How Carlos Arriola Swapped Hotel Suites for Paint Streaks
Carlos Arriola's journey as an artist is as colorful and nuanced as the
landscapes he paints. Born in the vibrant city of Sevilla, Spain, Carlos's
early life was marked by a cultural richness that seeped into his soul. At the
age of 11, his family moved to Portugal, a place that would become the
backdrop to his formative years and a haven that nurtured his budding
artistic spirit. Despite an innate desire from a young age to be recognized
as an artist, life led him down a different path.
Carlos embarked on a four-decade-long illustrious career in the hotel
industry, rising to the esteemed position of Executive Vice President of a
notable hotel company. His journey through the hospitality world, driven by
financial necessity, started after he finished his degree at the Lisbon Hotel
School and earned a Certified Hotel Administrator credential from Michigan
State University. Throughout these years, the canvas awaited, and his
passion for painting remained a quiet yet persistent undercurrent in his life.
It wasn't until his retirement and the global pause brought on by the
COVID-19 pandemic that Carlos found the time to fully commit to his art.
Unfettered by the constraints of his previous career, he immersed himself
in capturing the ephemeral beauty of nature, drawing inspiration from
flowers, architecture, and the serene freedom he felt walking amidst
greenery. This self-taught artist, devoid of formal family artistic influences,
honed his skills through relentless practice, painting, and allowing the
forces of intuition and love for his craft to guide him.