Today we’d like to introduce you to Karla Preciado.
Hi Karla, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey as a visual artist began nearly twenty years ago while I was living in Andalucía, on the southern coast of Spain. At the time, my husband was serving in the military, and we were stationed for two years in a small town called Rota. Moving halfway around the world, leaving behind my family, friends, and my job was, to say the least, a challenge.
Of course, it was also a magical and unforgettable time. I immersed myself in a new country, explored its culture, and fell in love with the food and its people. But eventually, homesickness began to quietly creep in.
Searching for an outlet to fill a creative void, I discovered a local community arts center and enrolled in monthly oil painting classes. Little did I know that what began as simple curiosity would soon become a defining part of my life. Today, I can’t imagine myself not painting or doing what I love most—expressing myself through color.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest challenge I’ve faced has been finding my true voice as an artist. Over the past twenty years, my work has evolved significantly—from representational painting to a more abstract approach. Along the way, I attended numerous classes and workshops, which, while invaluable, were also at times confusing. Many teachers naturally teach how they paint or approach their work, and I learned a great deal from them. Still, I eventually realized that I needed space and time to turn inward—to listen to myself and discover what genuinely lights me up. Finding my voice required stepping away from external influence and allowing my art to become an authentic reflection of who I am. I took me a few years, but I finally got there.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work as an artist has evolved into a deeply personal and expressive practice, one where I explore the relationship between nature and human emotion. Themes of freedom, joy, serenity, beauty, memories, optimism and everything nature offers us—are woven into my paintings. As an abstract nature painter, I turn inward, reflecting a state of mind rather than a literal landscape.
When a piece is finished, my hope is that the journey does not end with me but begins with the viewer. It is my wish that a collector can see a reflection of themselves in the work—connecting with a memory, or simply feeling the emotional imprint a landscape leaves on us long after we have been immersed in the outdoors.
One of my most meaningful achievements as an artist has been using my work to create social awareness. I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with Red Binacional de Corazones to help bring attention to human trafficking in border communities between San Diego and Mexico. I’ve also worked with Fondo Para la Paz on a fundraising effort in which my paintings sold out, with proceeds supporting Mexican Indigenous communities living in poverty.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
San Diego has been my home for many years now, and I absolutely adore it. The city offers endless inspiration and keeps my creative energy constantly flowing. One of the things I cherish most is the artist community I’ve grown deeply connected to—always loving, generous, and endlessly inspiring.
If you’re curious to experience my art in person, I’ll be exhibiting at ArtWalk Little Italy on April 25–26. It would be a pleasure to connect and share my work with you during the weekend.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.karlapreciadoart.com
- Instagram: karlapreciado.art
