Expressing Reality Combining Cubism and Surrealism: Interview with Favio Ulises Ramos aka “FUR”
Art by Favio Ulises Ramos aka “FUR”
Interviewed by A.P. Nuri featured in Contagion Media Magazine Vol. 2
Transcribed by Lana Muhammad
Favio Ulises Ramos is a local artist, born in Phoenix, Arizona and educated in Mexico and Arizona. Favio describes his style as “neo-cubisurrealism” – or a new form of expressing reality combining cubism and surrealism with a nice harmony of color.
Design by FUR, Modeling by Hannah Foote, Photography by KBR, Headpiece by Mayume Designs, Styling by A.P. Nuri, Makeup by Steffanie Wilson, hair by Leandra Lovine
So tell me a little about your art style
“My art style is Neocubisurrealism which is a new combination of cubism and surrealism with a balance of vibrant color. And most of my art especially in the last five or six years has been inspired by my dreams.”
When you hear the word “artist”, what defines that? What makes someone an artist?
“Someone who creates and someone who is passionate about creating in any sort of medium; anyone from film to a graphic artist. It could even be a director for choreography, drawing and painting.”
Design by FUR, Modeling by Lana Muhammad, Photography by KBR, Styling by A.P. Nuri, Makeup by Steffanie Wilson, hair by Leandra Lovine
What does art do for you? How does it benefit your life and your lifestyle?
“It brings harmony into my life, it brings income, it brings happiness. It brings an exposure of my soul towards others. My girlfriend has to be one of my biggest muses. Two of my biggest paintings are of her: “Mayume Cactus” and “Madness Within”. Art to me is a big expression of my inner self as well as my soul and my heart.”
Photo of Favio Ulises Ramos by KBR
Have you ever had a piece of art that was extremely popular, but didn’t care for? And at the same time, is there a piece that you created and absolutely loved, but people didn’t care for? Or is all of your work deep and meaningful to you?
Favio: Going back on something that I was just saying on your last question- for example “Puss and Boots” is a painting that I did with a cat with boots and it was apparently really cute and appealed to the masses. I found it to be successful and I did something I wanted to do. However It’s not really one of my favorite paintings, but it’s one of people’s favorites. With “Mayume cactus” and “Madness Within” you see a quality inspired once again by Mayume and it was something I really wanted to do. I didn’t care if it would please the masses. I went from my spirit and from my heart and I was very driven.
So going off of that then, what do you hope that your art will contribute to the community within Phoenix and Arizona?
Favio: “What do I hope for my art?”
Yeah do you think that it will bring something to the art community in Arizona that it doesn’t already have or maybe some sort of impact that it could make on other people in the community?
Favio: “Yeah well I hope to keep creating in the Phoenix art community. And I also hope to make an impact on people’s lives -- not just something people put on their walls and don’t think about. I hope that when people put my art on their walls that they look at it and it brings them some happiness and brings meaning into their life.”
Design by FUR, Modeling by Hannah Foote, Nicole Knix, Jade Harman, Photography by KBR, Headpiece by Mayume Designs, Styling By A.P. Nuri, Makeup by Steffanie Wilson & Gabrielle Waltrip, Hair by Leandra Lovine
If there was a young artist in Phoenix that wanted to put their art out there, but didn’t really know where to start, what advice would you give to that artist?
Favio: “I think that doing first Fridays was one of my first starts. This goes for everyone out there: even if it’s just one table and they start a few of their art pieces- whatever it might be, jewelry, art pieces, etc. Then they should lift their chins and always hope for the best because you can always grow and you gotta start somewhere. I always encourage people to start from First Fridays or from little gigs and then you start growing from there. Start getting into contact with local artists and see if they know of any shows and that way the more you get in contact with local artists, the more you’ll get in contact with other shows.”
What’s the worst and best advice you’ve ever gotten as an artist? Something that someone told you that doesn’t apply to anything or the best advice that kind changed you as an artist?
Favio: That’s a hard one. What do you think? I feel like I need your help [to Mayume]. I can’t think of one, I’m pulling a blank here.
Mayume: Were you told to finish art school?
Favio: Ohh yeah, that’s a good one. Okay so actually, the worst advice I ever got was that you have to follow a certain style or you have to finish art school in order to succeed. I’m not saying that education’s bad, but-”
Mayume: You shouldn’t let that stop you from your passion.
So you didn’t finish school?
Favio: I didn’t finish school, no. I was going to be an art teacher, but I didn’t follow the district’s way.Follow your passion. Whichever road you choose to go, just follow your passion. This will help you in the end.
Design by FUR, Modeling by Hannah Foote, Nicole Knix, Lana Muhammad, Jade Harman, Sam Metli, Photography by KBR, Headpiece by Mayume Designs, Styling By A.P. Nuri, Makeup by Steffanie Wilson & Gabrielle Waltrip, Hair by Leandra Lovine, Designs by Imagine Threads
Have you ever been influenced by what’s on
social media or what’s been portrayed by other artists? Or do you admire people, but just do your own thing and is that the best idea? Is it okay to be inspired by other artists who are doing something different from what you want to do?
Favio: “I think it’s okay to be inspired by other artists, there’s nothing wrong with that. I think that you gotta remember that what you’re following as your passion because you can get inspired but you don’t wanna mimic somebody else’s art. And I remember something similar was happening to my girlfriend and I remember giving her this advice, I was like well: you gotta see people’s intentions and you have to see if they’re truly trying to do what you’re trying to do. I remember somebody wanted to get a portrait of themselves on a painting and pay someone to do it for them.
Sometimes things will happen that way. Sometimes a masterpiece will happen spontaneously and it’s just part of passion for the art and the road of art for the self. You can’t just ask someone to paint a portrait of you and then make the portrait popular. Because people will see it on social media and a certain reaction cannot be forced.”
Mayume: People will see it on social media and you can’t replicate it, you know?
Favio: Yeah and even your own artistic style will be what it is and it wont look like someone else’s.
Favio: If you see that someone’s trying to replicate your art, you gotta know that you’re doing the right thing and your magic is yours and it can’t be replicated.
Design by FUR, Modeling by Hannah Foote, Nicole Knix, Lana Muhammad, Jade Harman, Sam Metli, Photography by KBR, Headpiece by Mayume Designs, Styling By A.P. Nuri, Makeup by Steffanie Wilson & Gabrielle Waltrip, Hair by Leandra Lovine
