We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Yamel Molerio a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Yamel , looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I get my work ethic from my parents. They came to the United States with two children and only their clothes on their backs. They immediately started working. My mom in a sewing factory. My dad started as an assistant in an electrical company. They didn’t speak the language so it was hard for them in the beginning. After working hard, my dad was able to start his own electrical company. Years later, my mom was able to quit the factory and stay at home. They were able to attain success and a better way of life.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am focused on my artistic career. As a visual artist, I am telling a story in images. My artwork is figurative with a strong sense of narration. I want my paintings to be a visual conversation between the viewer and the piece. Sometimes the message is straight forward and other times it could be open to interpretation. My paintings have multiple layers of images and materials. I incorporate overlapping components of different size papers, canvas, fabric, and wood. The process reminds me of old clothes and objects patched up. They are also reminders of weathered walls or abandoned dwellings. The backgrounds in my paintings are filled with holes, peeling paint, cracks, and different shades of gray and white. The images at times are detailed, while other images are barely recognizable. Some of the black and white images have been painted on top of other images, just like graffiti is layered on walls.
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?
I think the most important quality is to be resilient. I think as a visual artist, you have to be prepared for ups and downs in your art career. Sometimes you are going to be on top of the world and other times you are not. Never stop working. As an artist, it is also important to be resourceful. Sometimes you have to curate your own shows and promote yourself.
The last thing is to be proud of the work that you do. Remember, Van Gogh only sold a couple of paintings while he was alive.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was to encourage my artistic talent as a child. As a child, I was always expressing myself by drawing, coloring, and building things. My parents were always supportive of me nurturing my skills as an artist. When I decided to pursue my Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting, they never discouraged me. They are still supportive and proud of the work that I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://yamelmolerio.com
