What do you feel is crucial to your growth as an artist?

Play, experimentation and stepping outside of my comfort zone – whether that be techniques, styles, materials, or formats. Connecting with other artists has also been instrumental in recent months – it gives a unique perspective to the art that I admire and am inspired by as well.

You are a third generation artist. How did it feel growing up with art?

My grandmother is really the original source of all things artistic in my family. She’s a painter and an opera singer, and went on to become a columnist in one of the two most important national newspapers in El Salvador. My mother’s older sister went on to have a singing career in her teenage years while my mom mostly sang at Church and painted family portraits and paintings she hung in our home. For me, it was natural to take up these hobbies. I wrote my first song when I was 8 and recorded a CD of cover songs when I was 10. I always loved to draw, and at 11 I painted my first series of paintings. I wrote my first book at 12 and loved to write short stories and poetry for my school newspaper. I went on to study advertising and communications which I felt had a little bit of all the creative things I already loved. I recorded my second and third CDs in my early 20s, this time all original songs. And through it all, drawing and painting were a sort of outlet as well, something that allowed me to release emotions, disconnect and relax. But until recently, I considered most of my creative outlets hobbies. It wasn’t until the pandemic when I started creating almost obsessively and decided I wanted to pursue art full-time.

You use different forms, media…How would you describe your artistic style?

I think my style is eclectic and ever-changing. As an artist you often hear that you have to find one style, your “voice”, and stick to that so people know what to expect. I’ve never been able to do that – nor do I want to. This applies to many aspects of my life. I’m what some would call a “multipotentialite”; by this I mean that I have many, diverse interests and passions. I like to explore the unknown, experience new things and learn constantly. I get bored easily with repetition and I like to feel challenged in what I’m doing, so when I feel like I’ve mastered something I have an itch to move on to something new. And that’s what I do with my art styles.

I use different mediums, and often find ways to create my own – pigments, texture paste, I’ve even tried my hand at making paper (and failed epically- but I will succeed eventually!) Trial and error is a huge part of my artistic process.

What are you trying to communicate with your art? 

I tend to create almost instinctively in the moment. I have so many ideas in my head that sometimes it’s hard to settle on one or two- I often work on multiple pieces at a time. A part of this may be because I’m connected with multiple parts of my life and many emotions on any particular day- motherhood, my professional career, art as a creative and emotional outlet, navigating personal relationships, the isolation of living far away from my family and support system… it’s a lot sometimes. I don’t always create with the viewer in mind, but when I do, I often try to let each piece take on a life and voice of their own. Sometimes there’s a theme that ties multiple pieces together (like my previous series, Living with Less, Rebirth, Labels, etc.) But sometimes I create standalone pieces that are simply a reflection of a feeling, emotion or situation I was living or something that inspired me in the world around me.

How do you choose your color palette?

Sometimes I select colors that convey the emotions I’m feeling or trying to transmit to the viewer, but more often than not I try to find harmony and balance in the palette, whether this be contrast or compatibility. It really depends on each piece. As you can see in my portfolio, I create monochromatic work one day, and the next my work is drenched in color.

To what extent has your everyday life as an artist changed during pandemics?

It has pushed me to think outside the box in terms of what I could do to bring my art to the world. For many years, I made excuses in terms of the limited time I had available to create and work on my craft. When the world came to a stop, it brought on reflection, looking within, and finding ways to let out my energy, emotions and vulnerability. It helped me cope with mental health issues. It became an outlet for feelings of fear, frustration and insecurity. It brought back hope.

How do you feel about being involved in an online residency program? How important is it to stay connected with the international art community?

The fact that we now have the option to participate in online programs and connect with artists worldwide opens a whole new realm of possibilities for growth. Humans are a social species; we learn from each other, we thrive when we are connected to others. For many months, this was something we were forced to take a step back on. But creating communities online in innovative ways has helped keep us all connected despite the obstacles of our time.

What are your thoughts about the theme ‘artist on standby’? Tell us a bit more about your project…

N/A (I still haven’t figured out how/whether to incorporate this theme into my project.)

What do you want to achieve before things return to normal?

Right now, my focus is on building my artist resume and portfolio. I’ve been fortunate enough to have participated in multiple art fairs, exhibitions, residencies and publications over the last year alone, and that is in great part because I can do so remotely from the comfort of my home. I’ve taken courses and workshops to expand my skill set and have loved trying new techniques and mediums- I plan to continue doing that whether it’s online or in person. For me, art is about my personal growth – emotionally and dexterity-wise. How I do that is as ever-changing as the world around us.

Any future plans/projects?

I hope to become a licenced art therapist, but online programs are limited and very expensive right now. I’m hoping more universities make their programs available online and hopefully I can apply to some scholarships and grants to fund my studies. I’ve always had a passion for psychology and helping others, and merging both passions (art and nonprofit work) into one life project would be a dream come true. I’d love to expand on the online mental health niche that seems to be growing and add a creative outlet to conventional therapy through online art therapy sessions, perhaps in a nonprofit format.