MARIA

What activities/art-form did you pick up as a kid that shaped you into the artist you are today ? In what way do YOU think it shaped you ?

“I always grew up drawing and I used to watch a lot of movies. I felt like I was a little lonely so watching movies was a way for me to have something instead of having friends around. I moved quite a bit so having movies that involved anime, and watching all those movies made me want to do art and made me want to express to other people and give some sort of love and expression to other people as well as make people feel less lonely. I think drawing was a big thing for me. My mom would work a lot and she would take me with her, so I would be drawing everywhere that I could. I think that shaped me to always dream to always be creative. I feel like I would always put on music and look through the window and just think, “My life is a movie”. So, I think it made me want to feel like I was in all of the drawing/movies I grew up watching !”

Were you picked on as a child ? If so how ? How do you think that affected your life today as an artist ?

“Kind of, I wasn’t outwardly bullied. I felt like people didn’t wanna try to hurt me to,to much. I’d say more verbally than anything. I was picked on for having too much hair on my body, and the identity of being a woman was like “oh man”, I have too much hair on my body or I’m not skinny enough, which was never truly an issue, but seeing through social media thinking, “I’m not wide enough”. Or “I’m not skinny enough”. I felt some sort of body dysmorphia type of thing. I had one kid in high school who thought I was pretty, but also that I was to dark for him and stuff like that. Definitely impacted me today where I still deal with body issues and being in cosplay, wearing corsets and costumes, or putting myself out there seeming more skim, pure clothing, and I’m always self-conscious of my body or how I will look. Sometimes I feel I try to be more confident and I try to look at myself in the mirror and tell myself that I AM beautiful and that NOW I don’t care about shaving my legs like right now I’m hairy as fuck and I’m OK with that!”

What daily activity makes you feel most connected to your hands within your Art-form ?

“I know people say walking a lot in nature, but I still really enjoy that. I love looking at textures of the trees and the leaves. I work in animation, so looking at people’s expressions while walking and just taking in every little detail of everything. I also love taking in media. To a certain point of course, you always gotta have a good balance of both but seeing other artists and seeing what they do. Watching movies, listening to music And getting inspired through that really, really helps me and motivates me to be a better artist.

What do you appreciate most about how YOUR art makes you feel ?

“What do I appreciate most? I think it makes me feel powerful. The process of being who I am as an artist brings the ups-and-downs of like, “oh I hate this”. Or, “Oh fuck this, I’m stressed, this looks horrible” but then when you get to that sweet spot, oh man that feels so so good or I fucking did this, I made this and this looks great. I created this with my own hands, with my own friends. Of course I know it’s always nice to have the help of others, but to be able to create something out of nothing is truly wonderful and I love that.”

What pushes you to be a better artist today ?

“Definitely people and the people around me. They push me to be a better artist. Also friends, my family but for sure other artists. Talking with everyone and seeing what everyone does it’s so inspiring and makes me feel like I’m a part of something. I also work a little bit in theater and doing their projection screens, animation, seeing everything come together to create a new world is so inspiring and always makes me want to be better and to connect with people. It’s beautiful.”

BONUS QUESTIONS.

If you were a food or drink what would you be ? Why ?

“I’m Puerto Rican and I love Malta and Mofongo. I feel like that’s me in a dish. Malta is almost like a beer but it’s also not really beer, but it’s kinda non-alcoholic and it tastes super super sweet. It’s not for everyone. Some people say it tastes like sweet teriyaki. Some people say that it smells weird. So I think that’s what I am. Maybe not for everyone, maybe I’m a little weird but I do think I’m very sweet and have complex flavors. Same thing with Mofongo. It’s like almost fried mash plantains. You can add so many different things to it. I like shrimp, but you could add pork you could add anything onto it and it’ll make such a difference in flavor palette, even with the Mofongo itself you could have it with yucca and plantains. They’re called like “trifongo” I think. That’s what it is and it’s just the variety that it gives. I feel like that’s what I am. I have different sides to me and I think that’s that.”

What are your favorite pair of shoes/boots, and why ?

“I love the tabby, Mary Jane, and I like how easy they are to put on. Usually I’m a big platform girly because I’m short and I like to seem a little taller, but these are the flats, they’re just so easy to throw on when I need to go on the go super quick. Not many people notice them but when they see me in them, they’re like, “Oh this is fucking weird”. I looove me some weird ass shoes. They’re so cool. They seem like normal shoes but you look down and you’re like, “oh these are split toes”. I call them my little hooves. They’re my favorite.”

What was your favorite movie growing up ?

“There’s SOOO many, but I say one that was really influential is “Whisper of the Heart” from Studio Ghibli. It’s about an adolescent girl trying to figure out as an artist who she wants to be and can’t. She writes this book and grappling with a guy that she likes a lot. He’s also an artist who is trying to believe a violinist and he wants to go to Italy. So she’s trying to prove to herself that she can write this whole book. It’s just stuck with me. I’m connected with this character and how well she’s written, but also the struggles that she went through. It really connected with me cause I’m still going through that. Such a beautiful film.”

If you were to speak to your younger self as an artist, what would you say?

“I would say be kind to yourself. and start being kind early. I know I started at a early age, but be OK to be passionate and to delve into your passion and not be afraid of things like, “Oh I need to become a doctor”, “I need to become a lawyer”. Find the niche things within art that you want to do and keep exploring. Keep doing those different things and find out truly what you want to do and what you want to love and nourish.”

If you have any advice to the world, what would you say?

“FUCK what everyone thinks! Do what you wanna do. Be fearless. If you are afraid, you’re doing it right. You have to be nervous. I think it shows that you are human and you have some sort of emotion and just keep going. Push through that because if you don’t, you never know what would’ve happened.”