While growing up in Cuba, Efrain was always involved in the arts, often taking classes after school, like watercolor, papier mache and chalk drawing. “As a child I used to paint with whatever I could find in our yard or in the kitchen; flower petals could transfer beautiful colors to paper, yellow from cumin in water or the beautiful blue from sea grapes. My inspiration came from my father who painted murals in our house and his sister, who did great sculpture work in Cuba.”

 

“Music, wine and having friends around are the impetus for most of my work. I like using tints and raw pigments in the mixing of my colors. I frequently use mixed media to create abstract, 3D or graphic work. Today I like working with acrylic paints, oils, metal leaf, pastels and chalk, often completing my work with heavy clear finishes.”

 

Efrain’s commercial art degree, together with 20 years of fine art framing and design, has been instrumental in his growth as an artist. Nine years ago, Efrain co-founded ART HOME COMPANY in Portland, which has become known for quality fine art framing and for frequent exhibitions of original art.

EFRAIN  GONZALEZ