Today we’d like to introduce you to Bella Marinos.
Hi Bella, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My passion for the arts, more specifically, ceramics, began slowly and quietly. A few years back, when I was studying mechanical engineering at the community college back home, I took beginners ceramics “just for fun.” I was immediately intrigued by clay, its rich indigenous history and all of the knowledge it took to build, fire, make glazes, etc.
Fast forward, I had changed my major to psychology and transferred to my four year (Chapman University). Despite no longer doing mechanical engineering, I found that I still enjoyed the acts of building, problem solving, and creating. It was then that I found myself in the art building on campus, taking more ceramics classes “just for fun.” Two semesters in, my amazing mentor (shoutout Dave!) pushed me to add an art minor and just feel it out.
It was then that I took my art classes seriously. My eyes were completely opened to the various jobs in the art field. I ultimately graduated with my degree in psychology and a double minor in art and philosophy with every intention to continue my practice and find a job in the art field.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think that being an artist and working in art, like all things, has its highs and lows and I feel incredibly lucky to have a group of very supportive friends and family to lean on when I get nervous or discouraged.
One of the biggest challenges I faced was coming to terms with what I truly wanted to pursue. I had this big epiphany during my final semester of college, where I was looking into grad school for psychology and my psych resume was just my degree. I didn’t do any internships or work on any research teams, whereas my art resume was pretty lengthy. I then had the scary realization that what I was planning on doing what not what I truly wanted to do and what I actually wanted to pursue never felt like a viable option. There are some days where I feel unsure but it quickly passes when I begin to work on projects I really care about.
Nowadays, I sometimes struggle with imposter syndrome and feeling like i’m not a “real artist.” During these moments I have to just take a step back and ask myself what that means. Who is a real artist, you know? At the end of it all we are just trying our best to do what we love and share those vulnerable parts of ourselves in hopes of connecting with those around us.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At the moment I mainly sustain a ceramic practice, but sometimes play with video, photography, sculpture, and stop motion. It really just depends the mood.
My work incorporates cultural imagery and ritualistic elements inspired by my Mexican heritage. Through these works, I express a deep longing to connect: to my community and to strangers, to my family and to my own body, while exploring generational trauma, death, grief, gender identity conflicts, religion, and the ways our sociopolitical systems can perpetuate suffering.
Something I am most proud of at the moment is my new body of work “dulces sueños.” Capturing friends, family, and feelings, my sculptures (also tenderly known as my “guys”) act as a reflection of aging and adolescence through alternative portraiture.
What matters most to you?
Connecting to others! Though I would categorize myself as an introvert, I really enjoy talking to people and figuring out what we have in common. It is a very humanizing thing to realize that we are all connected somehow. I especially love when people tell me secrets or stories. It makes me feel like a diary.
Pricing:
- If interested, please email bellamarinos@yahoo.com for pricing inquiries.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bellamarinos.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellamarinos
- Other: bellamarinos@yahoo.com
Image Credits
Image 1: Philipp Scholz Rittermann and the California Center for the Arts Escondido
