Interview with Pato Reichler

How would you describe yourself and your artwork?

I am a very persevering person, with clear objectives and I consider myself a good communicator. It is in that same line that I want, and I try that my works transmit emotions, mobilize, and give a message to the viewer. 

How do you go about beginning a new piece? Do you have an idea already in mind, or do you start working with materials or sketches to find the departure point?

I usually start with a clear idea of what I’m going to do, the main objective being the message I want to convey. I think about it, I sketch, I rethink the idea, locate the characters and I start working with the colors and materials until I reach the final result I was looking for.

When do you think your most prolific time of day or week is?

I don’t have a specific prolific moment of the week; I simply call it “my moment of artistic inspiration” where the idea arises, and when this happens I won’t be able to stop thinking about it and I need to get to work and develop this idea. It happens to me that it is difficult for me to handle anxiety, for example between drying times (when I have to wait until oil dries) because I have the need to finish the work, so it looks as I picture it in my mind. 

Regarding when my “moment of artistic inspiration” occurs, it isn’t a specific day of the week or moment of the day, it just happens. 

What is a barrier you as an artist overcame? Is there anything that enabled you to develop your work as an artist in your life?

As an artist I overcame the barrier of “what will they say?”. Before, I was concerned about what people might think when seeing my works since I always developed very sensitive topics. Nowadays I managed to overcome this in part thanks to my work, to the characters of the stories I paint; I show very current realities and situations and I’ve come to realize that people, in general, feel identified with my work at some point. I have had a very good reception from the different audiences and that encourages me to continue creating. In my life, there were certain triggers that led me to develop the topics I represent in my works.

Did you have an idea of what you wanted to create right from the beginning?

I always knew what I wanted to create. I was always passionate about classic stories, but I wanted to give them a twist. I try to show the psychological part that all these stories have and demonstrate that, no matter how old the stories are they are still very current. In my opinion, that is why people are attracted to my work because one way or another they identified themselves with it. 

What is the meaning or creative inspiration for your work? We’re curious what the narrative or story is to what you are producing?

The story behind my works… well that’s a tough one. There are experiences that mark you and that you wish not to happen to anyone else. I also like to express how important respect for the other person is, and the importance be able to tell someone: “Up to here, this is the limit”, or that you can always get out of the darkest and tangled forest. Also, I try to raise awareness on the importance of caring for the environment and our planet. 

I like to work with topics that involve questions that people usually ask themselves and sometimes don’t dare to express. I want my works to have a lot of content and to be mobilizing. 

Besides your artworks, are there any other things in life that your voice as an artist may consider vital or valuable? What makes you joyful and creative, in other words?

My family makes me happy; they always accompany me and support me in all my projects. It makes me happy to see that people want to have my creations in their homes, at work, etc. 

I like to travel and that is also one of my great triggers when creating. And of course, it makes me happy to pick up the brushes and put on the canvas the ideas that I have in my head. When I paint, transport myself somewhere else.   

Are there any exhibitions or places where people can see these beautiful creations in person soon? Anything on the horizon?

Finally, with the reopening of everything after the pandemic, the face-to-face exhibitions begin again! I now have, from October 14th to October 17th and important exhibition called BADA on the premises of the Sociedad Rural Argentina (in Buenos Aires) where I exhibit many of my works and people are able the see them and even acquire them if they want to. 

You can also see my creations in the gallery “Juana de Arte” (Martinez, Buenos Aires, Argentina) and of course in my Instagram (@patoreichler) and my website www.patoreichler.com.ar