We were lucky to catch up with Roxana (RoxanaBOArts) Barahona Oliva recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Roxana (RoxanaBOArts), thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Since I was a child I knew that art was what I wanted to do, however the academic world took me in other directions. In high school I studied mechanical and architectural drawing to make diagrams for the construction sector and the manufacture of mechanical parts. At university I studied engineering in Topography and Geodesy, however one day I fell into an existential/emotional crisis that led me to rethink if what I was doing with my life was really my path and the answer was no, so gradually I decided to start drawing and painting, it was a very difficult time for me because of the criticism, and because it is often thought that art is not a “real job” but also I didn’t have the resources so the process took me a lot of effort.
But despite everything, at this moment in my life I am happy for having made the decision to dedicate myself to art, and I always want to share the message on my social networks that it is never too late to start.

Roxana (RoxanaBOArts), love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Roxana Barahona Oliva artistically known as RoxanaBO Arts I am a Costa Rican visual artist, tattoo artist and art teacher currently based in Mexico City – Mexico. I formally started drawing/painting in 2011 when I opened my facebook social network where I shared my projects.

I am mostly known for being the world developer of the pictorial technique of “Art with makeup” which consists of the use of cosmetic products such as makeup shadows, make up foundation, eyeliners among others to create artworks on different surfaces.
My work has influences from Japanese culture, American comics and science fiction that I merge with the bases of classical art as the main inspiration. I specialize in realistic and hyperrealistic portraiture, however I take manga (Japanese) drawing hand in hand, comic and arts in hybrid styles, landscape and scientific (anatomical) drawing.

I get commissioned all kinds of artistic projects, from portraits in different techniques and styles, creation of editorial art, art for tattoos, art for advertising, customization of action figures both in structure (sculpture) and in painting, I make live presentations for artistic brands among many other things (I’m quite active)

Most of my clients are people who seek to represent those things that are difficult for other professionals to do, such as capturing stories or characters they saw in their dreams, paying tributes to deceased loved ones, but also fusing magical, cinematographic and even science ideas fiction in your projects, I love artistic challenges.

I love art in all its expressions, which is why I like to get involved in projects that range from performance to art in painting, set design, advertising, marketing to the most intimate and personal.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My personal mission is to spread the interest and the right of access to art as a social tool for change and emotional health for the general population, given that it has historically been considered reserved for closed sectors, but also taking it hand in hand with communication focused on the fight for gender equality and the elimination of any form of discrimination of the work, thought, expression and female work.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

One of the most difficult things to explain to people who are not dedicated to art is how for us personal fulfillment has a very different meaning from the traditional one, and it is precisely for this reason that many of us tend to leave professional careers that are thought of as ” successful” to go for a dream.

Life for us is about having a certain “rebelliousness” to experience and digest all human feelings from the saddest to the most joyful instead of repressing them since knowing ourselves in those states inspires us in the creation of artistic projects.

However, this exercise of introspection and the analysis of the world and the emotions that helps us in our work can also cause us a lot of saturation in the senses, which can lead us to introversion, to tears when something moves us, or to ecstasy when we see a sunset. The artist goes through an emotional process that many people may ridicule or not understand.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.roxanaboarts.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/roxanabo_arts
• Facebook: facebook.com/roxanaboarts
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/roxanaboarts
• Other: tiktok: tiktok.com/@roxanaboarts