Check out Margaret Gonzales’ Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Margaret Gonzales.

Margaret, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I grew up in El Centro, a small desert town two hours east of San Diego. With most days being around 100° I spent a lot of time indoors and in a way, that pushed me to be creative. I remember always having a large box full of supplies like pencils, paper, glue, pipe cleaners, Popsicle sticks, anything you could think of really, and I was always making something. As I got older, I decided to focus on music as a career path but I continued to draw throughout high school and college where I developed my skills in graphite realism. At some point along the way I began working on commissioned pieces such as pet portraits and portraits of peoples’ loved ones. With a love of color, I started experimenting with colored pencils, pastels and eventually acrylic painting. One day I stepped way out of my structured comfort zone and threw together a bunch of my favorite colors on a large canvas. That day I created Fish’n’ships, my first fluid-acrylic painting and my current body of work just started flowing from there.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I am a mixed media artist with a focus on Acrylic on Canvas. Most of my work includes fluid backgrounds with a design-focused subject in front. I love working with vivid color combined with the stark contrast of negative space.
The intention behind my work is to create a world around me. I paint things I love and I paint things that invoke the emotions I used to feel from my childhood. One of my favorite things is that feeling you get during stormy weather when the wind starts to pick up, the thunder is crashing in the distance, right before it starts to rain. It’s kind of scary but mostly exciting and reminds you just how small you are in comparison. Those are the kind of feelings I want to come across in my work.

What do you think it takes to be successful as an artist?
Defining success as an artist is somewhat difficult. In my opinion there are two essential aspects; personal success and financial success. To be truly successful as an artist, you have to focus on your personal goals, your passion projects, creating the things that define you. In turn, to focus on those projects, which don’t always sell, you have to have the finances. I believe success as an artist is finding that balance between sales and self and that can often be a tricky line to find.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
The best way to see my work is to stop by my studio, Blue Pearl Art, in the Arts District at Liberty Station. You can find me in Barracks 15 on the bottom floor, studio #104. I am there Thurs-Mon morning and often times, late into the evening as well. If I am there, my doors are open and I always love having visitors!

Another great way to support modern artists is by following and engaging in conversation through social media. I am on all of the major platforms, I keep my profiles up to date and love the feedback and support I get there.

Contact Info:

• Address: Blue Pearl Art
  2750 Historic Decatur Rd #104
  San Diego CA 92106In the Arts District @ Liberty Station
• Website: www.bluepearlartstudio.com
• Phone: 760-791-4981
• Email: maggie.bluepearlart@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/maggie.bluepearlart
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/BluePearlArt
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/maggiebluepearlart

Image Credit:
Margaret L Gonzales (self)
Daniel J Gonzales (spouse)

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