Meet Cesarina Pulleyn

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cesarina Pulleyn a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Cesarina, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?

My optimism stems from a combination of influences that have shaped my outlook on life. First and foremost, my father believed that anything is possible. His encouragement taught me to dream big and pursue my goals without fear of failure. Additionally, my sister Vicky’s infectious enthusiasm and love for adventure have inspired me to embrace new challenges. Her willingness to try anything reminds me that life is full of opportunities waiting to be explored.
Finally, I recognize the importance of maintaining a positive perspective. I understand that viewing situations through a negative lens can lead to discouragement and depression—a place I have experienced and have no desire to revisit. This awareness fuels my commitment to optimism, as I focus on the possibilities rather than the obstacles.
Plus, new adventures and doors are the gateway to my creativity.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I create art. It’s my passion, my joy, and something I love to share with the world. I have been exploring a fascinating technique that combines years of my photography work with a new artistic vision. I take these photographs and cut them into geometric shapes, predominantly circles. Then, I use these shapes as a backdrop to create entirely new pieces of art in the foreground. The result is a captivating blend of past and present, imagination and a surreal image
The idea for this geometric approach came to me in a dream about 20 years ago. I had this vision that by using geometric shapes in the background, you could transform a flat surface into something that appears three-dimensional. Initially, I experimented with squares, but it didn’t quite capture what I had envisioned. I set the idea aside for a while, but it never truly left me. Eventually, I revisited the concept, this time using circles, and it was like everything fell into place. The circular shapes brought depth to the work that I absolutely love.

For me is a vibrant journey of creation, curiosity, and adventure. It’s about embracing the unknown, trying new things, and letting your inner child run free with joy and wonder. I believe in the power of creativity to unlock our deepest potential and connect us with something greater than ourselves. When I create, I feel a spiritual connection, often losing myself for hours or even days in the process. It’s in these moments that I feel most alive and true to myself.
I encourage everyone to be brave enough to chase their dreams, even if they don’t align with society’s expectations. While there’s nothing wrong with wanting a nice house or a fancy car, I believe true fulfillment comes from pursuing your passions. For me, that means mixing different mediums, building something entirely new, or reimagining what’s been done before. I see myself simply as an artist who loves to create, an original just like everyone else. We’re all special in our own unique ways, and I want people to recognize and celebrate that about themselves. As I prepare for upcoming art shows, I hold onto my dream of one day exhibiting at the Guggenheim in New York. It’s a lofty goal, but I believe in the power of dreams and the magic that happens when we dare to pursue them.

I guess I just really want everyone to be inspired by my work. I mean not like I want people to look up to me inspired, but inspired to try new things to get lost, to just create without boundaries

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?

Three very Impactful events that helped bring me to where I gained skills and knowledge are very different.
The first one was encouragement from a 2nd-grade teacher, she loved my art and made me believe I was special. At the time I had moved to a new school and felt completely out of place and lost. She gave me an inner confidence that only creating and being myself was all I needed. It gave me the confidence to push art and drawing, creating new skills just because I knew I could.
The second was resilience and failure from working in a male-dominated field. I worked as a tile setter back in the early 90’s, trying to create beautiful mosaics but realistically just making a living supporting my daughters by doing what I loved. I dealt with a lot of pushback and not being heard which drove me to learn more and sadly bite my tongue. Then, when I was a camerawoman a couple of years later, I felt the same pushback. Not realizing that my eye for detail and exceptional editing skills intimidated my boss. Again, this pushed me to learn more and strive to be better than anyone. eventually stepping back because I wasn’t happy. Through all that, I became better at my craft.
The final event was a tough one because my ex-boyfriend tried to kill me. So, I was too afraid to go outside. I locked myself inside my house for 5 months and created my art. I perfected my circle art and created night and day. With the great help of my sisters Vicky and Cindy and some counseling, I found my way out, but in that time, I learned how to completely get lost and create.

Please note that I don’t look back on these events only to be thankful.
I learned self-confidence, self-love, resilience, and to try many avenues when chasing a dream.

Not sure if that’s the answer you wanted

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

The number one obstacle I am facing is financial. I quit my job to chase my art and I have made some things for passive income, but truthfully, it’s not bringing in the dough I was hoping. I know Once my art gets out and seen, I will be set for life. At least, knowing I tried. that kind of set.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

no other

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Leadership Development
Empathy Unlocked: Understanding how to Develop Emotional Intelligence

“Empathy is the starting point for creating a community and taking action. It’s the impetus

Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Boosting Productivity Through Self-Care

When you have a never-ending to-do list it can feel irresponsible to engage in self-care,