Juan Varela facts for kids
Juan Varela (born in 1950 in Madrid, Spain) is a talented biologist and a famous Wildlife Artist. He combines his love for nature with his artistic skills to create amazing paintings of animals and their homes.
Varela grew up in Madrid and studied Biology there. He earned a special degree by studying how seabirds behave, especially gulls. Before 1980, he spent time researching seabirds in large groups of gulls off the coast of North Africa. At the same time, he started drawing for nature magazines and encyclopedias. He even became the main artist for Felix Rodriguez de la Fuente, a well-known Spanish nature filmmaker and writer.
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Who is Juan Varela?
Juan Varela is a unique artist who uses his art to help protect nature. He is known for painting animals in their natural environments. His work helps people connect with wildlife and understand why it's important to keep our planet healthy.
Early Life and Science Career
Juan Varela's journey began with a deep interest in science. His studies focused on understanding animals, especially birds. This scientific background gave him a special way of seeing the world. It helped him create very accurate and lively art. His early work involved studying birds in their natural habitats. This hands-on experience was key to his future as a wildlife artist.
Combining Art and Conservation
In 1986, Juan Varela became the Director of the Spanish Ornithological Society. This group works to study and protect birds in Spain. He led the society until 1990, when he decided to focus more on his art. He also helped start the Mediterranean seabird association. This group worked for many years to protect the amazing variety of life, called biodiversity, in the Mediterranean Sea. He helped organize international meetings in Spain, Italy, and Tunisia to discuss conservation.
Art for Nature Foundation
In 1992, Varela began working with the Artist for Nature Foundation (ANF). This group, based in the Netherlands, uses art to help protect nature. Juan Varela has joined many projects with ANF in different countries. These include Peru, Ecuador, Spain, Alaska, Portugal, and Israel. He is the official representative for ANF in Spain. His work with ANF shows how art can be a powerful tool for conservation.
His Art and Books
Juan Varela has written and illustrated 20 books. These include two guides to help identify birds and mammals. He also wrote a book to teach students how to draw nature. His beautiful paintings have been shown in art galleries and museums. You can find his work in the UK, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal, and the USA. Some of his paintings are even part of the permanent collection at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wisconsin, USA.
How He Creates His Art
Juan Varela is seen as one of the people who started modern Wildlife Art in Spain. He has also helped many new artists through his teaching. A lot of his paintings are created right where the animals live. He watches them closely in their environment. He also works in his studio, but even there, he uses sketches he made while observing animals in nature. This way, his art truly captures the spirit of wildlife.
See also
In Spanish: Juan Varela Simó para niños
