We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chloe Alejandre a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Chloe, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
I keep my creativity alive by wondering about the natural world. Growing up with stories about fairies, trolls, and other magical woodland creatures, I have always been fond of the magic that can be found in nature. Simple acts like going for walks and stopping to admire the flowers and trees or hearing the birds sing are enough to make me wonder about what magic could be there. Are there fairies frolicking in the flowers today? Are the trees swaying because they’re dancing with the wind, or perhaps to the birds singing? All these silly, whimsical wonders are what fuel my creativity, which I demonstrate in my illustrative and three-dimensional artwork!
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 have been telling stories and creating art for as long as I can remember. I have always had a love for nature and all the magic and silly little creatures that inhabit it. As a result, I became an illustrator and 3D artist who focuses on the sweetly surreal and wonderfully whimsy aspects of nature and imagination. I work with a wide range of mediums, from digital art to sculpting, to bring life to the sweet little sillies that live within my mind. The most exciting part about my process is seeing my creations come to life in a way only I can achieve, through my own two hands, and seeing the smiles they put on the faces of others.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Many factors were impactful in my journey. If I had to narrow it down, I would say that there are a few that stand out the most:
Keeping an open mind: I have always had an open mind that continuously takes in information and ideas around me. From funny conversations with friends to new facts I learned about nature, keeping an open mind allowed me to store ideas for creating something new and exciting.
Admiring the world around me: As I have mentioned quite a few times, I have always admired the natural world around me. Taking inspiration from the qualities of nature I love and adore keeps my imagination fresh and alive.
The smallest things create the biggest impacts: There have been many times when simple, small acts have created huge impacts on my artistic path. I remember back at the beginning of college; I sculpted a small mushroom fairy using a craft kit I had bought. I loved that sculpture so much that I decided to make a few more like it, and that turned into this massive shift that would further my art style and artist identity.
If there is any advice I can offer, it would be to never stop dreaming. We all have the potential to be something greater beyond our imagination, and the only one that can encourage or prevent you from achieving your dreams is you. Life challenges us to show us what we truly want, even if the path to achieving it isn’t easy. But there’s beauty to a challenging path. If we follow it, regardless of our fears or worries, it shows how much we want our dreams to come true. If you have a dream, make it your reality.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was nurture and encourage my passions. They always encouraged me to pursue my dreams and do what I love regardless of what anyone else thought. They saw how much I loved to draw and tell stories, and so they would give me notebooks and art supplies to flood with my imagination. They always told me that I could do whatever I put my mind to, and I continuously do that in everything I do. If it weren’t for their encouragement and support, I would have not gotten as far as I am today.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/cocosangelsdolls?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@cocosangelsdolls
- Other: https://linktr.ee/cocosangelsdolls
Image Credits
All photos and artwork belong to Chloe Alejandre.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.