Figures in States of Transition | Figurative Drawings by Alex Pascual
My work is centred around the relationship between the human figure, memory and the spaces we inhabit.
I work mainly with coloured pencils, creating figurative drawings that explore everyday moments, domestic interiors and the quiet emotions hidden within ordinary situations. Bedrooms, kitchens, chairs, clothes and familiar objects are not simply backgrounds; they become spaces where memories, feelings and personal experiences accumulate.
The human figure has always been at the centre of my practice. I am interested in the expressive possibilities of the body — how a gesture, a posture or a small movement can communicate emotions that words cannot. Although my drawings often depict female figures, they are not portraits in a traditional sense. They become characters suspended somewhere between presence and disappearance: resting, thinking, isolated, vulnerable or simply existing within their surroundings.
Many of my drawings begin with observation, often through life drawing sessions, but gradually move away from direct representation. I am interested in what happens when reality passes through memory — when proportions shift, perspectives bend and colour becomes connected to emotion rather than description.
Ambiguity is an important part of my work. I am not interested in explaining everything or creating a fixed story. I prefer images where something remains unresolved, allowing space for different interpretations. A drawing becomes more alive when the viewer can complete part of it through their own experience.
Moving between different cities over the years — Barcelona, London, Glasgow and Copenhagen — has strongly influenced my practice. Each home, room and everyday experience has become part of a personal visual diary. Drawing has been a way to record those fragments of life and transform them into something less literal and more emotional.
I am attracted to artists and filmmakers who find meaning in ordinary moments and quiet situations. The films of Kelly Reichardt, for example, have influenced me through their attention to atmosphere, simplicity and their refusal to explain everything. This sense of restraint and ambiguity is something I also search for in my own work.
Working with coloured pencils connects with this idea of intimacy and austerity of means. With simple materials — paper, pencil and colour — I try to create images where everyday life can become something more uncertain, psychological and poetic.
If you enjoyed this essay, you may also like:
Mediterranean Childhood Memories: Port de la Selva, Costa Brava and the Origins of My Visual Language
You can also explore more original drawings in my Artwork and Shop sections.
