With the summer coming to a close, I am happy to report that my research project is approaching its final stages! The creatures are coming to fruition, and my painting is developing in an exciting direction thanks to the help of my family and peers. I recently moved back home for the rest of the summer, and I have benefited greatly from their new perspectives and insight. Working alongside their feedback has helped the development of cultural iconography throughout the work, particularly symbols and patterns from my parents’ respective hometowns. I’ll be incorporating these elements throughout the painting in the coming weeks, and I look forward to soon concluding a summer of work.
Creating this series has been incredibly impactful to my personal and professional growth as an artist. With the help of this creative undertaking, I now understand the importance of setting personal goals, deadlines, and scheduling time for work. Consistency and organization are truly two of the most essential components when taking on a project of this scale, both of which I will strive to incorporate in my studio practice going forward. The production of this series has also fostered an investigation of personal stylistic preference that I believe will greatly aid my work throughout the BFA program and beyond. Looking to both natural imagery and the work of other artists, I am synthesizing some of my favorite elements within my paintings, further embracing the nature of hybridity that propels my research. Working at this large of a scale with acrylic paint has also served as an important learning experience.
As I become more familiar with the medium, I am discovering the unique properties of acrylic paint and the techniques made possible by its water-based composition. I have learned that I can take on a far more aqueous approach to painting, working with layers to build interesting color scapes and textures. The fast-drying property of the paint also allows for a quicker, more experimental application, and I am conducting studies on a variety of substrates to investigate the possibilities of these qualities. With this work, I hope to contribute a new perspective to an expansive world of artwork exploring cultural expression and identity. My paintings allude to the pride I hold in my identity growing up with a foot in each culture, and a canon of artisanal craft within Colombia. I wish for my paintings to inspire an appreciation of the beautifully unique cultural identities that can arise from immigration.
Following my research under the Idea Grant program, I will continue to investigate the concept of hybridity as a bridge between cultural and biological entities. As I enter my final year at FSU and the BFA program, these themes will be essential to the development of my thesis work. I will also be contributing this new body of work to my portfolio as I apply to exhibits, artist residencies, and possibly a post-graduate education in the near future, all of which will provide invaluable experience as I forge my path within the field. With the help of this Idea Grant, my future as a professional artist is one step closer. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to see what the coming year holds!
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