Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Monica Echeverri. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Monica, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
Lately, I’ve been having a hard time with this! This year especially, I’ve felt a stronger pressure to create and have found myself feeling a creative block more than usual. But when it comes, it usually happens when I’m spending time with myself, in nature, and listening to new music. Capturing the creative moment through writing, photography, or simply “feeling” the moment usually stirs us some new, exciting ideas in my mind.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Hi! I’m honored to be featured in this article. My name is Monica, I’ve had the drive to create ever since I was a little girl. I began oil painting in art classes when I was about nine years old, and have been teaching myself ever since. Honestly, I’m most excited by the fact that being in artist is actually a reachable goal these days! I never planned to turn my hobby into a business, but I couldn’t have imagined a better way to grow my skills and develop my style. I think what I enjoy most about what I do is turning the ordinary and extraordinary moments in nature into a painting – to be able to earn someone’s trust in recreating a special memory for them on canvas is unreal! In the end, I always aim to paint beautiful moments from the outdoors to keep them close and memorable. Next year, my goal is to focus on more collection launches to really solidify my style. I would also LOVE to have a solo or group show sometime in the future!
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?
Taking weekly art classes when I was younger was huge for me. It’s what skyrocketed my interest in painting! I would say having a consistent practice, finding people in your field to look up to, and building a supportive community are three qualities that have had the greatest impact on my growth as an artist. For me, I tried a lot of different things in the beginning and am learning to stick with the things that I like. I joined local craft markets, reached out to local stores and coffee shops to see if they wanted to carry my prints or paintings, and have stayed somewhat consistent on social media and creating new artwork. I think there are many paths you can take when it comes to selling art! Since consistency feels most impactful for me, I would encourage other artists to set aside time throughout the week to create in a way that feels most exciting. Look for successful artists who inspire you and see what they’re doing right! This has helped me stay motivated and form a clearer vision for what I want my goals and future to look like.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
Finding my niche! I’ve come such a long way with my skills and have seen a huge improvement in my artwork over the years, but I still feel like I haven’t found a particular landscape that I’ve become well-versed in. I see a lot of artists develop their skills in a certain subject (seascapes, misty forests, architecture, etc.) and I would like to do the same! This was the year where I took several opportunities to paint many different subjects that were out of my comfort zone, which I am incredibly grateful for because I feel like I’m just one step closer to finding my unique style. I’m hoping that next year I’ll eventually land on a particular theme or set of landscapes that I absolutely love!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.monicaecheverri.com/
- Instagram: @monicaecheverri
Image Credits
@heatherwangphoto (photo of me live painting)
