About me
I was born in the Philippines, studied at the University of Santo Tomas and attended the College of Fine Arts and Design where I majored in Painting. I worked as a Background artist for Top draw Animation, Inc., Illustrator for Lampara Publishing House and Digital Imaging Specialist for Craft Worldwide. I currently work and live in Boulder, CO.
More about me...
Nonie Cruzado is a fine artist whose work has stemmed from personal experiences and philosophies. Born in the Philippines but now based in San Diego, California, he majored in Painting at the University of Santo Tomas College of Fine Arts and Design. His works have graced galleries both in the United States and abroad, including several in California, USA; Makati, Philippines; and Venice, Italy.
Cruzado’s works often implore the use of graphite, pen and ink, and even acrylic paints. “They are easy to use, plus they’re always available in art supply stores,” he said. While his choice of medium varies, one thing connects it all: the human mind. Motivated by innermost thoughts as well as inspiration from great art and the artists behind them, Cruzado creates his own personal takes on the world around him.
“I create art that reflects my thoughts or your innermost sentiments by addressing these issues will bring us closer to understanding ourselves,” he explained. “My art is like my visual diary. I usually make doodles everyday but the polished ideas gets to the final artwork.”
Having gone through art school, Cruzado cites a diverse list of visual influences, ranging from the traditional up to today’s newer artists. “I got influenced by the works of people like René Magritte, Salvador Dalí, Albrecht Dürer, and Jean Rustin,” he said. “However, my contemporaries also inspire me, including Cj Tanedo, James Jean, and Kent Williams.”
Cruzado also explained that it’s not just visual inspiration that allows him to create his recognizable brand of art. “Ideologically, my art is also heavily influenced by other things,” he said. “Kabbalah, books by Dr. Michael Laitman, Carl Jung on symbols and collective consciousness, the 14th Dalai Lama, Bruce Lee, and when I was younger, Paulo Coelho, to name a few.”
Cruzado describes himself as always curious for the mystery of the mind and how it works, and uses it as inspiration to create his intricate pieces. “How the mind works, how it shapes our reality, the contrast between the finite material world and the intangible abstracts of the mind,” he specified. “It can be about my first hand experiences or a book that I read or a friend’s story, anything that affects me that I feel like documenting or I think is worth sharing.”
Often focusing on certain themes for chunks of time, Cruzado always makes sure his works of art mean something to him. “My artworks represent a need to understand ourselves better,” he explained. “Most of my artworks are brought by introspection after being affected by external catalyst, and most of this affection results to image fixations.”
Cruzado’s pieces often incorporate interesting details not commonly found in contemporary pieces. “I intentionally use discarded or insignificant objects as subjects or as elements in my composition to draw the viewer to small things hoping to raise their awareness make them relate to inanimate objects,” he said. The reason behind it is his belief that everything in this universe is connected to one another.
Perfection is not the end game either, but rather the connection he creates. “Though I preconceive the composition, I leave something for happy accidents – the play between the unpredictable and the adjustments that I do to reach a desirable result,” he expounded. “In this process it keeps me excited and connected to my piece.”