We recently connected with Claudia Valenzuela (Cloudyv) and have shared our conversation below.
Claudia, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I am resilient because of the overwhelming resilience of the women ever-present in my life.
I believe that where we find our resilience as artists intertwines with where and how we find our purposes and values- everything we hope to provoke within our own work. Your resilience builds you up to become this person you never imagined you could become, you become the hope you wish to see in the world. I have found my resilience through the profound love and strength of my Grandmother Lilia, and my Mother Monica. I am resilient because of my Sisters, Teachers, Professors, Mentors, Friends, and Family. The women within these groups have proven symbols of empathy, warmth, kindness, intelligence, honesty, and above all- raw love. It is in our darkest moments that we are challenged to see for ourselves what this purpose in life holds for our own story. In our darkest moments, we have opportunities to grow, understand, and help one another. It is in our sufferings that we learn what resilience means- what it looks like in the light of a dark world. I believe so deeply in bona fide love- love of all kinds, I seek to evoke the love I have learned from these women and the world in my work- love for others, and for our most ordinary spaces.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a Graphic Designer and Photographer based in Denver, Colorado. I grew up in Colorado with a love for drawing and taking pictures. As I have grown, my hobbies and dreams have manifested into a career and opportunities, I am thankful to be able to do what I love every day. My personal brand “Cloudyv” is where my truest manifestations come to life. Cloudyv allows me to explore every realm I could dream of while maintaining my own brand style. Cloudyv allows me to explore new mediums to create pieces that are empathetic, meaningful, and authentically unique.
My love for Design and photography only grows over time as I continue to find joy in small things while taking notice of their impact on and in our world. There is immense beauty found in alternate perspectives. As a Designer, considering multiple ways of living becomes a crucial element of a design’s success. Evidence of art and design influencing communities, societies, and nations remains prevalent throughout history time and time again. That in and of itself is a beautiful and powerful thing to be a part of.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Three valuable skills that have been most impactful on my journey are critical thinking, empathy, and curiosity. Critical thinking is an extremely valuable skill that not only allows us to view any problem under several different scopes but also encourages this exploration of truth. Empathy is a key element to creating successful human-centered designs and can be as simple as people watching or speaking with a loved one, or even better- a stranger, and making the intention to listen. We cannot forget at the root of a more human-centered world is love- and curiosity! Curiosity to explore new hobbies, learn new crafts, to read about places, people, or things you have never known about- curiosity is so important for its ability to shape you into a well-rounded human being. The best advice I would have for anyone is to stop letting fear get in the way of learning/trying something new and be genuine to YOU.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
My incredible Teachers, Professors, and Mentors. While my teachers themselves have posed as challenges in my life, the obstacles they brought about taught me not only about math, science, and art, but also about life. As moments of my schooling felt intimidating, hopeless, and lonely, I learned to have the confidence and determination I would need to survive as an artist in the “real world”. Humility in the knowledge that there will always be more to learn comes from the experiences of those who have a lot to teach us- especially about ourselves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cl0udyv.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cl0udy.v/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/claudval
Image Credits
All Photographs and Designs by Claudia Valenzuela (Cloudyv)
