A Painter from Patagonia Capturing Nature’s Beauty and Touching the World
Guido Ferrari comes from the picturesque town of La Angostura, Argentina, and in just ten years of his artistic career, his paintings have traveled across the globe. But his journey to becoming a painter was far from easy.
“I never allowed myself to think that art could be my life’s path. I grew up with the prejudice that artists are bohemians, hippies, starving. So I hesitated for a long time,” he recalls. Born in Bariloche (Río Negro, Argentina) and raised “on the other side of the lake” in Villa La Angostura (Neuquén, Argentina), he has been fully dedicated to art for the past decade.
From Video Games to the Canvas
Since childhood, Guido was drawn to drawing, watercolor painting, and music. As an adult, he explored various professions—working as a designer, theater set artist, video game animator, and carpenter. Although he enjoyed all of these, nothing fulfilled him as much as painting.
“I remember having a dream job as a video game animator in a prestigious company. But even after eight hours of work, I didn’t feel satisfied—I would come home with just one thought: to paint. I often skipped dinner because of it. I made a commitment to create every day,” he says.
At the age of 20, he started a blog where he shared his artworks. That turned out to be a turning point—he was invited to exhibit at a Latin American art showcase in the United States. “That’s when I made my decision. I quit my job and dedicated myself entirely to painting.”
Painting Under the Open Sky
Upon returning to his homeland, Guido began painting Patagonian landscapes, arrayán trees, and local wildlife. Nature itself became his studio.
“I am self-taught. My intuition guided me, and over time, I met teachers who helped me grow. But my greatest teacher has always been nature itself. I love it because it is constantly changing—it’s never static,” he explains. “I feel the wind, hear the sounds of animals, and experience adventure when climbing mountains. I’ve even slept through snowstorms. All of this inspires me and gives me energy for my work.”
To paint in the most breathtaking locations, he often embarks on hours-long hikes into the mountains, carrying all his painting equipment on his back. “The Patagonian mountains are wild and full of challenges. In the Alps, I painted at an altitude of 4,000 meters; I’ve also painted in Iceland. There, I experienced something unique—being completely isolated from the world, fully immersed in my work.”
Art That Has Traveled the World
In 2018, he exhibited his paintings in seven European countries. Since then, he has traveled and created in places such as Iceland, Bulgaria, Slovakia, the Swiss and Austrian Alps, Denmark, and Paris. Recently, he returned from Iguazú National Park, where he painted the majestic waterfalls in front of hotel guests. His work sparked so much interest that another hotel on the Brazilian side of the falls invited him to repeat the experience.
“I travel the world and feel grateful to do what I love. But it’s not just about talent or luck—there’s hard work behind it. It’s not like I paint two pictures a month and spend the rest of the time relaxing,” he says with a smile.
The beginnings, however, were tough. “I didn’t even have money for painting supplies, so I made frames from whatever I could find and painted on any available material. But my clients never knew that. Since choosing this path, I have never doubted it—even during times when I went hungry. I knew what I wanted and pursued it relentlessly.”
Art and Its Value
When asked about the perception of art in Argentina, he responds:
“It’s natural that in Europe, art is perceived differently—most people don’t struggle with economic difficulties, they have stability and the space to cultivate spiritual values. Yet, I believe that a love for art can be awakened in people, regardless of their social situation.”
He points out that people often say they “don’t consume art.” “But at the same time, they subscribe to Netflix or Spotify. Art can be supported in other ways too—by visiting exhibitions or cultural events. I remember that when I started painting in La Angostura, people had little interest in artistic events. Even in 2000, when the famous band La Portuaria performed in town, only nine people showed up.”
Everything changed thanks to tourists who started discovering his work. “I focused on tourists, which opened doors to the world. But it wasn’t just luck—it was hard work.”
Technique and Speed: The Keys to Capturing the Moment
Guido primarily paints with oil, using large palette knives. “A palette knife allows me to achieve rich texture and, at the same time, the speed I need when painting outdoors.”
Why is speed so important to him?
“The Impressionists knew that light changes every seven minutes. When painting outdoors, in an hour, the sky is completely different. At sunset, the landscape transitions from day to night in just an hour. If I want to capture this atmosphere as authentically as possible, I must work quickly to ensure my painting is honest and true to the moment.”
In ten years, Guido has created over 1,000 oil paintings. But when asked which one is his favorite, he just smiles and replies:
“The best one is yet to come.”
This text is a translation of an article published in the RIO NEGRO newspaper on January 9, 2025, translated by ChatGPT. Original article here:
https://www.rionegro.com.ar/sociedad/el-pintor-de-la-patagonia-que-con-velocidad-intenta-capturar-la-magia-de-la-naturaleza-y-conmueve-al-mundo-entero-3959602/