Enric Gol Magriñá is an artist specializing in oil and watercolor painting techniques.
With an insatiable nature and an unconventional approach to his work, Enric always seeks to transcend established boundaries. His quest for new horizons culminates with his move to Menorca Island in 2010. The vibrant colors, evocative light, and captivating landscapes of this place serve as the catalyst, enabling him to explore new artistic styles, including sculpture and engraving.
Inspirations and Influences
Enric Gol’s passion for art and its surroundings ignited between childhood and adolescence. His room became a sanctuary filled with biographies, encyclopedias, and catalogs of admired painters. Posters and photographs displaying emblematic artworks adorned the walls, bridging the gap between the painter’s palette and his aspirations.
Embracing Diversity in Art
Enric embraced various artistic styles, dedicating ample time to each. Baroque, pompier, impressionism, cubism—each found a place in the universe where he often sought refuge. Velázquez, Caravaggio, and Ribera were his classical heroes, while Fortuny, Sorolla, and Alma Tadema represented the moderns. Claudio Bravo and Dalí, on the other hand, were his contemporaries. However, during the onset of his career, Velázquez’s paintings and later Fortuny’s became his main influences.
Formative Years in the Art World
Enric’s artistic journey commenced at Barcelona’s bohemian Massana School of Art. A chance encounter led him to Maestro Roca Rodó, a luminary from Catalonia’s classical school. Transitioning from Massana to Rodó’s master classes in Poble Nou elevated his craftsmanship. At 26, his debut solo exhibition of still life at El Carme Gallery in Vic marked a turning point, igniting a series of exhibitions that fuelled his creative fervor.
Unveiling Realism and Atmosphere in Art
Enric’s hallmark is the essence of air. His artwork encapsulates the air surrounding objects, defining our proximity or distance from them—a visual reality that engages viewers. His hyper-realistic style breathes life into his subjects, each object exuding naturalness as if arranged in the scene moments before observation. Particularly, his fascination with white fabrics reveals an exquisite obsession, capturing countless tonalities merging upon sheets, silks, or humble kitchen cloths, evoking scents of lavender or the warm, ironed cloth.
Dynamic Techniques and Artistic Exploration
Enric’s exploration extended across diverse mediums—oil, pastels, pencil, pen, and watercolor—each enriching his artistic narrative. While oil dominated his career, his remarkable work with watercolors cannot be overlooked. His equestrian portraits, reminiscent of Fortuny’s influence, reflect precision and exquisite brushwork, showcasing the sheen of coats and sparkle in the eyes, seemingly alive within the canvas.
Embracing Menorca: A Creative Catalyst
Driven by an unquenchable artistic thirst, Enric sought new realms, anchoring his life in Menorca in 2010. The island’s colors, light, and landscapes catalyzed to reshape his artistic style and venture into sculpting and engraving. Menorca became the canvas where his career expanded internationally, garnering acclaim through private collections and prestigious awards.
Leaving his meticulously controlled brushstrokes behind, Enric aimed to capture the island’s soul and essence. Drowsy boats, adorned horses, impossible waves of transparency, playful clouds—each element presented a tempting challenge to an artist attuned to the island’s vibrant spirit.
Inspiring Studio Space in Menorca’s Heart
Enric’s studio challenges monotony, perched atop a cliff, facing the Tramontana wind, offering daily spectacles. Beyond the seemingly deserted horizon, Mallorca’s outline often graces the view. Coppery hues, bold blue skies, or cascading white clouds—all unexpectedly painted on the stage where Enric stands as the first-row protagonist. Amidst this spectacle, the forest’s murmur blends with the ceaseless, polyphonic melody of the sea.
Nature, the Muse of Enric’s Artistry
Strolls through Menorca’s landscapes prompt Enric to converse with nature, his primary muse. Each painting bears traces of this transparent yet ever-present energy in every corner, leaf, stone, or dewdrop. It’s an unspoken exchange: the island showcases its best, and he elevates it like a deity. Capturing these emotions, he returns to his creative haven, adorning life for those privileged to admire Enric Gol’s masterpieces.
English