We were lucky to catch up with Martina Puchalla recently and have shared our conversation below.
Martina, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
The creative expression in painting is a means for me to vent and express my emotions and thoughts. Bringing an idea onto a canvas gives me a sense of freedom and satisfaction. This process makes me feel more optimistic as it allows me to externalize and communicate my subconscious emotions nonverbally. When I am particularly pleased with an artwork, it triggers a feeling of happiness within me. It becomes a chain reaction, strengthening my self-confidence and contributing to a more optimistic and motivated feeling. When one of my artwork touches, fascinates, or even puzzles other people, it brings forth a great sense of fulfillment and optimism in me, motivating me even more to continue.
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 am a queer visual artist and graphic designer, born and living in Berlin. My art is usually very colorful and expresses my emotional state, with the colors and the expression of the non-binary faces I paint serving as a kind of published diary. I mostly work with acrylic paints, but also with markers, as both have a great brightness and intensity. My goal is to stimulate dialogue through my art on topics such as identity, gender, and society, while also creating a space for self-discovery and personal growth. My artistic process often involves self-reflection and exploring different facets of my own existence and sometimes subconscious feelings. Through my works, I aim to inspire others to explore their own emotions and engage with their own diversity, as well as give a face to queer and non-binary individuals and provide courage through visibility.
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?
A statement by Gunter Rambow, a German graphic designer and poster artist, has accompanied me throughout my life since I started studying at the School of Art in Braunschweig. He said to us new students at the reception: “The greatest creative potential lies in irritation and doubt.” When I doubt and stumble because things don’t always go as I wish, the memory of this statement still motivates me to give even more and invest more intensely in my art. Obstacles and crises are known to make us grow, as they are simply opportunities to see life as positive or negative. I believe that as a budding artist, it is important to remain open-minded and not be influenced or discouraged by negative opinions of others. Eventually, one finds their own theme and preferred technique. If I could wish for something, I would find it very helpful if teachers or parents from an early age inspire and praise children’s interests. This could be a talent for singing, musicality, the desire to learn an instrument, or other artistic skills. It is about supporting and encouraging them from the start, not about competing. If you have children or young people in your environment, whether professionally or personally, please try to empower and support them whenever possible. There are always means and ways, even if it’s just a pack of colored pencils or a drawing pad. The child will feel seen in their interests. It is often a pity that little girls are told they have beautiful hair or look good, instead of being valued for their great talent in singing, drawing, or sports activities. Boys are often told they are skilled in craftsmanship or strong, rather than being told they are handsome.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My parents have always supported me and believed in me throughout their lives. My father was so attentive and would give me gifts related to art for various occasions, such as birthdays and Christmas. This allowed me to experiment with various techniques and materials from an early age, whether it was mixing my own paint pigments and experimenting with fresh eggs, varnish, oil, or acrylic. Despite my freshly renovated bedroom starting to resemble an artist studio rather than a sleeping space and the white carpet eventually becoming more colorful around my easel, my parents supported me unwaveringly. Unfortunately, my father passed away last year, but he laughed heartily with me in the weeks leading up to his death about the artistic antics I had gotten up to in my early years and how vibrant my bedroom used to be. I am grateful that as a child, I received so much encouragement to pursue my artistic passion. Many relatives praised my early artwork, and I was frequently asked to create small artworks for birthdays or special occasions. This led me to develop my own comic character and draw small comic strips for them. It was my way of creating the world and my environment according to my own imagination.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.martinapuchalla-art.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/martinapuchalla
