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Marcus "Mesco" Escribano in action using oil paint working on "George."

"Birth of a Creator" by Marcus "Mesco" Escribano.

"Allegory of Peace" by Marcus "Mesco" Escribano.

Cover of British Vogue's March 2022 issue featuring Naomi Cambell on the cover.

Marcus Escribano gallery feature in British Vogue's March 2022 issue. 

"Her" by Marcus "Mesco" Escribano.

"George" was inspired by a man on the street in Greece that Ecribano took a picture of and transferred it into a portrait.

Enter Marcus Escribano’s art studio in Danbury, and the first thing that’s visible is a white board with random numbers. The smell of oil paint and an array of portraits fill every corner of the his Western Connecticut State University-based studio.

Escribano, 27, is an Afro-Latin American award-winning artist based in Danbury. But in his first two years at WCSU, Escribano said he was lost and had no motivation because he had no idea what he wanted to do with his life. He later took a year and a half off, during which he discovered photography. He now takes his love for photography and turns it into a different form of art — paintings.

"One day I grabbed a camera and fell in love with photography," he said. "I found myself turning my photography into paintings and started focusing in European Renaissance kind of art."

Painting by Marcus "Mesco" Escribano.

"Self Portrait" by Marcus "Mesco" Escribano.

After teaching himself his passion, he decided to study fine arts with a focus in photography at Western Connecticut State University where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts. He also studied in Italy for a program called The Rome Art Program, in which students develop their artistic vision through painting and drawing on the streets of Rome. This summer, he is going back, but this time, he will return as a teacher.

"I still cannot believe I attended this program as a student and now I will be teaching students," Escribano said.

His work has been exhibited in the United States, Italy, Greece and Hungary, according to Escribano. He was even featured in British Vogue twice this past March and April and will be featured in Vanity Fair UK’s monthly advertorial art edit June issue, which is yet to publish.

The March 2022 issue of British Vogue features model Naomi Cambell on the cover. Escribano appears in their "Vogue Gallery" section, which features artists from around the world. He is one of 57 artists featured, and according to the magazine, “Escribano’s work speaks louder than words.”

Escribano said when Vogue reached out to him asking if he would want to be part of the gallery section, he couldn’t refuse. “The day I got an email from Vogue, I had to double take like ‘Vogue wants to include me in an issue?’” he said. “There are moments I still look at the emails because it still feel surreal."

He sold his first large scale piece named “Gaia” on April 5 to a hair salon called Pelo by Edgardo in Ridgefield. "That was just such a good feeling and the painting is here in my home state makes it even better," he said. He has also won awards in 2017, like the The Allard Prize and Monochrome Award.

Officially sold my first large scale piece “Gaia” has found a home at Pelo by Edgardo pic.twitter.com/jJYPWZhZYH

Taking inspiration from artists like Pablo Picasso and Diego Velasquez, Escribano’s work explores the relationship between contemporary and fine art photography. Some of Escribrano’s paintings don’t have a name because the meaning changes as the way he sees them changes.

“The name constantly changes until I just decide this will be it,” he said.

Some of Escribrano's paintings don't have a name because the meaning changes and "the way I see them changes so the name constantly changed until I just decide this will be it," he said.

Escribano’s works are completed on canvas and wood using oil paint, a medium he said he prefers.

"I prefer oil over acrylic and others paints because I can get in tune and speak the same 'language' as the master painters that inspire me," he said. "When you see my art, it's very abstract like Picasso. I don’t go in with an idea; I just let the brush take me where it wants to go and then there’s a story.”

"Genesis" by Marcus "Mesco" Escribano using wood.

In his work, Escribano said he tries to reflect on his favorite numbers — 12, three and four — and weave them into his life, photography, digital painting and traditional paintings.

"When you add three and four, it equals 12 and the number 12 is everywhere," he said.

"So there are 12 months in a year, 12 zodiac signs, 12 disciples, 12 numbers in a jury, 12 ribs in a human, 12 spiritual gates, the 12th card on the tarot 'The Hanged Man,' shows sacrifice and mediation and even 12 on the clock,” he said. “12 in a lot of cultures mean completeness.”

Marcus "Mesco" Escribano’s board in his art studio explains his ideas on his favorite numbers, three, four and 12.

Marcus "Mesco" Escribano’s board in his art studio explains his ideas on his favorite numbers, three, four and 12.

Marcus "Mesco" Escribano’s board in his art studio explains his ideas on his favorite numbers, three, four and 12.

He also said the number three is very powerful and “everything comes in three’s.”

"Birth, love, death; Beginning, middle, end; Past present, future; and the father, son and holy spirit, the three trifecta."

There are also four elements (fire, air, water and earth) and four corners of the earth, according to Escribano, and when four is combined with three, he said, “You get the perfect number 12.”

“This might not make sense to anyone but it does to me,” Escribano said. “My way of thinking and drive is like Kanye West or at least inspired by it, where I stay disciplined in my art because of the belief I can do it all.”

 While Escribano is earning global attention, he said he will be keeping his talents in Danbury — at least for right now.

“I do not plan on leaving Danbury any time soon but my goal is to move somewhere in Europe and explore the world,” he said.