“As a painter,I have little interest in producing landscapes or still-life arrangements," the artist confides. "Rather, I am captivated by the human form, and it is through those images that I best succeed in expressing the feeling that I have towards life itself."
Although the artist's technique could most closely be regarded as realism, Bernal emphasizes that he is not attempting to create the type of realism defined by intricate detail. Instead, emotions reveal the essence of the figures. Bernal notes, "Clearly, I want my work to be interpreted as a painting not a photograph." For this reason, he eschews using either camera or live models, preferring to create portraits that are a composite of people he observes in everyday situations.
"Using photography goes into the commercial side of art, an aspect which inhibits my creativity," he explains. "Why paint that way when you can simply use a camera if you want an exact replication of what you see? Real people and ongoing events are vital subjects for the artist, so my images are definitive of the unspoken qualities which reflect a person's inner character."
"Often, I go downtown and simply observe people on the street. Years ago children from Juarez would cross the border to beg, and seeing them caused me to ask myself, 'What does a street child dream about?' Suddenly, I felt the need to paint scenes such as these in order to give visual perspective to moments in life, which are frequently overlooked. Over time, I have found that ordinary people become extraordinary using your own vision. Immersing myself this intensely in my surroundings compels me to share those experiences with others."
In a nutshell, Bernal's journey to becoming a professional artist affirms the American dream. Born and raised in Ciudad Juarez, Bernal's first home was in a colonia which lacked running water and electricity.
"My family moved to south El Paso when I was 12 years-old, and I experienced a totally different world here. Even living in a tiny apartment, I could now escape to a library."
During his sophomore year, Bernal had the opportunity to pursue his love of art, a talent first identified by his 3rd grade teacher. He began attending classes at the Art Academy of El Paso and continued his studies with Ray Lopez Aleman after graduating from Bowie High School in 1968. During this period, he was also awarded a scholarship to study at the Chouinard School of Art and Music in Los Angeles. However, family responsibilities intervened, and Bernal relegated his dream to pursue a career in art to the back burner.
Just out of high school and in need of a job to support his wife and son, Bernal began working as an elevator operator in a hotel in downtown El Paso. Although this job put food on the table, it brought him little personal fulfillment so he decided to take a chance on his artistic talents once again. Putting together a portfolio showing examples of his work, Bernal presented it to the Popular and White House Department Stores, the only two local companies who actually employed in-house artists to design their newspaper advertising. Following a brief apprenticeship, he was hired full time and spent the next 25 years pursuing a career in commercial advertising.
In 1986, after two decades of creating furniture layouts and linen designs, the artist began to pursue his passion for painting once again. By 1997, he had gained enough confidence in his abilities to mount his first one man show at the Camino Real Hotel.
He confides, "The exhibition was a huge success despite the fact that my work was much different than the typical southwestern subject matter that is popular here on the border."
Primarily self-taught, Bernal continues to hone his talent by visiting museums such as the El Paso Museum of Art and immersing himself in the works of the European Masters.
"With each visit, I see the paintings in a new light, and it is like going there for the first time. Maintaining this link with the Great Masters gives me inspiration, and tradition can always offer something original,” he explains.
In spite of borrowing techniques from these past masters, Bernal considers himself to be more of a contemporary artist, and influences of 20th century painters such as Amedeo Modigliani and Pablo Picasso are apparent in his style.
Bernal's work will be featured in an exhibition entitled "Sights and Insights" which opens at the Hal Marcus Gallery on December 7 and will hang through January 19, 2007. The artist will also provide reflections on his work and techniques in a Gallery Talk on January 11th.
Bernal confides, "What I hope to achieve through this show is to have my audience get to know me as a person, to see that I want to do paintings that matter rather than simply creating popular art."
Echoing this, Marcus enthusiastically emphasizes, "Hector has quickly become one of the gallery's best selling painters. The quality which seems to attract collectors is the evocative mood the artist creates in his work by using a darker palette of colors. Buyers are finding Bernal's art to be a good investment, and his paintings will be treasured in years to come as he is truly becoming a great painter in the tradition of the European Masters."
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