"I am an artist who delves into the depths of my imagination to bring my illustrations to life. I am a master of many mediums, each with their own unique properties and characteristics. I use oil paints to create rich and textured masterpieces, acrylics for their versatility and fast-drying properties, watercolors for their delicate and ethereal quality, charcoal for its ability to create bold and dramatic contrasts, pastel chalks for their soft and dreamy effect, ink for its precision and fine lines, graphite pencils for their subtle and nuanced shading, and colored pencils for their brilliant hues and vibrant details. I also specialize in hyperrealism, using these mediums to create lifelike and highly detailed illustrations that are so realistic, they almost seem to jump off the page. I combine these techniques and materials to create traditional and fantastical illustrations that are both striking and captivating."
My name is René Salazar, and I am a plastic artist. I started my artistic path in my childhood as an autodidact, doodling on any surface I could find to express my emotions and imagination, I always had a passion for art and knew from a very young age that I wanted to pursue it as a career. After completing my university studies in Business administration, I decided to follow my true passion and graduate in Fine arts. During my studies, I discovered my love for illustration until I reached hyperrealism, and I knew that this was the path I wanted to take in my artistic career.
In 2006, I made the decision to move to Spain to continue my studies and pursue my artistic career. The move was a big step for me, but I knew it would be beneficial to my growth as an artist. I spent several years in Spain to continue my studies, earning a Professional Master's in Editorial Illustration and a Master's as a Digital Graphic Designer, honing my skills and building my portfolio.
I have had the honour of exhibiting my work at the prestigious and renowned Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, where I had the opportunity to make portraits for Leire Olabarria and Unai Elorriaga, 2008 Beijing Olympic Games cycling champions. This was a particularly special experience for me, since it was an opportunity to show my work with some of the most recognised artists in the world.
I have also had the opportunity to work as a co-author and illustrator on the controversial comic "POLITITXIKIS” published by HUMADI in 2008, in Bilbao, Spain, and to appear on local radio and television programs.
In 2015, I worked as an illustrator for the Madrid Publishers Association in the "Libros a la calle" campaign to promote reading on the Madrid Metro and buses.
I currently live in Oxford, United Kingdom, and throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to participate in several exhibitions, in galleries and museums in different countries, such as Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama, including the renowned Ramsés Gallery in Madrid. I am proud to say that my work has been well received by critics and art enthusiasts alike.
As an artist, my goal is to create work that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also meaningful and thought-provoking. I strive to push the boundaries of hyperrealism and create pieces that are both technically impressive and emotionally impactful. I am constantly looking for new opportunities to share my work with the world, and I look forward to continuing to grow and evolve as an artist.