Today I Met…Cesar Medina

January 26, 2024 Kelly Wilson

Cesar Medina, a local multi-talented artist and musician, was born in a small town called Santa Barbara in the northern state of Chihuahua, and grew up in the city of Chihuahua, the capital of the same state.

Coming from a big family, with four brothers and one sister, Cesar is the second youngest in age. He has fond memories of special celebrations where family members sang and danced and played games while enjoying meals together.

Cesar describes being influenced by his siblings’ interests and finding his own way into the world of music and art. “We had guitars and a piano at home and my older brothers used to sing and play. And, my sister used to draw geometric figures. She and two brothers had technical drawing as a subject in school and so I tried artistic drawing. It has been an interest since elementary school. I have always been into it.”

We asked Cesar where he received his artistic training. He explains, “My official degree is in management, and I have a small career in computer programming. But I am self-taught in music and some other disciplines.” Cesar also has a keen interest in reading. He seeks educational material and studies scientific dissemination. “I’ve always been a good reader. In my mom and dad’s home I read everything, including medicine and any books my older brothers were studying.” Cesar has even read an entire set of encyclopedias. “I am an information addict.”

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THE ART

Cesar’s Dry Media Art Works feature a variety of media; charcoal, silverpoint and sanguine on paper or canvas, and a variety of subjects; human figures, landscapes, and custom or celebrity portraits. He offers lessons in his home studio.

Cesar’s favourite creative process is drawing on paper. He uses high quality paper, chemical free with a high percentage of cotton, and explains that using centuries old proper restoration principals his works will last lifetimes.

“Something that concerns me is the rejection towards art on paper, or the promotion of canvas art only. My goal is to campaign to have people appreciate paper art as finished artwork. Graphite, charcoals, chalk, silverpoint, that lasts forever. Many famous artists have been doing it for centuries.”

Silverpoint is a renaissance technique and Cesar tells us not many people in Mexico do it. “It’s actually silver in the paper, like using graphite, and the sunlight reflects on the silver. You cannot erase it or make changes.”

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THE MUSIC

You can catch Cesar at various venues on just about any given day. His musical repertoire includes many genres, but his favourite style to play is the blues. When playing, especially a bluesy song, “it is where I usually flow. Flowing is a state of happiness and it’s amazing beyond belief. You’re so focused on it, you’re travelling, and I see myself from the perspective of the crowd.”

Cesar tours in Canada during the summers, and offers small group or house concerts in the Bahia area.

He also contributes to local fundraisers, giving his time and financial support.

What is Cesar most proud of?

“I think it would be my happiness. I have no regrets of anything that I’ve done or somebody did to me. I am very satisfied right now so I couldn’t regret the worst things. If any of those things changed, I wouldn’t be who I am now.”

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