As a child, I dreamt as full and wide as any other, and my dream was simple then: I wanted to paint, no idea what an artist was at that point. I used to draw and paint with passion and pure intention, painting has always been a way to discover my true self. I don’t know if you have felt this about anything, but it’s an amazing and comforting feeling of fulfilment.
However, whatever my childhood dreams were, the idea of being an artist was still very confusing to me. I did not know that it could be a profession or a way of living, in my mind due to my family, cultural background, my own excuses and fears or whatever you want to call it, I chose what in my mind was a much “employable” career. As a result, in college, I chose to study Business - and I excelled at it and to be honest with you, I liked it, yet, whenever anybody asked me what I wanted to do for a living, I used to answer like a recorder, kind of trying to sound interesting, I guess. Although deep down I was so lost and I didn’t even have an answer for myself.
After college, I found a job, and I almost felt fulfilled but still, something was amiss. I kept painting as a hobby, trying to fit my passion into my already busy life. At 23, I decided to move to Australia, by the way, I am from Colombia – by then, neither painting nor myself were a priority. Starting a new life, in a new country presented too many challenges that fracture me and gave me the chance to rebuild myself.
This didn't happen overnight, though. The last 4 years have been a journey of rediscovering what I like and what I want in my life. I've opened my mind to different points of view and nurture myself in other areas of my life that have given me much more that I could ever imagine.
After at least 3 years of not doing art, the first thing I did to start painting again, was to enrol in a beginner’s course. Losing my fears about what people might think about my paintings –little by little, I started finding my style again. It has been a slow process. I still feel that "artist" is a big word for me and I get a bit anxious (in a good way) when I think about it, but I am trying to believe more in me and identify myself as the ARTIST that I am becoming.
Getting back to the question, I am becoming an artist because simply I needed to redefine what art means to me. In doing so, I rediscovered my dream and my true self. However, this new definition of art is still growing and redefining me, but I am sure working on it.
Becoming an abstract artist came so naturally to me, almost in a flowing and inspiring way. I love how everything begins to fit together when I’m painting, how the colours complement themselves like people, emotions or even places, yet the ideas come to me so suddenly… Intuitively. I never planned for it to turn out this way. Yet, none of this happened by luck nor chance. It was through the little things that kept building up to something big in the end.
I am becoming an artist because I want to bring colour to the world. It’s a simple reason, but the journey to realizing that didn’t come so easily to me. It would have been so much simple to do something else. But I am sure that I wouldn’t be as happy as I am with art in my life.
How did you come to become who you are today? I’d love to hear your story.
Also, if you have any other questions about me, I am happy to have a chat with you
How did you come to become who you are today? I’d love to hear your story.
Also, if you have any other questions about me, I am happy to have a chat with you