Ernesto Nemesio - Archive

Ernesto Nemesio is a first generation Mexican American born in Riverside, California, in 1978.

Demonstrating a diversity in both subject and genre, Nemesio’s talent has been showcased in prestigious galleries and museums throughout California and the East Coast. In April 2004, Nemesio was selected as one of eleven artists to participate in an exhibition organized by American Artist and Forbes, Inc. The artists spent ten days in London at the Old Battersea House, producing work which was then shown in The Next Generation of American Realists at Forbes Galleries.

Upon graduating from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA, with a BFA in Illustration, Nemesio was introduced to the historical California Art Club. Through activities hosted by the organization, he gained a profound appreciation for painting outdoors. He also had the privilege of being mentored by Peter Adams and Dan Pinkham.

In 2002, Nemesio moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to become a digital painter at Pixar Animation Studios. He has worked on acclaimed films such as Coco, The Incredibles, Cars, Cars 2, Ratatouille, Wall-E, Up, Toy Story 3, Brave, and many more.

Nemesio finds inspiration in a variety of genres, which is reflected in his realist impressionist style of work. He approaches his portraits and figurative paintings with a sensitivity echoing traditional French 19th century academic methods and ideals. Through his travels abroad Ernesto has been exposed to and fascinated by the French Naturalists and Orientalists.

His landscapes, on the other hand, embrace a more impressionistic feel that celebrate color and design. These paintings, which capture an ephemeral moment of light and space, are cherished experiences in his life. Many of these include his travels throughout Europe, Mexico and across the American landscape. In August of 2009, he spent an unforgettable month in Madrid, studying the paintings of Joaquin Sorolla during his retrospective at the Prado and the Sorolla Museum. It was a wonderful source of inspiration for Nemesio to paint in the footsteps of Sorolla and many other amazing artists before him, capturing the same glorious Spanish light.

Nemesio is a mentor member of the California Art Club and currently resides in the Bay Area.