We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Claudia Valenzuela. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Claudia below.
Claudia, appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us a story about a time you failed?
In brutal honesty, my experience as an artist has felt like a constant battle through failure after failure. Every artist probably feels the same, though I believe it’s the failure that allows you as an artist to define your own being as “the artist”. Or rather- you become so fed up with what the world tries to define “the artist” as, including your own perceived fraudulence; that you give up teetering between socially defined masterpieces clouding the visions unique to you and you fully pursue your own ideals of the artist. Though this epiphany may arise purely out of frustration, it becomes one of your own benefit and independence in the end.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I apologize for not introducing myself earlier- my name is Claudia Valenzuela or Cloudyv (CLOU-DEE-VEE), I am a Graphic Designer and Photographer based in Denver, Colorado. As a kid, I wanted to grow up and “be an artist” and for a moment I had actually convinced myself I wanted to be a scientist. Calculous and chemistry taught me that I truly still wanted to be an artist. I began taking photos on disposables my parents and grandparents would buy my sisters and I as kids. I’ve found my passions lie in the world of type, vibrant color, and anything that feels like it doesn’t belong. I got into my industry through my detestation of math and my desire to pursue art as a career. Design is and has been a powerful tool of influence, change, and education throughout history time and time again- it exists as an opportunity to reinvent the way we think and go about our everyday lives. Through my work, I hope to expose moments of humanity bringing a sense of belonging.
Currently, I screen print my own apparel such as tote bags, sweatshirts, patches, hats, etc., as well as photographing in my spare time and freelancing when I can as a designer. My apparel is all screen printed by hand by myself with all of my patches hand sewn onto each article as well. I design each piece with care- I will never sell a design or piece I am not completely satisfied with. Taking a play on nostalgia by creating work that evokes youthful joy and rebellion allows my clients to embrace their childlike nature when defining who they are.
I take pride in my empathy for others and the care I take in my work. I want those who wear my apparel or exist in my photos to feel cared for- to feel special. I want those who see my work as a designer to feel inspired and excited by the possibilities that design can hold.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
I find that people fail to realize how much art and design have influenced the world since the beginning of time and has led to the idea that creative work is “child’s play”- that is cannot be taken seriously as a profession and thus, those working in said fields are not taken seriously either. Design exists all around us each and every day and it is the only way we may innovate our world toward a more human-centered society. Design is more than creating something that in the end, is appealing to the eye. It is a process broken down by first establishing compassion and understanding for the problem, researching, ideating, prototyping, and testing, all leading up to the creation of something intimately designed through the deconstruction of human nature. Within design, there is success in having empathy, in a better understanding of our peers, in shedding light on shared prejudices and disabilities- design allows us the possibility to create a better world for our future.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I was once asked to reflect on a memory where I felt the most “at home”. I was instantly brought back to summers at my grandparent’s apartment- to long days at the complex pool with my grandma and sisters and ramen noodles afterward. This was a moment that felt like home to me. I was then told to chase that feeling in life- to chase the way those memories made me feel. I hope to make others feel this same way whenever they look at my work or wear a piece of my clothing. I want to elicit an intimate experience between the wearer or viewer and the work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cl0udyv.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cl0udy.v/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/claudval
- Other: https://vimeo.com/user108700459