Biography
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The word "diversity" is one that comes to mind when viewing April Delgado's work. Because, beyond exploring oils, acrylics and sculpture, Delgado's intimate style seems to manifest itself in remarkably different ways. Sometimes she's working out an emotion on canvas, sometimes she's reflecting the world around her, and sometimes she's simply finding the inherent beauty in something as unusual as the human spine. And for every emotion there is a medium. "I use acrylics when I'm doing what I call 'sketch paintings," Delgado says. "You only have so much time before the paint dries. My 'Nursery Rhyme' series, for instance, is about my childhood, and when I think about one of those moments, I need to get it on the canvas quickly, before the image slips away." An oil painting, on the other hand, is something you plan. "That's why I like to take oils beyond expressionism and into sculpture," Delgado says. "Making an actual three-dimensional relief - an artistic fossil on canvas - speaks to that sense of timelessness. Oils also allow me to study the masters and feel inspired by them. I like to look at where someone like Van Gogh or Picasso or Goya left off and think about where they might have been going." Delgado grew up in Los Angeles, California, raised by her Great-Grandmother after her own parents made themselves unavailable. She discovered drawing and painting as a small child, lured by the calm sense of focus they brought. In high school, she discovered sculpture, a medium she found particularly nurturing. By the time she was ready to graduate, Delgado knew her future would be in the arts. Encouraged by her teachers, she decided to apply to the Otis College of Art and Design and was accepted. Her path seemed clear. "Unfortunately, I found art school more stifling than inspirational," she says, "and I eventually dropped out." Her experience wasn't much better at the Art Institute of Southern California (Laguna College of Art & Design). Instead of feeling motivated, she felt boxed in. "Art school was a case of too much talk and not enough action," she says. "The real world and the masters were better teachers." Delgado has spent the last few years trying to balance the financial demands of adult life with the creative demands that come with being an artist. They're worlds that never fail to collide, but luckily, Delgado is used to conflict. Some might even say it's the fuel for her best work. April was born and raised in Los Angeles and lives with her dog, Desmond Blue. Read "artist statement" - November, 2001 K. Krenis All artwork is protected under registered copyright © 1992 - 2007 April Delgado. All rights reserved. You may not distribute, copy, reprint, or use these works without written permission from the artist. 
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