Meet Marisela Oropeza | Artist/Art Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marisela Oropeza and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marisela, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Ever since I was a child, I was very passionate about the arts. It was my pastime and I’ve been very dedicated to making art all throughout my life. When I was older, I learned that it was difficult to make it out in the art world, especially since I lived in a small town in which the arts were not a priority; not a whole lot of people were able to afford it. This is when I knew that going into an art career was going to present many challenges to me and becoming an artist meant that there were many risks involved; not only was I going to have to face difficulty in finding customers, but my mother did not support me in my decision to become an artist as well. She always insisted that I should follow a different career path as she didn’t believe that I’d be able to sustain myself out of making and producing art. Even though the odds were against me, I decided to take the risk and follow my passion, my goals and my dreams. Now, I’m very happy that I did.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
After so many years of creating art, I feel that I wouldn’t function well without it. I need art in my life just as much as I need essential components that constitute my existence; thus, I try to always squeeze it in even if I have a tight schedule. I have been teaching art for over fifteen years now and my schedule is often busy because of it, but my passion and motivation have always been present and I try to nourish these as much as possible. I know that life is too short, and I always feel that I still have so many works that I want to create, so I try to keep active as much as possible, especially with technology nowadays as it can really consume my energies.

As far as what characterizes my art, I mainly paint with oils on canvas and my work is very abstract and has a cubist flavor. It revolves around music; I often portray musicians and I try to incorporate their instrument as part of their bodies mainly to express that special bond created between the two. Seeing other people be passionate about something really inspires me to paint. I like to immerse myself in this passion, which I believe helps me represent positive energy in my pieces.

This positivity becomes my solace every time I look at my paintings, which I hope to be able to transmit to others as well. I like paintings that make people feel good, that will lift their spirits, and that will brighten their day or make them forget about their troubles. Along the way, I’ve learned that this is ultimately what it comes down to: art gives artists wings to fly in any direction and I hope my paintings can be a window to the imagination.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When it comes to trips and traveling, I love to connect with nature and experience the moment to its fullest wherever I go. I think that regardless of the destination or even the means of getting there are essential components to a beautiful experience. I’ve had so many wonderful lived memories and traveling experiences that it is difficult to pinpoint the best, so I would say that being connected to one-another and to nature is the best way to go, even when situations don’t go as planned or unexpected things happen. This has really helped me just be in the present and enjoy my travels; seeing people for who they really are, opening up to new experiences, savoring diverse cultures and ways of life, walking the streets of unknown places yet feeling so familiar in them, and just being appreciative of life for what it has to offer. I think that if one is connected to the world in positive ways, then our experiences are likely to be favorable regardless of the destination.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to thank my high school art teacher, Mr. Mike O’mera, my ex-colleague, now friend Susannah Santana, and my philosophy professor in college, Dr. Maria Paleologou for expanding my notions and horizons about art possibilities. These individuals played an important role in my life as they encouraged and believed in my potential as an artist. Mr. O’mera opened my eyes to a world of possibilities that I did not know existed out there for me. He gave me my very first canvas and set of oil paints and I created my very first oils on canvas painting in high school. I will always be appreciative of his humble ways and his words of wisdom and encouragement towards me. Another individual that I will always be forever grateful towards is Mrs. Santana. She was like a mother to me during difficult times, and she cared for my wellbeing, success, and progress in life. Still up until today, we keep in touch with each other after 20 years of fruitful friendship. Likewise, Dr. Paleologou also helped shape that positivity and motivation within me. Aside from loving my paintings, she would always be very supportive, and I particularly enjoyed sitting in her lectures and learning from such a wise person. All three of these individuals played a very important role in my life and I will always be forever grateful to them as they hold a very special place in my life and heart.

Website: mariselaoropeza.com

Instagram: @mariartedesigns

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEeJc6F149dssTkvutEnKqg/videos