Interview: Christian Bañez
Christian Bañez is an artist and writer based in Brooklyn, NY. His work explores intersections of identity, examination of relationships, and personal introspection. Combining images from his camera roll, memory, and imagination, Christian creates a personal narrative showcasing the things he cherishes while trying to answer the question - “what is a contemporary life?”
Read our interview with Christian below!
So Let Me Dream, oil on canvas, 9 x 12 inches, 2023
PP: Walk us through a typical day in your studio or generally through your process to make new work.
CB: I journal on a weekly basis and write down my thoughts in a Cahier’s Moleskine journal I always have on hand, or in my Notes app. Both are filled with retelling of memories, or ideas I have for new drawings and paintings. I try to revisit those every couple of weeks, and see what would make a good image for a new work.
From there I start off with small thumbnails, and then enlarged them if I feel really drawn to it. Once everything is in a good spot, I move onto painting them onto canvas.
Stars 1, colored pencil on Rives BFK, 4.5 x 4.5 inches, 2023
It Comes Apart and That’s Okay, colored pencil on Rives BFK, 10.5 x 10.5 inches, 2023
PP: What motivates you to make art?
CB: In high school I got a job as a newspaper reporter for my hometown and my favorite part of the job was interviewing people. I loved asking people how things have changed throughout time, their opinions on local events, and their every day lives. I’ve taken that curiosity and love for showcasing people in my own work as I explore my relationships with people and the things I encounter in my own life.
There’s also a particular mode my brain goes into when I get focused on a drawing or painting. It’s the most grounded feeling ever to me when I’m hyper focused on what I’m doing but feel so transcendent. I’m always chasing that feeling in my studio practice, and savor every minute of it.
PP: What is your favorite medium and why?
CB: Hands down its oil paint. Using oil paint is like cooking. You learn so much painting with oil over time, and continuing to experiment. It is such an iterative process, and I kinda love it when I mess up really bad and get humbled. I get really excited trying out a new tube of paint or medium similar to when I try out new ingredients or methods of cooking in the kitchen.
PP: What would a dream project look like for you as an artist?
CB: I’ve been obsessed with fashion and fashion illustration since I was a teen. I had a Vogue subscription all throughout high school, and would read my favorite editorials and make collages of the photos inside.
I would love to work with a fashion designer on illustrating their line. Anything from small sketches to full out paintings. I’d be so down if our aesthetics were a great match.
Another dream project would be to paint the landscape out in Monterey Bay, California. John Steinbeck is my favorite authors, and I love it when he writes about the landscape, the shoreline, the wildlife. I don’t have a lot of experience with landscape painting, but going out there to recapture his love of the nature would be a dream.
PP: Favorite hobby outside of art?
CB: Finding the best chocolate chip cookie in New York City. I have a handful of bookmarks on my Google Maps app, and I’m always in search for more. Please DM me your leads. 🍪
To learn more about Christian’s work, see his Instagram and Website