Alex Vontevenar of Port Orange paints a scene in plein air style at Port Orange Causeway Park on Saturday, July 23. Mr. Vontevenar suffers from epilepsy and taught himself to paint. To see his work, check him out on Instagram at @AlexVontevenar.
Alex Vontevenar of Port Orange paints a scene in plein air style at Port Orange Causeway Park on Saturday, July 23. Mr. Vontevenar suffers from epilepsy and taught himself to paint. To see his work, check him out on Instagram at @AlexVontevenar.
Alex Vontevenar is an ambitious and inspirational young man who, while battling epilepsy and related seizures, taught himself to paint.
Now the Port Orange resident’s work can be found in two area art galleries as well as inside The Cracked Egg Diner in Daytona Beach Shores where he did work. He also has a social media presence.
Mr. Vontevenar relayed some of his thoughts in a January post, stated, “I recently started a new journey in my life, following my dream of becoming a full-time artist! I hope this inspires people to chase their dreams and don’t let challenges hold you back.
“I was doing the same thing for the last 10 years or so, cooking at different restaurants around town and I was miserable,” he stated. “I worked my life away and wasn’t enjoying it. I didn’t like the life I was living already and then randomly one night had a seizure. I found out I had epilepsy and this changed my life. I lost my license for over a year, thought I wouldn’t be able to surf anymore and I thought my life was over, but it was really just beginning. I started painting and fell in love with it. I put so much time and energy learning, watching so many videos and still do. I would paint everyday all day and it helped me to stay positive. I remember getting back in the water to surf again and catching my first wave again! I felt alive!”
Interviewed recently, Mr. Vontevenar, 31, said he had painted for fun for a few years, but started getting serious and selling his paintings about two years ago. The paintings helped pay his medical bills. He decided to chase his dream of becoming a full-time artist.
“When I had my seizures, I’d be stuck at home for a long time and I watched a lot of YouTube videos on painting,” he said. “I paint every day and pretty much taught myself. Everything’s been happening very fast and I’m very grateful for it.”
He is a plein air oil painter with an impressionist style.
One of the places his work is shown is the VJL Gallery in Daytona Beach. He is being promoted there as “an up-and-coming local artist. His inspiration comes from his love of the ocean, surfing, boating and skateboarding. He gets his ideas from exploring nature and finding the perfect natural landscape to set up his easel and paint. His art is recognized for thick paint and vivid colors.”
Mr. Vontevenar only discovered he has epilepsy about six years ago. He has had several seizures. Despite the risk, he still pursues his other passion of surfing.
Mr. Vontenevar is grateful to all the support he has gotten from family and friends and online comments, with special thanks to all who have purchased his paintings.
He said he is “very grateful for all of it, and the life I’m living! Don’t let challenges hold you back. Sometimes something that you think is ruining your life could really be a blessing in disguise. I’ve learned so much in so little time and look forward to the rest of my journey. I believe everything does and doesn’t happen for a reason, learn from it, and grow. Remember that there’s ups and downs, when you’re having an up stay humble and when you’re having a down, stay positive.”
Besides The Cracked Egg Diner at 3280 S. Atlantic Ave., his paintings can be seen at the VJL Gallery at 170 N. Beach St. in Daytona Beach and Art Spotlight at 67 W. Granada Blvd. in Ormond Beach. His next art show will be at the Ponce Inlet Community Center in September.
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