Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Lomeli.

Hi Natalie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

I originally began to take art seriously when I was in High School. My theater teacher pulled me from an art class to help her paint sets and I immediately wanted to try my hand at designing and painting. She was the first adult to let me take the lead and it was amazing to see the contribution I made to my community.

It took quite a while for me to find my voice from there. I went to two different art schools and ultimately defined my style by combining realist objects with more abstract and ambiguous backgrounds in painting. I was into a lot of art theory at the time and while I enjoyed the work I made it didn’t really resonate as mine.

In 2017 I suffered a miscarriage and began to utilize my art to carry me through my grief. It was this step that I began to see the symbol of Papel Picado in a different way. The Mexican banners were reflective of my culture and I saw them as metaphors that captured the beautiful yet delicate nature of being alive.

I began to design Papel Picado, cut it out, photograph it, and use the photos as references for drawings and paintings in various mediums. I loved that through this somewhat elaborate process the finished work felt so transformed and independent of me.

The four successive bodies of work I’ve made since that time have allowed me to reflect on various personal narratives. Themes of religious trauma, sexual assault, and the experience of being autistic, all under a consistently introspective framework shapes the work.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

The biggest challenge for me in this experience was not knowing that I had two disabilities. I would often see my friends and colleagues succeeding in ways that were just too challenging for me. I also made a lot of mistakes that later seemed so obvious. It was hard to understand why things seemed easier for others but felt difficult for me.

After having what I now understand as a meltdown last Summer, I began to think seriously that I had autism. Through working with my therapist, those thoughts became real, and it allowed me to see myself in such a different way. I had much more compassion for what I was able to accomplish given my disability.

Additionally, this year I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that I had been suffering from for over ten years. It was a surprise and yet not at the same time. I’m currently exploring a new treatment option that has yielded some promising results for others and I’m optimistic.

Gratefully, now that I’m aware of who I am, I am so proud of my journey, even though I’ve been imperfect. It’s been so rewarding to learn the ways to show up for myself. To focus on healing. Once you know who you are it’s so much easier to cope with setbacks or delays.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

My work is so special to me. What really separates it from other work is the process I use to make it. I begin by making a 2D design for a sheet of Papel Picado. The design itself is similar to a short form single comic page. There’s often figures, backgrounds, and objects all within the 2D design.

After the design is drawn out, I lay it on top of tissue paper where I use the drawing as a stencil to cut out the design. Often, I’ll cut through many sheets of tissue paper so that I can create my own Papel Picado banners.

After the design is cut, I’ll take a single sheet of Papel Picado and photograph it. It’s here that the work really transforms. I’ve never shown the photographs individually, but some of the photos I love so much I’m considering putting all of them together to exhibit.

After I find a photo I like, I will use that as a reference for a drawing or painting. I’ve made the drawings in graphite or colored pencil and the paintings in watercolor or acrylic.

The final result is always a mystery and never looks like anything I imagine from the beginning, and I love that. I am always trying to make something that is beyond my ability to imagine and the iterative nature of my process really allows a great transformation.

Often, when people look at the finished work, they have a lot of questions about how it’s made, which is another thing I love. Ultimately, my work asks more questions than it answers, both in concept and in creation. To me, that is the most successful art can be. I used to believe that art should give us answers, and some art does, but I like art that reveals all the questions. Sometimes, understanding the nuance of the question provides relief from needing an answer.

What matters most to you? Why?

My two girls and my two kitties matter most to me. It is such an honor to have the opportunity to lead a child through life. I have such fond memories of how beautiful it was to learn about the world. I also have memories of how terrifying it was to learn about the world. It feels so good to be present for my girls in a way that parents were simply not aware of in the past. It’s also been very healing and transformative. Children require you to step into being who you are and they deserve the most authentic version of yourself. My kitties bring so much warmth to my life. It’s honestly just so relaxing to have them around. To watch them live their lives. They are constant reminders that a simple and easy life can be a beautiful life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nataliefisk.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mermaid_serenade_
• Twitter: @mermaidserenade.bsky.social
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mermaid_serenade
• Other: https://twitch.tv/mermaidserenade

Image Credits

Natalie Lomeli