Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Blanca Gonzalez . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Blanca , thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
I developed my ability to take risk by thinking about a brick wall when I am taking risks or finding a solution to an issue.
I visually put myself in front of a tall red brick wall and picture the end results of risk decision or the solution of an issue on the other side of the wall,
I tell myself ” I can either climb over the wall, go around the wall or under it, to see the end result of a risk decision or solution “.
I usually find the benefits of risk or a solution on the other side of the wall, which has helped me with my ability to take risks.
It works almost every time.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Blanca Gonzalez, before attending Elementary school, my interest in art came from my mother; she would teach me how to create art with natural environment items, we had limited resources to art supplies. When I was a child, I would see how she created ‘pinatas’, box designs filled with candy and wrapped in colorful paper mâché, and how she tailored clothes for her community. I would show interest in her art and tailoring, she would gather items that were on hand and would let me create art by her example or by my imagination.
I have been interested in art since I was a young child. Making art projects during my childhood years was such a fun activity, painting and drawing gives me such an extraordinary feeling of joy. I can recall the first time ever coloring a teddy bear on a coloring sheet of paper, it was the most remarkable feeling I had ever felt when using colors on paper; I have since been fascinated with art.
While in High School I was part of a youth art program, we worked as student apprentices with Mr. Richard Wyatt Jr., Los Angeles Muralist, as our mentor. I was one of his students among others who took part in his mural project at the Watts Towers Museum and the chalk art project for the movie cover “Do the Right Thing”, a Spike Lee movie. Mr. Richard Wyatt also included an image of me among other people on his mural at the Metro Link Station, Purple Line Western & Wilshire on a 50-foot tile art wall.
As I am very proud of my first Medal that I earned at Elementary school for writing and illustrating a children’s book, titled “The Chick and the Early Worm” I am planning to have it published in the near future.
I continued with art classes at college while obtaining my A.A. Degree. Some of my drawings were displayed at my college Art Gallery during my years in college.
I contributed my art skills by assisting business companies with creating Building Fire Escape Plan Drawings, Blueprint Drawings, and Product Design Drawings. My love for business also expanded to mentoring Cal State, Mount Sac. and Riverside University students with administration work experience.
For many years I have been making Costume Designs for family and friends. I enjoy the process of being creative when designing and sewing costumes. The following are some of the costumes I created; Super – Man, Elvis, Ghostbuster’s, Princess Peach, Batman and Cat Woman.
In 2022 I was one of seven featured female artists at the Community Foundation Women in Art show.
In 2023 & 2024 I participated as Assistant Directed Drawing volunteer member at my local Kids Art Expo.
In 2022 – 2023 & 2023 -2024 School years, I also volunteer at my local Elementary School Art Academy as a Lead and Assistant Art Teacher, with Lesson Planning to include Art History, and Directed Drawing: teaching the Fundamentals of Art and the use of exploring different paper and media.
Currently I have my Art displayed at my local Community Art Gallery, it is being displayed with our community artists.
I also currently also have Art being Displayed at the Pomona La County Fairplex this May 2024.
I have learned art techniques from school and my mentors throughout the years, and I am enthusiastic to continue learning new art techniques with acrylics, watercolors, oils and further explore surrealism art and master portraits.
I look forward to teaching children and adults’ art fundamentals in a creative and joyful way that will make them be proud of their art creations.
I also look forward to selling my art, continue to create costumes, and publishing and Illustrating children’s books.
I will also continue to learn the art of Business.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I think that the 3 skills that were the most impactful in my art skills were practicing cursive handwriting, drawing portraits from Glamour Magazine, and emerging in art books at the library to learn about color, techniques and art history, all the above was fascinating for me.
The advice that I have for children or anyone wanting to improve their art skills is to practice drawing and sketching daily, even if it is a doodle or scribble, even if what they are drawing is not what they expected to draw, just draw, draw and draw or paint and paint. Just like music… at first an instrument will sound out of tune, but with practice it will be soothing to the ear. I see art like that…. at first you may not like what you see, but with practice the brush or the pencil will feel smooth and creating art will be soothing.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
Mr. Richard Wyatt Jr. LA muralist was such an outstanding role model and mentor. He made an impact in my life journey with the essential life and art skills to succeed and improve my life and art skills. His mentoring played an important role in my life that encourages me to be a role model and to pave the way for young artist.
I would like to collaborate and teach art at Childrens Hospital or related locations of creativity where I can make a different in someone life through art and creativity.
I am also looking for a publisher who might be interested in mentoring me to publish children’s books that include life learning lessons and encouragements. This has also been a long-life goal and do not know how to go about it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.blanca373742.wixsite.com
Image Credits
Blanca Gonzalez
