Petterson Silva was born in Brazil’s Mato Grosso. Young virtuoso Silva attended the Centro Universitário Belas Artes in São Paulo, and initially displayed skill at five after learning about gouache in preschool. Silva was raised in complete harmony with nature, always in contact with the local birds. It helps to know a little bit about the artist’s native country and formative years to appreciate the sentiment and beauty of the scenes he paints on canvas.
His grandfather, a house painter who enjoyed painting Walt Disney characters on plywood boards in his own time, served as his initial source of inspiration. Petterson’s early studies of the great Italian masters Ticiano Vecellio, a Renaissance painter, and Caravaggio, a Baroque painter, whose works inspired and enchanted him, eventually led him to study them. As a child, Petterson’s interest and admiration were for the great Brazilian artist Candido Portinari.
According to Petterson, the development of his technique for his paintings was profoundly affected by his deep respect for the vivid light and shadow in the works of these masters. The artist, who exhibits hyper-realistic qualities, claims that he feels he has not yet attained the desired outcomes, but he still strives for perfection every day. He is meticulous and works hard to capture the correct tone for each species that appears in his work as well as to convey the vibrant colors and unspoiled beauty of his country.
Petterson won first place in 2009 at the Corumbá Art Salon in Brazil. In 2016, he won first place at the Brazilian Art Salon in Liechtenstein. He also won the Giulio Cesare Prize in Rome in 2018. When asked about his love for painting and enhancing God’s masterpieces, Petterson expresses fascination, delight, and zeal for each of his creations. “In every painting, I strive for a pleasing and eye-catching composition. For the artistic gift, I am appreciative of God. For me, creating art is a way to thank God for my hands’ fine motor skills and to honor Him for creating such a diverse array of beautiful creatures” says Petterson.
He thinks that by emphasizing the environment in his realistic artwork, he may help preserve species. He hopes that his paintings won’t be used as a reference in the future to identify extinct animals because, unfortunately, we live in a period when nature is suffering. “In terms of art, I want more people to have access to culture; particularly in nations where it’s not yet a focus,” says Petterson.
The Artist believes that people have a strong capacity for reason and can guide the economy without endangering the environment. And he hopes to see this zeal in every nation, primarily to teach kids to defend themselves and not to harm anyone.
