Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophia Ceballos.
Sophia, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Growing up, I moved around every couple of years because I come from a big, blended family that’s spread out all over the world. We lived everywhere from the East Coast and Southern United States, to Spain, the Virgin Islands and even Guam. The effect of being transient- always being the new kid with no friends-was that art remained the constant in my life. I’ve been drawing and painting since I was a child, skills encouraged by my mother. I made comics and calendars that I sold for a quarter and had my first art show in 1st grade at a state fair. Later I was accepted into an art academy but was unable to attend due to relocation.
Moving frequently gave me exposure to a lot of different art styles, cultures and media; I loved learning, but I had a hard time narrowing my own personal voice. I finally settled on a major and decided to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art at The University of Texas at Arlington. As many budding artists do, I had this naïve perception that the pinnacle of being a good artist was the ability to make hyper-realistic, detailed compositions that were universally recognizable to an audience. I connected with 18th century Romanticism and the evocative narratives, colors and emotional spaces that envelop the audience, elements I wanted to express in my own work.
I soaked up every Art History class I took and quickly understood the limitations of my previous perspective. Over time the way I view and interact with art has greatly evolved. I am no longer strictly interested in the figurative subjects of paintings, but rather intrigued by infinitesimal details somewhere in the background and within patterns which tell their own complex story. I had the privilege of working at The Modern Art Museum for six years during my collegiate career which allowed me to further expand my appreciation and understanding of nonrepresentational styles of contemporary art and how I related to them. I currently live in Fort Worth and work full time at The Kimbell Art Museum, where I can still visit my favorite Romantic works that originally spurred and brought new life to my artistic interest many years ago.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My work is an introspective meditation on the relationship between my mental and physical environments and finding a balance which is expressed in varying visual patterns and languages. I create independent forms, some that find grounding and connection with others, while others remain solitary islands. Select spaces are inhabited by detailed mark making, pockets of luster and line; an homage to minutia. I work primarily with mixed media and watercolor on paper. I love utilizing the physical properties and fluidity of watercolor while layering on more grounded, opaque structures. I see the usage of these materials as somewhat symbolic given my transient upbringing and daily drive for balance. I create primarily small intimate pieces but am working towards building up the scale of my work and exploring the impact of various surfaces.
Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
I think social media has done a wonderful service for creating visibility for artists who may not have gotten the recognition from other platforms. I can’t speak for everyone else, but I know financial struggles will always be present for many artists. I think it would be great for our cities to provide free or affordable opportunities for artists to get their work seen as well as workshops and seminars to aid emerging artists in professional growth.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My website is www.SophiaCeballos.com, I update when I have upcoming shows on there. I also will post art, works in progress, bits of my life and more on my Instagram account: Caveslayerr People can support my work by coming to see it in person whenever I have a show. I love engaging in a dialogue about my work and receiving feedback!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.SophiaCeballos.com
- Email: somace8@gmail.com
- Instagram: Caveslayerr
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Image Credit:
All images belong to the artist, Sophia Ceballos.
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