Hugo Navarro’s artistic journey begins in his studio, a space where he both lives and creates, surrounded by a diverse array of materials: inks like plastisol (txp ink) and soybean ink, acrylic, graphite, charcoal, house paint, digital art tools, pastel, tempera, and oil. Over the years, oil painting on canvas and digital art—distinctly crafted and not AI-generated—have become his primary modes of expression. The slow, meditative process of working with oils allows Hugo to delve deep into the abstract narratives of distant, imaginary planets, granting him the space to contemplate and fully immerse himself in the creative process.

In contrast, Hugo’s approach with acrylics, temperas, and other mediums takes the form of bold, abstract pieces on large canvases or paper. He employs thick layers and heavy strokes, enabling the work to come to life in mere hours due to the fast-drying nature of these mediums. His drawings, often free-style in small formats on paper, have been a constant since his youth, influenced by an unconscious flow of creativity.

When working with oils, Hugo often paints multiple pieces simultaneously , or , either a large canvas. The extended drying time allows for continuous layering and exploration of texture and impasto, achieved by mixing colors with linseed oil. The rich variety of hues, brands, and varnishes provide endless possibilities for his palette. He is particularly drawn to shades of yellow, blue, titanium white, magenta, red, green, and viridian green, and seeks out unique tones during his travels to further expand his color repertoire.

For over 23 years, Hugo has been stretching his own canvases, a process that naturally initiates the narrative of each piece. He uses palette knives, brushes, and occasionally unconventional tools to create distinct effects that bring his visions to life. His signature is subtly placed, with a low-visibility mark on the front and a clearer one on the back.

Hugo’s digital pieces, termed “Digital Extensions,” originate from original paintings and undergo a transformation through color and shade reversal. Depending on the saturation and quality of the image, each painting can give rise to multiple digital interpretations, typically yielding five to six unique variants. This process is not just a technical endeavor but a creative journey, offering a new dimension to the original work.

His choice of subject matter often seems predestined, as though the images select him rather than the reverse. He is captivated by the notion that in a distant planetary system, vibrant phenomena like sunsets, moonsets, galaxysets, and cosmosets unfold in serene, colorful valleys. These imagined landscapes resonate with the idea of nature’s boundless freedom and inherent chaos.

Nature in all its dimensions is the core of Hugo’s inspiration—from the interplay of light and darkness to awe-inspiring natural phenomena, and the myriad colors and scientific principles that underpin the universe.

Hugo believes that thought must become the guiding light that leads us out of darkness. This philosophy is intricately woven into his technique and the distinctive qualities of his art, which aim to illuminate the deep and captivating mysteries of imaginary realms and the natural world.