Continuing our artist profile series with students from Barcelona Academy of Art, we're thrilled to introduce Alois Láznička. Originally from Eastern Europe, Alois' creative journey has been untraditional. After studying law and history, he ultimately decided to follow his passion for painting, bringing him to the vibrant city of Barcelona to hone his craft and develop his unique artistic voice. Read on to discover more about Alois' journey, his creative approach, and the inspirations that drive his work.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Some might see me as a bit of a disappointment—I’m 30, a full-time art student, and when I’m not in Barcelona, I’m living with my parents. But I decided to give up a career in law (and risk losing all my money) to try to make it as an artist. I just love painting.
What’s your preferred art medium and why?
Definitely oil paints. In my eyes, there is no better medium. Oils give me the most creative possibilities and the highest level of precision. At first, it can be difficult to handle oil paints properly, but when you get used to it, there's nothing better.
How did you get started as an artist?
I've been drawn to art since I was young and even won some competitions as a kid, but then I spent most of my adult life at grammar school and universities focusing on law and history. I'm grateful for the non-artistic education, though - I think it will have a positive influence on my career.
What’s your favourite thing about studying at art school?
Apart from the free beers at parties... the best thing is our teachers, who are incredibly skilled and very chill people. The other thing I've been grateful for is having the opportunity to teach others through evening classes, which I was doing for six months. It was awesome to have the opportunity to help other kids and I've learnt a lot myself through that experience.
Tell us about your creative process.
I always liked to improvise when painting, sometimes it led to good work and sometimes to a complete disaster. Now, from the academy I've learned that in order to create a good painting, I need to have a clear strategy for each project and be disciplined with its execution.
Barcelona has an incredible art scene. Do you have any favourite spots in the city that inspire creativity?
My favourite spot is a Czech pub near Sagrada. I'm not one to go looking for fancy places to find inspiration, and I don't love big cities or areas full of people, so I usually look for inspiration elsewhere.
Where else do you find inspiration?
I get most of my inspiration from history, reading books, talking to people, visiting museums, and sometimes even just sitting in a pub or café. Other than that, music is also important for me. When I paint, I like to listen to classics like Iron Maiden, Alice Cooper or Amadeus Mozart.
What are your biggest artistic influences?
Right now, my teachers at the academy. Among them my favourite Master Gerard [Castellvi] and Jordi [Diaz Alama, Director at BAA], of course.
What piece of art are you most proud of?
This is “El Pug”, he is the bravest and strongest of all emperor’s men (or dogs). It is partially stolen from Rembrandt. The armour is his, and I created the dog.
Could you tell us about a challenge you’ve encountered as an artist and how you’ve worked to overcome it?
I'm from Eastern Europe, and the biggest challenge so far has been to convince my grandmas that it was a good choice to go to Barcelona to study art. I had to work extremely hard and produce high-quality schoolwork to convince them. I know that it can be difficult to make a living from art alone, but that's a problem for future Alois, and I hope to make it work.
What advice would you give to artists just starting out?
Work hard and listen to your mentors. Some healthy insanity can be a good thing, too.
What is your favourite Castle Arts product and why?
I like the Castle Arts Soft-Core Coloured Pencils. I've recommended them to my sister back home and will be taking some back for her - she's so excited to try them!
Follow Alois on Instagram @alois_laznicka_art to see more of his work.
If Alois' journey has inspired you to explore your own creative path, our range of high-quality artist paints is the perfect place to start. With a selection of oil, acrylic, watercolour, and gouache paints to choose from, we have everything you need to experiment and bring your artistic visions to life.
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