Pablo Rubén paints in some of the most iconic cities in the world, but rarely presents the tourist’s perspective.
“The first thing I do when I arrive in a new place is locate the water,” he says. “Rivers, ponds, lagoons, and fountains top my list of favorite subjects. If I’m visiting a coastal area, it’s easy because there’s inspiration everywhere. In general, I stay away from the typical or expected subjects in the places I visit. A lot of time, I’m in a new place for a plein air competition, and the way to stand out is to paint something original or rarely seen. When I paint, I try to represent the atmosphere and personality of the place, the feeling of a specific moment, rather than an identifiable landmark.”
In this exclusive interview, he shares the role plein air painting competitions have played in his career, and more.