Paola Gonzalez is a painter from Monterrey in México. Her work is in private collections around the world and she has had exhibitions at museums including the Museum of Modern Arts in Mexico City. She kindly agreed to be interviewed for The Flaneur and tell us a little about her life as a fine artist.
Brief artists statement
I was born in Monterrey, Mexico on a beautiful October of 1977. I took some art courses in Switzerland, The U.S. and México. I consider myself a self taught painter, I feel that art is something that I was born with. In my artworks everything is spontaneous and I love to improvise. The stories I tell in my work, are stories about what I’m feeling or living at the moment, I enjoy so much painting, that when I’m creating I feel like I’m in my private playground…sometimes I think you don´t need to have so many explanations in art, art talk by itself art are emotions transformed by colors and playful shapes…
How did you become an artist? Did you always dream of a life in the artworld?
Since I was a little girl, I remember drawing and painting everywhere! I remember painting some brand new sofa´s my parents just got, with colorful markers and crayons… since then I never stopped painting… I guess I didn´t dream about being a painter, I was living that dream…
Do you work as an artist fulltime? Describe your typical day. Do you have a routine?
Well a typical day starts with a hot cup of coffee and some blueberry muffins, I have a beautiful 3 year old daughter, that she loves to draw and paint just like her mom! And she´s pretty good let me tell you for her early age, so I paint in the mornings when she´s at school and sometimes in the afternoon when we stay in we paint in my studio me on the canvas and baby Pao everywhere!
My Family and my Art are my life.
Which historical and contemporary artists do you refer to most often? How are you influenced by their work?
Im in love with Marc Chagall´s work he’s one of my very favorites artists ever, he has influenced me with his cool hues, blues and violets, I love those colors, I think that combined they are very mystical and powerful in a spiritual way, I also love Mexican Artist Rufino Tamayo, Odilon Redon and Ferdinand Hodler among others…
What are the other influences on your work?
Well I can say that everything influences my art, my inner and outer world, my emotions, the way Im perceiving life in that moment… Im fascinated with the Hindu Culture and playful colors, most of my paintings are named after Hindu gods and goddesses.. I´ve never been to India but somehow Hindu culture has gotten my attention and heart…
What was the last exhibition you visited?
I think that it was at the Metropolitan Museum of Monterrey which I exposed my Blue King horse among other amazing local artists…
What is your favourite art gallery?
Paola Gonzalez Art Gallery I just love it 🙂
Do you have any tips or advice you wish to share with other aspirant painters?
Well first of all do not be afraid of trying something new or crazy in art, after all Creativity takes Courage! … Paint from your soul, listen to your heart, feel that energy flowing and have fun in the process!…Art is expressing ourselves through the canvas, Art is your personal diary where you may color your thoughts and emotions, there are no rules in art, and that’s what makes it more exciting, art means freedom of the heart!
Do you have a quotation that you keep coming back to and that keep you going?
Yeah I have so many! one of my favorites is:
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
Would you use assistants to make your work?
No, Art comes from the artist´s soul, if someone else its doing the job for you then that would be another whole concept, I love to create.
Do you use social media? How important are Facebook and Twitter to you?
I use facebook a lot, people all over the world write me, leave me comments and some of them have even brought my art on my facebook page:www.facebook.com/PaolaGonzalezArt. Now over 12.000 members! Im so happy that so many people are participating in it, sharing their stories, commenting about art, etc…
Where do you sell most of your work?
I sell most of my artworks online! Ive been selling them through my website, art galleries, at home, and on my facebook page.
Which artist should we all look up immediately? What art magazines, blogs or sites should art lovers be looking at?
Art lovers should look for every artist that catches their heart! there are a lot of amazing artists all over the world! such as Mexican artist Vladimir Cora, American artist Larry Pittman, German artist Albert Oelhen, Brazilian artist Beatriz Milhazes, just to mention a few…
A most see its Mexican Huichol Art made by “chamanes” and Huichol people-The artwork, so vibrant in color and rich symbolism, effortlessly draws the viewer into its compelling world of magical and myth…
Some of my favorite art sites: www.wikipaintings.org and www.contemporaryartdaily.com
You can see more of Paula’s work at WWW.PAOLAGONZALEZ.COM.MX
Thank you loved the interview and loved your magazine!
I liked this interview , very simple and complete , I liked the last question but more I liked the answer from Paola , she showed that she is not selfish at all .. thanks again !!!