ALVARO CASTAGNET

ALVARO CASTAGNET was born in Montevideo, Uruguay (South America) and migrated to Australia in 1983. His early interest in art was cultivated mainly by his father, who, at a very young age, sent him to the National School of Art in Montevideo and was taught by Professor Esteban Garino. He studied at the Fine Arts University, where Miguel Angel Pareja was his oil painting tutor. Two years after arriving in Australia, he was appointed Art Director of Melbourne’s Latin American Festival. Alvaro has traveled extensively throughout the USA, Mexico, South America, Europe and Australia, which he has found to broaden the vision, depth and subjects of his work.

His experience in the field of teaching watercolors to all levels of artists from beginners to advance is well known and greatly appreciated because he manages to inspire and lift the abilities of all who work with him. He runs workshops all around the world, including South America.

Alvaro Castagnet has an established reputation as a dedicated artist. His works have been acquired by private and corporate collectors worldwide, he has been holding solo exhibitions in Australia since 1985, and has won several prestigious national prizes, including: twice, First Prize Alice Bale Award & First Prize St. Kevin’s College.

In New York, during May 2003 he was awarded most prestigious, “HIGH WINDS” award and medal, by the most prestigious American Watercolor Society.

Making it the first ever Uruguayan to win it.

In April, 2007 he was awarded with "BUD AND GRETCHEN MARBLE MEDAL again, by American Watercolor Society in New York.

"Bronze Award", at the prestigious Camberwell Art Show, in Melbourne, Australia.

Other regional awards are too numerous to menion.

He is a member of Old Watercolor Society and The Victorian Artist Society, and most recently selected AWS member, in New York, USA.

He has been invited to participate in the Cross-Century Asian Pacific Watercolor Exhibition, 1997, 1998, and 1999, at Chung-Cheng Gallery, National Taiwan Arts Education Institute.

In February 2000 he was invited to participate in the auction / exhibition “The art of saving lives” at Sotheby’s Australia.

His book, “Watercolor Painting With Passion” was released in September 2000 with great success throughout the world.

He also writes articles for the AUSTRALIAN ARTIST MAGAZINE, THE ARTIST'S MAGAZINE, WATERCOLOR MAGIC and a number of Dutch magazines, and his work appeared in the premiere issue of “INTERNATIONAL ARTIST” magazine, and continues to do so regularly.

He is one of the 23 international artists that has participated in the successful and recently released (2003) book “The watercolor Landscape Techniques of 23 International Artists”.

He has been featured in “50 AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS” book.

“Watercolor Painting With Passion” Video and DVD has been released with great success.

He is currently working on his next book and a new series of watercolor videos and DVD.

Alvaro is an expressive painter, and portrays a strong, impressive and colorful style with superb interpretation of light effects, capturing the soul of the places he paints.

He has been conducting yearly overseas workshops with great success, since 1992 (U.K., Scotland, Italy, France, Spain, U.S.A., Mexico, Australia, and South America all over)

He is fluent in many languages, including: Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and English.

He is now based in Montevideo, Uruguay, with his wife , Ana Maria & their two boys, Gaston & Calvin.

Alvaro travels around the world painting and lecturing the art of watercolor, judging shows and attending exhibitions of his work.

He communicates with art enthusiasts around the world through his email:

alvaro@alvarocastagnet.net

Prestigious awards include:

1985 First Prize Spanish Art Society

1987 First Prize Watercolor, City of Malvern

1987 First Prize Watercolor, City of Brighton

1987 Best Artist Under 35, City of Brighton

1990 First Prize Watercolor, Glen Waverley Art Show

1991 First Prize Watercolour, Waverley Show

1991 First Prize Watercolor, City of Ringwood Art Show

1992 First Prize Watercolor, Mornington Art Show

1992 First Prize Oil Burke Hall Art Show, Kew

1992 First Prize Watercolor, Glen Waverley Art Show

1992 First Prize Watercolor, Ringwood Art Show

1992 Honorable Award, Port Adelaide Art Show

1993 First Prize Watercolor, Mt Waverley Art Show

1993 First Prize Watercolor, Alice Bale Art Award

1994 2nd Price, Alice Bale Art Award

1994 First Price Watercolor, Mt Waverley Art Show

1994 Norwich Prize, Camberwell Art Show

1995 First Prize, Mornington Art Show

1995 First Prize, Waverley Art Show

1996 First Prize Watercolor, Box Hill Art Show

1997 First Prize Watercolor, ToorakCollege Art Show

1998 First Prize Watercolor, Box Hill Art Show

1998 First Prize Watercolor St. Kevin’s College Art Show

1999 First Prize Watercolor, Box Hill Art Show

2000 First Prize Watercolor, Chelsea.

2001 First Prize Watercolor, St. Kevin’s College Art Show

2001 First Prize Watercolor, Chelsea.

2003 High Winds Medal, American Watercolor Society

2004 Alfredo Guati Rojo Memorial Award, American Watercolor Society

2004 Air Float Systems, Inc. Award, National Watercolor Society

2005 First Prize Watercolor, Chelsea.

2007 Bud & Gretchen Merble Medal, American Watercolor Society

2007 Bronze Award, Camberwell Art Show, Australia

Other awards include:

Highly CommendedSt. Kevin’s College

Highly CommendedRotary Club of VictorHarbor

Highly CommendedMt View Art Show (two)

Highly CommendedRotary Club of Waverley

Highly CommendedPreston Art Show

Highly CommendedRingwood Art Show

Highly CommendedWindsor and Newton Australian Awards

Highly CommendedCamberwell Art Show (seven)

And many more...

A Collection of Alvaro’s work is held by:

Mitsubishi Australia

IBM Argentina

The City of Malvern

The City of Glen Waverley

Aerolineas Argentinas

Greenville Arms, New York…… and by many art enthusiast around the world.