Story of Bottinelli
It’s hard to say exactly when art became important to me because I was very young — maybe six — making little sculptures out of Play-Doh. But don’t all kids do that? There wasn’t a dramatic turning point. Art was just always there in some form: colored pencils, oil pastels, and eventually oil paint when I was 21.
I actually started college as a Spanish major. My mom was a Spanish teacher, my dad is from Chile, and I loved the language… So why not? Halfway through, I switched to art. I don’t remember one specific moment that caused it — it just felt like the right thing to do. It wasn’t well received by everyone. The big question was always how I would make money. But honestly, how was I going to make money with
Spanish either?
What I did know was this: I loved painting. Deeply. Enough that it made more sense to try to build a life around what I love rather than something I only liked. I’ve always been persistent, and I’ve always had a sliver of hope, no matter how small. People close to me have called me resilient, probably because they’ve watched me go through difficult times and bounce back again and again.
Art matters deeply to me because it seems like one of two truths. One, that we will all die one day (and I'm not trying to be dark) And two, art is self expression and in that sense a form of life, the opposite of the first truth. Art exists everywhere: cooking, books, clothes, cars, speech, engineering. Look to your left. Whatever is there in front of you is a form of art. It is everywhere and I don't think we are aware of it.
Self expression has been a medicine for me for all of my years and I think everyone needs it. Not necessarily to do it but at the very least to appreciate it. That is what I explore in my work - the connection to art itself and the incredible experience of a connection to something greater than myself. It doesn't matter if I am painting a goat or a door, a plant, a sky or something completely abstract. It is all about these connections and the expression of a moment, short period of time. I tend to bounce from subject to subject but the connections always remain the same. This is why I like to do small, short series.
I have and still do paint a lot of animals. I am always asked why and I have had to unravel that question over the years. I believe animals can represent the many versions of ourselves and humanity in general. They possess so many personalities and behaviours. The only thing they don't have, that we do, is an ego and I find that very interesting since all animals are completely innocent. They live to live and don’t question it. They are beautiful creatures and we should learn more from them.
When someone buys my art there is more often than not a very strong connection to the piece, whatever it may be. This is what I want people to feel when they live with my work - not a connection to me but a connection to something bigger than themselves that resonates with them, a messenger of sorts. I want them to feel inspired, or sad, or happy. Something. I want to make art that stirs emotions. You asked what makes my work different from others and I thought about that for a while. The only answer I can say honestly is that it comes through me and not through anyone else. If an artist is being honest with themselves during the creative process, the work will be unique to that artist. And that’s the catch. That has always been the catch. You must be honest to create something unique and that is not always easy. But if I am able to do it I want to share it and so I do.