Today we’d like to introduce you to Mónica Jeanette Pérez.
Mónica Jeanette, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I grew up in Catalina Island – a small town with a population of 4,000 residents. Even though I had beaches and hills on my doorstep, I spent most of my time indoors creating art. I enjoyed clay work, beading and macramé, but it wasn’t until I went to college in Iowa, Coe College that painting became a big part of my life.
In school I explored more mediums that I fell in love with. It was after I took a ceramics class that I discovered a fascination for textures, I wanted to incorporate it into my large scale paintings. I later drew inspiration from the ocean rocks here on Catalina as I began to appreciate my childhood surroundings. It is now always a thrill when I encounter a rock with interesting colors and surfaces. I then try to capture that in my work by using, sand, dirt, even flour to create unique textures.
Having access to the ocean and terrain, I’ve created a body of art that combines the two in my sea gardens. I’ve been working towards combining cactus and other local plants from the land and kelp forest and coral reefs into an underwater utopia.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I enjoy creating a sense of space that people don’t have the opportunity to experience. Growing up so close to the sea, I didn’t swim a lot. When I started to snorkel, it was a whole other world. That’s when I realized I wanted to bring the ocean to the land and the land to the ocean. I combine the two into a utopia, where they can coexist and allow viewers to experience a world they are not familiar with. My mother has always had a fear of water, and I am now able to bring the ocean to her. And I hope to recreate that experience for many more.
In your view, what is the biggest issue artists have to deal with?
Sharing our personal stories and experience to the public. This interview has allowed me to open up and share a different creative side of me.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I am preparing for the Annual Catalina Festival of Art, September 14th-16th. It is my first art festival! It’s been a while since I displayed a body of art to a large audience. Please if anyone is on Catalina Island during that weekend swing by and say hello. But if you can’t make it click on the link to my Instagram so you may follow me on my creative journey.
Contact Info:
- Email: deardaydreamerart@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deardaydreamerart/
Image Credit:
By Mónica Jeanette Pérez
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