Bio
In her practice, Raquel Lopes (b.1996) is interested in stirring the line between reality and dream worlds, memory, fluid non-existent realms, and the affects of light on water, realizing nature mainly through landscape and portraiture. She works in a variety of mediums, focusing on oil paint, and digital practices, as well as watercolour and general drawing. Located in Toronto, she is in her final year as Drawing & Painting student enrolled at Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCAD U). In addition Raquel has worked with the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) to design their Hands On Education - Costume Room and to develop her own teaching skills. She has received the Ontario Volunteer Service Award and continues to lend a hand in the community while creating new artworks.
Artist Statement
Raquel's work plays with the fluidity of dream worlds, created spaces that articulate stillness in time while merging and manipulating real images as well as visuals derived from mind, and memory, consistently exploring these themes in what she creates. By being selective of her colour palette, creating landscapes in unreal worlds, she aims to create playful carefree spaces that more often draw out a feeling of calm. Mainly working with oils, acrylics, and watercolour but not limited to these mediums, she explores digital realms with 3D modeling, animation and more. Raquel creates in hope to uncover scenes that feel familiar without actually having to exist in the real world.