10 Questions with Marco Soria

Marco Soria is a digital artist with a passion for painting that began at an early age. He started painting in Photoshop in 1991 when he was just eight years old, and since then, he has perfected his digital technique, exclusively using the brush tool in Photoshop to create his works.

Currently, he works as an illustrator on Upwork and sells his digital prints to enthusiasts worldwide. He has had the honor of exhibiting his works in various galleries and art spaces in Mexico City, including the Instituto Cultural México Israel and the Centro Cultural del México Contemporáneo.

Marco's style is characterized by influences from gothic culture, pop art, and elements such as cats, flowers, and the refined aspects of women. His portraits, often based on female models, stand out for their saturated colors and high contrast, reflecting a blend of his influences and personal experiences. Among his main influences are great names like Dalí, Warhol, and Basquiat.

Life itself, in its entirety, is his greatest source of inspiration. Marco is a recovering addict with 12 years of sobriety, and the ability to experience enthusiasm and well-being in life drives his creativity. His art is not only an aesthetic expression but also a means to alleviate pain and celebrate recovery.

Although he studied graphic design at IBERO CDMX, he did not complete his studies due to his addictions. Nevertheless, his self-taught path has led him to a successful career as an illustrator, with projects that include creating art for clothing.

Motivated by his faith in God, Marco follows an artistic philosophy centered on the love of the creative process, leaving the results in divine hands and finding satisfaction in the simple act of creating.

@marcosoria_art

ARTIST STATEMENT

The motivation behind my art stems from the magic of the world and the beauty, refinement, sophistication, and sensitivity I find in some women, men, and non-binary beings. My artistic journey began as a way to cope with pain and suffering, akin to the solace I found in music. However, nowadays, when I feel very bad, I can't create. Now, my art arises from a place of appreciation for the expansion of spirit and the balance between light and darkness.

My creative process combines visual exploration and digital techniques. I find or take photographs that capture my interest, using these images as a basis for my digital paintings. This method recalls Warhol's approach, but instead of working with silkscreen, I use digital canvas and photography, exclusively employing the brush tool in Photoshop.

In my work, I explore a variety of themes and concepts, including sensuality, gender duality, symbolism, geometric forms, vivid colors, cat eyes, the exotic, intimacy, racial diversity, women, and LGBTQ+ culture. Through these explorations, I aim for viewers to find a deep connection, seeing reflected aspects of themselves or the otherness.

My personal experiences have fueled my art. Each piece is a manifestation of my personal journey, my struggles and triumphs, and my ongoing quest for understanding and celebrating diversity and beauty in all its forms.

INTERVIEW

Let's talk a bit about yourself first. When did you first realize you had a passion for painting, and how did it lead you to digital art?

Since I was a child, I liked to draw portraits with pencil or whatever, but the passion began when I was depressed, and I started painting with acrylics to try to counteract that state of mind. As a good Aquarian, I have always been fascinated by technology, so when I realized that the colors were more vivid on the computer, I was hooked.

Can you tell us about your experience starting to paint in Photoshop at the age of 8? What drew you to this medium?

There were always computers around me. Being the son of divorced parents, I would go with my dad on weekends. My dad always had a computer on hand, so I was free to browse on it. I suddenly found something better than "Paint" (the Windows software), and I loved it! It was Photoshop! I remember being fascinated by this new software! It was 1991, and Michael Jackson was the king.

How has your technique and style evolved since you first started painting digitally, and what tools do you use now for your work?

I remember painting surrealistic scenarios combined with humanoid figures inspired by people who caught my attention, like Nick Valensi (the guitarist of the band The Strokes). Now I see a pictorial style that is very similar to the flat illustrations of people or objects that are so fashionable today. Back then, they were not. I always used flat colors as I do now, but little by little, I have been developing a more and more stylized technique until I reached the style I have today. I use the "brush tool," the "color picker," the "eraser tool," and the "pen tool (in path mode, without vectors)." 

You mention being a self-taught artist. Ultimately, how would you define yourself as an artist nowadays? What makes you unique?

For me, an artist is someone who wants to attract the attention of a few or many by expressing himself. Technically, what makes me unique is the way I use the contrast of value and color, high saturation, and contour treatment (among other things). Thematically, I do not distinguish myself by painting mostly women but by the elements that I use in particular and that together add up to an entity. Examples: using a cat's pupils in one eye and not in the other, hoop earrings, placing insects on top of the portraits, using eye patches, flowers, mustaches, etc. Subtly uses elements of gothic, glam, and punk culture such as chokers, black gloves, black lipstick, black fingernails, fangs, lifeless eyes, ear-to-nose chains, etc. I also invent the makeup I put on women.

Can you walk us through your creative process from the initial concept to the finished piece?

Yes, first, I chose a photograph of a woman that caught my eye and placed it on the virtual Photoshop canvas. From here, I let loose and started randomly placing color on some parts of the body. For example: the lips. And so I go... On a whim putting one thing and another. I'm trying colors, too. Sometimes it flows from the beginning, sometimes it doesn't, and I start all over again.

Your style is influenced by gothic culture, pop art, and elements like cats, flowers, and LGBTQ+ culture, as you mention in your statement. How do these influences come together in your work?

Converge in a particularly unique way: Marco Soria.

Your portraits often feature female models with saturated colors and high contrast. What inspires you to focus on this subject matter and style?

I am inspired by my subjective conception of beauty in digital painting.

How do your personal experiences shape the themes and elements in your art?

I study astrology, among other things, to understand myself better every day. With the study, I have realized that since childhood, I have been marked in a pronounced way by the energy of the sign of Aquarius, which is identified with alternative, extravagant, and unconventional elements, and then make a synthesis of it all and brings something "new" to the world.  An example of this is the strong impression made on me by that androgynous being, with a unique and provocative appearance called Michael Jackson.  In short, I have been getting to know myself through the world; there is no other way. Everyone out there is a projection of who you are. I know it sounds trite, but it's the truth.

What future projects or themes are you excited to explore in your digital art?

For now I want to stay focused on the female figure and any combination of gender as a focal point. From there: Uff! I can infiltrate any subject that I am passionate about to further embellish my portraits: astrology, occultism, magic, music; etc.

And lastly, where do you see yourself and your work in five years from now?

Like a less ignorant and sober man doing what he loves most: digital painting and music

Artist’s Talk

Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.