Today we’d like to introduce you to Pilar Montaño.
The profession of painter does not arrive early in Pilar’s life as it does with most visual artists. Pilar is born and raised in the border city of Tijuana MX, at a time and in an environment not quite favorable for art. Her maternal grandparents were avid readers and they planted within her a passion for books. It is thanks to literature that Pilar has her first encounter with the world of painting when at 15 years of age, the biography of Vincent Van Gogh finds its way into her hands. Reading this book moves her deeply, among other reasons, because of the passion Van Gogh had for painting, to the point that everything else seemed irrelevant to him, including the most essential issues. Since then, Pilar secretly yearns to find something that is able to motivate her with that creative drive. Shortly thereafter, she has the fortune of coming across the biography of Frida Kahlo, which also leaves an eternal impression in her heart.
In the year 2,000 Pilar Montaño moved to San Diego. The years go by and Pilar takes on several careers that have nothing to do with art until one day the moment arrives in which she is forced to question her professional life due to a feeling of great dissatisfaction. This is how she finally dares to discover the artist within and begin her art studies. After years of studies and success selling her art locally, Pilar decided in 2011 to open ‘Studio Galería Pilar Montaño’ in Bankers Hill San Diego, where she works as a visual artist and art teacher.
Her oil paintings are recognizable for their honesty and authenticity for their vivid colors and distinct shapes. Her work transcends the boundaries between representation and abstraction, between memory and actuality. She is equally proficient with brilliant still lives, penetrating empathetic portraitures, and contemporary cityscapes. Her paintings are held in prestigious collections in the United States, Europe and Mexico. Currently, her work is being shown at the Museo Gustavo de Maeztu in Navarra, Spain. In 2020 her paintings will travel to various international art exhibitions including in Barcelona and Beijing.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No it hasn’t been a smooth road. After a few years of art studies, I found it necessary to return to a full-time job to pay the bills. I continued to paint in my free time and actually started selling my art. My advice to young women would be to balance your dream with the reality of finance. This demands a lot of work, patience and strategy! But in time you will discover the road to creating your dream come true.
We’d love to hear more about your art.
In 2011, I founded an art studio in Bankers Hill, San Diego. There I paint, teach art classes and have an Art Gallery Called ‘Pilar Montaño Studio Galería.’ As a teacher, I specialize in meeting students ‘where they are’, giving them the tools necessary to become accomplished artists. As an artist, I do not follow the road of conventional art or the canons of aesthetics!
I do not pretend to be avant garde, I try not to label myself according to any norms, I endeavor to exhibit within my work great simplicity, while at the same time expressing boldness of color and texture.
For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
Yes I do think there are challenges for women today, but there has never been in the history of time more opportunities for women than there are today. I feel much of the time we focus on what isn’t fair or what isn’t just. (the glass seems half empty)
I always try to see the glass half full. I believe it is more advantageous for women who are creating a new business to embrace the greatness within themselves in a bold and aggressive fashion. These are the traits to help women succeed.
Pricing:
- Art Classes Saturdays and Sundays 1:00 to 4:00 for info please email: Pilar@Pilarpaintings.com $35.00
Contact Info:
- Address: 2720 5th Ave, San Diego CA, 92103
- Website: www.PilarPaintings.com
- Phone: 619 905 3469
- Email: Pilar@Pilarpaintings.com
- Instagram: PilarPaintings
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pilar.montano.940
Image Credit:
Pilar Montaño Daniel Hendrick
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