo said. “But I didn’t know what else I was going to do. I knew I didn’t want to be an en- gineer. I’m really bad with numbers. In my spare time, I started painting incense holders and little pots that I would give for Christmas. Then I start-
ed experimenting and buying other art supplies, and I just had so much fun.” In that process, Adolfo also realized an almost therapeutic effect. For the first time, he experienced what it was like to feel fully present, connected and completely immersed in what he was doing. “Art came to me when I needed it most,” he said. “It was sort of like a gift or something that for the very first time allowed me to just be––be here and enjoy the process. It brought me a sense of calmness and peace because I had a place to go to com- pletely disconnect. I found it pretty fascinating.” Finding flow in peace and art As Adolfo ventured deeper into the world of art, he allowed the cards to fall where they may, not putting too much pressure on making a career of it. As he’d soon discover, though,
expression of being alive and being here. That’s how I express the beauty that I feel.”
"Playing with Colors"
"Colors"
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Issue 4 | Spring 2023
Issue 4 | Spring 2023
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