Architecture, art and theater are three prongs in the creative mind of Conrado Contreras, whose exhibit “Art for the Office, Living Room and WC” is hanging on the second floor at the Centro Cultural de Ajijic (CCA) through March 1.
Conrado Contreras is showing 30 works at the Centro Cultural de Ajijic that demonstrate his equal ease in working in watercolor, acrylic paint or pen and ink and tackling diverse subject matter.
Born in Mexico City in 1940, Contreras earned his degree in architecture at the Universidad Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM). In 1975, he set down roots in Chapala with his wife, author and teacher Zaida Cristina Reynoso, and the couple’s two young children. Since then, he has devoted his talents to designing and building private homes, mounting theatrical productions with local amateur thespians and picture framing, in addition to cranking out sketches and paintings.
An example of Conrado Contreras fine watercolor technique.
Asked about the forces that drive him, Contreras says, “Inspiration doesn’t exist. You either work or you don’t work. When I’m painting, I give it my all.” The same philosophy and equal passion applies whether he’s engaged in drawing up architectural plans or putting on a play.
With completion of the collection displayed at CCA now behind him, Contreras is currently working on preliminary sketches for a series off-beat illustrations for Alice in Wonderland stories. He is also planning to produce a new stage drama before the year is out.