Artist Bio - Louis Maestas (Artistic Impressions Gallery)

As one sits in Louis Maestas' art room, all around lurk intruders.  But these, bidden as if by Kokopelli's own flute, are not only welcome, but glorious.  They are the expansive spirits of the Native Americans Louis lives with, paints, and in the end, glorifies in his work. 

 

With the discipline of one self-taught and the passion of one unable not to paint, Louis- as Old Master - combines honed personal technique with...Love.  As a child he thrived on the awe and simplicity of his young Indian friends in Seligman, Arizona.  Today, his is a passion and a calling that has ripened into a succession of masterpieces.

 

Louis' career has included success in commercial art, publishing, and advertising.  As a master painter, he has perfected the Oil Rub Out, a technique dating back to the time of Michelangelo, when art schools required its mastery before students were allowed to explore color.  The whole process is subtractive, and teaches light and dark values by placing the dark first, rubbing out, and working towards the light.  There is virtually no brush work; the piece is accomplished solely with the use of the fingers and a simple rag.

 

Currently Louis is also lecturing and preparing a book about the development of the artistic spirit.  He resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico and travels the southwestern United States extensively.  With all of his subjects he brings to the canvas not only their present selves, but all that lies possible within them.  From this mystical process then, we as art lovers, are also enhanced and expanded ourselves.  - M.L. Dellafiora -