From his studio at Art150, 150 Bay Street in Jersey City, artist Fabrizio Suarez discusses plein air painting, intuition, Old Masters, fatherhood, and creating work that invites viewers to look closer
Some artists paint what they see.
Others paint what they feel.
For artist Fabrizio Suarez, the two are inseparable.
In this episode of Tarik Talk, I sat down with fellow Art150 artist Fabrizio Suarez to discuss his artistic journey, the influence of landscape painting, the transition from illustration to fine art, and the importance of showing up to work every day.
Working from his studio at Art150, located at 150 Bay Street in Jersey City, Fabrizio has developed a distinctive painting practice that blends imagination, memory, symbolism, and observation into richly layered works that reward careful viewing.
From Uruguay to New York
Born in Uruguay, Fabrizio moved to the United States more than two decades ago and eventually attended the School of Visual Arts in New York, where he studied illustration and cartooning. Like many young artists, he originally imagined a future creating children’s books and working as a professional illustrator.
After graduation, he spent years working as a freelance illustrator and creating commissioned work. But over time, the structure and client-driven nature of illustration left him wanting more creative freedom.
Painting offered that freedom.
Unlike illustration, where revisions and client feedback often shape the final image, painting allowed him to follow his own instincts and creative curiosity.
The Influence of Plein Air Painting
Long before becoming a studio painter, Fabrizio spent years painting outdoors.
Whether standing on a street corner in Jersey City, along the waterfront in Hoboken, or traveling abroad, he developed a deep appreciation for plein air painting—the practice of painting directly from life.
He described spending hours outdoors with an easel, capturing city streets, changing light, and urban landscapes.
Those experiences continue to influence his work today.
Even when painting from imagination, the observation skills developed through years of plein air painting remain central to his process.
Art150 and Building a Daily Practice
A major theme throughout our conversation was consistency.
While having a studio at Art150 has certainly helped his practice, Fabrizio emphasized that creating regularly matters more than having the perfect space.
For him, painting is part of everyday life.
Whether working in his Art150 studio or painting watercolors at home late at night, he believes the key is maintaining momentum.
His advice is simple:
Show up.
Keep working.
Paint every day.
That commitment has become the foundation of his artistic growth.
Inspiration Through Process
Unlike artists who begin with detailed sketches or predetermined concepts, Fabrizio often discovers a painting while making it.
A canvas may begin with a single color.
Paint is wiped away.
Marks appear.
Shapes emerge.
Images slowly reveal themselves through the process itself.
Rather than forcing a result, he allows the work to evolve organically.
The painting becomes a conversation.
Each decision creates the possibility for the next.
Learning from the Old Masters
Throughout our conversation, Fabrizio spoke about his admiration for historical painters.
Among his influences are Spanish master Diego Velázquez and the great Dutch painters, whose use of atmosphere, composition, and storytelling continue to inspire him today.
Rather than copying their work directly, he studies details, moods, and visual strategies that can inform his own paintings.
A hand.
A shadow.
A composition.
A feeling.
These elements become part of an ongoing dialogue between past and present.
Melancholy, Mystery, and Memory
One of the things I have always loved about Fabrizio’s work is its emotional depth.
His paintings often feature sunsets, flowers, landscapes, moons, and distant figures.
There is beauty.
There is mystery.
There is nostalgia.
And there is often a subtle sense of melancholy.
During our conversation, he described wanting viewers to spend time with his work rather than simply glance at it.
Hidden details, symbolic imagery, and layered narratives invite viewers to return again and again.
Each painting becomes a place to explore.
Fatherhood and Creativity
As a father, Fabrizio also spoke about how raising his six-year-old son has influenced his life and perspective.
While parenting may not create more free time, it has introduced new forms of inspiration and joy into his daily routine.
Some of his son’s drawings have even been preserved permanently as tattoos, creating a lasting connection between family, creativity, and memory.
It’s a reminder that inspiration often comes from the people closest to us.
Advice for Young Artists
When asked what advice he would offer emerging artists, Fabrizio’s answer reflected the same philosophy that guides his own practice.
Do the work.
Keep creating.
Don’t wait for permission.
Don’t wait for inspiration.
Don’t treat every artwork as a masterpiece before it exists.
Instead, focus on making work consistently and allowing growth to happen through practice.
His perspective echoes a lesson many artists learn over time:
Progress comes from making art, not thinking about making art.
Looking Ahead
Today, Fabrizio continues developing new bodies of work from his studio at Art150 while balancing painting, family life, and an ongoing fascination with landscapes, flowers, symbolism, and storytelling.
Whether working in oils, watercolor, or gouache, his commitment remains the same: keep exploring, keep experimenting, and keep painting.
And for viewers, that’s good news.
Because every painting feels less like a destination and more like an invitation to look a little closer.
Listen to the full conversation with Fabrizio Suarez on Tarik Talk, where we discuss painting, plein air practice, illustration, the Old Masters, fatherhood, artistic discipline, and life as an artist at Art150 in Jersey City.
About Tarik Talk
Tarik Talk is an international arts and culture podcast hosted by Tarik Mendes — a Brazilian artist and cultural curator with a gift for drawing out the stories behind the work.
Through intimate, in-depth conversations with artists, designers, curators, museum professionals, dealers, and cross-industry guests from music, acting, and journalism, the podcast explores what drives creative people, how art connects us, and why any of it matters.
Inside the art world. Episode by episode.