Artist of the week: Ritchelly Oliveira

Ritchelly Oliveira is a young visual from Brazil. Since his teenagehood, Oliveira has been working with the portrait, which began as an outlet of his personal experiences, such as relationships, family, and even insecurities that go beyond that.  Maybe it’s all poetic, sentimental, too emotional, however, is that cliche of love which is the basis of his speech. The bumps leave marks, some wounds leave scars and these are also witnesses of Oliveira’s route. #Interview

KALTBLUT: When did you first start with drawings?
Ritchelly: The drawing was always present with me, from my childhood I already drew. But when I entered the University to study Visual Arts in 2012, the desire became greater and from that other contact with art began an intense and constant process that I build until today.

KALTBLUT: The details of your portraits are incredible. How long do you usually spend on one drawing?
Ritchelly: Thank you. It depends a lot on the size of the drawing. But usually a medium drawing, it takes around 36 hours.

KALTBLUT: Do you work based on photography?
Ritchelly: Yes. The photo becomes part of my work process. Until recently I was always looking for images that somehow had a dialogue with my artistic process, but it was very difficult, because I did not always find relevant images with my narrative. And over time I felt the need to produce my own images. I always try to photograph close friends, or people who inspire me in some way, and from this photo, I build the image that gives voice to my works.

KALTBLUT: What it is about flowers you like so much?
Ritchelly: The flowers have a very personal meaning for me, and I try to take them to my work. Besides the lightness that it provides, the flowers have as sign the vitality, the renewal, the delicacy of always resurfacing in the chaotic means that surround us daily. Above all, flowers signify love. For the Hindus, white jasmine is the flower that most represents love. In China, it is the peony. Flowers, although sometimes seen only as feminine, is a way of representing love in all genres and cultures.

KALTBLUT: What inspires you the most?
Ritchelly: Without a doubt, love. During my childhood and adolescence it was a feeling accompanied by a lot of desire to live it, with time came my first affective experiences. Falls accompanied me in this experience, but I never stopped living the beauty that this universal feeling is capable of passing us. And my work is certainly based on this feeling.

KALTBLUT: Lately, you’ve been mostly working in black and white. Is there any particular reason for that?
Ritchelly: I’ve worked a lot of time with colors. However, I see the possibility that black and white brings by allowing the viewer to read the work with the colors that are their own, which are not reduced as they would be if I already included a single color. The black and white opens to new possibilities, as well as the unfinished drawing.

KALTBLUT: What do you do when you’re not drawing?
Ritchelly: I’m usually with my boyfriend, or my friends. I like to do more cultural programs, theater, cinema, visit exhibitions of new artists, see and absorb what art gives us the best. And travel to places that give me greater contact with nature.

Contact:
www.ritchellyoliveira.com
Instragram:@ritchellyoliveira
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rithc2009@hotmail.com