Marcela Vasquez - Touching your heart and soul with her amazing art.
The artist's brand MARCELA PAINTING is making waves on the city's dynamic art scene. With an understated yet charismatic personality, Marcela was only too happy to share her thoughts about her passion in life: art.
Born and raised at the foot of Chile's scenic mountains and not too far from the sea, Marcela Vasquez has come a long way in her journey as an artist. All of her life, Marcela felt an innate passion for art but, as so often happens, life and family responsibilities tend to get in the way. For years, this natural-born artist toiled away in an office, dedicating her working hours to being the best marketing and consulting professional she could be. But, after the workday was done and on the weekends, Marcela pulled out her treasured canvas and brushes together with her "toolbox" of oil and acrylic paints and set about creating a magical world of colors. Friends and family raved about Marcela's paintings; each one telling a particular story and coming straight from the artist's heart. Fast forward to three short years ago: dissatisfied with her life and wanting to be true to herself, Marcela decided to break with her routine, throw caution to the winds and embark on a sometimes precarious, but always rewarding path as a professional artist. Going from strength to strength, Marcela hasn't looked back since!
A frequent visitor to New York City, where her charming daughter Camilla resides, Marcela Vasquez achieved a definitive milestone in her young career as a professional artist when she was invited to participate in a group exhibition at the prestigious gallery ONE ART SPACE which is located in the artsy enclave of Tribeca. The exhibition was sponsored by Start Shows, a brand headed up by comic book artist, teacher and art curator Sophocles Plokamakis and his wife Thais, who is also a very talented artist in her own right. Over the course of several days, Marcela's paintings were seen by hundreds upon hundreds of discerning art lovers. It was an experience that Marcela will always fondly remember. " This was a once-in-a-lifetime event." said our artist in the spotlight. "I enjoyed meeting some extremely talented artists and received praise from those who wanted to give it, feeling much joy and gratitude."
Marcela's proclivity for painting stretches all the way back to her earliest years. " My childhood was very beautiful, surrounded by the love of a very attentive homemaker mom and a warm, affectionate and indulgent dad. I was a very dreamy child. immersed in playtime until my adolescence began. I had an imagination without limits, was very observant and, above all, questioning. I think that the teachings of my mother, who could be quite strict and always encouraged my siblings and me to give our best, had a tremendous impact on my outlook on life and work ethic. This is probably why I am very meticulous and demanding with my canvases, being something of a perfectionist. I'm told that my first " painting " was done on the kitchen wall when I was very young. Now, THAT must have been quite a sight." added Marcela with a laugh in her voice.
Marcela is mostly self-taught as a painter and is quite proud of it. She feels that art is an organic process and some mistakes will be made along the way. And even so-called mistakes can take on a wondrous new life in a painting if the artist has an open mind and goes with the flow. "I don't have any real formal training, although there was a course in college that dealt with shapes and spaces, "explained Marcela. "I remember those days vividly. Even now, I can close my eyes, look back to that class and see different colors dancing through my mind, shifting and changing shades. It may surprise your readers to know that I don't care for drawing. I enjoy doing my art without making any preliminary sketches as I feel that limits me. I paint with both oil and acrylics; sometimes both at once; although, nowadays I prefer oil for its texture and shine. "
Never content to rest on her laurels, Marcela is forever pushing boundaries, experimenting with new techniques and styles. We asked Marcela what her favorite subjects to paint were. It comes as no shock that the painter's answer was as eclectic as her art. " My favorite themes are painting the beauty that exists in this world on my canvas., as well as faces that reflect deep emotions with their gaze such as the tenderness of a child and the touching grandeur of an animal, above all. This world is beautiful, even though we sometimes forget that aspect and take it for granted. My desire as an artist is to envision that timeless beauty on my canvas and easel. "
Although her permanent home is in Chile, as we mentioned earlier in the article, Marcela is a regular visitor to the Big Apple to connect with family and participate in various gallery showings and exhibitions. The artist unabashedly refers to NYC as her second home. "New York is so visually impressive and beautiful, filled with stunning streets and landscapes. The city's neighborhoods are so full of diverse cultures that it is hard not to love them. Personally, I have a great affection for New York as the city has opened its arms to me as an artist." Marcela has, in fact, created three paintings that are a tribute to NYC: one featuring a quiet residential street in Brooklyn, another of the Flatiron Building and a third which is a mix of various iconic landmarks associated with the city that never sleeps.
Taking care of her mind and body is uber important to Marcela. She believes that minding one's wellness makes her a better person and artist. " I am convinced that, more than being merely matter, we are energy and that's why I practice meditation, which helps me to silence that voice inside, that we all have, which sometimes tends to distress us. I am also a Reiki practitioner which helps me to stay grounded". Music is also very soothing to Marcela and creates the proper ambiance for the artist to do her work. "I like to listen to Hauser and his cello, Snatam Kaur and Deva Premal. They are my companions, so to speak, when I immerse myself in painting."
It's so easy to purchase one of Marcela's masterpieces! All you have to do is go to her website, www.marcelapainting.art and browse through her paintings. You are certain to find something that captivates you. The hard-working artist is also available for commissions. Simply contact Marcela and let her know just what you have in mind; a particular landscape scene, a portrait of a friend or family member, or maybe even your pet dog or cat. Hey, why not? Art is something that can actually change the energy in your home while creating a positive ambiance. Should you own a business, such as a restaurant or yoga/meditation/wellness studio, Marcela would be happy to have a conversation and come up with a painting ( or mural ) that would be right for your establishment.
After chatting with Marcela ( and her daughter Camilla who assists her mom in coordinating sales of her paintings here in the USA and scheduling showings ) for a couple of hours, it was time to wrap up the interview. The minutes had passed so fast. In closing, this writer asked Marcela what her goals were, personally and professionally. " I want to continue to grow and learn as a person, living the best way that I can, through this human experience. As an artist, I aim to reach different places, homes, offices, etc. and have my mark, as it were, imprinted on many locations. That's how I see myself in a few years time, sharing my art wherever it can be appreciated and leaving a piece of my heart in each one of my canvases. "
Contact Information:
Phone (917) 618-0813
Instagram instagram.com/marcelapainting
Email
Website www.marcelapainting.art
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