We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sofia Echa a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sofia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

Someone liked my work when I was still an art student in New York City. They saw my paintings online and contacted me directly. I am thankful there was this one class where we learned how to build our own website from scratch, it really helped to learn how to put yourself out there without spending a dime. As a result, I got lucky I sold two pretty large paintings, got a U-Haul truck, and drove the canvases to New Jersey. It was a really unusual feeling. It gave me wings. I spent the money on two pairs of designer shoes for my mom: she supported me in moving to the States and leaving my family and my life behind to follow my dream. She was so touched and happy.

Sofia, 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?

I am an LA-based fine artist and makeup enthusiast, passionate about painting on metal sheets, canvases, and my own face. I’m a first-generation Russian-American: Born in the Far East of Russia in 1992 in Vladivostok, and I moved to New York City in 2013 after I received a bachelor degree in Japanese studies. I really wanted to pursuit my dreams to make art and become the most liberated and creative version of myself, so I was lucky to get a scholarship to study at the National Academy School in New York. After 10 years in New York, I moved to Los Angeles a year ago after I became a mother.

Influenced by the Daoist theory and philosophy in art where the object is present and absent at the same time, I am exploring continuous movement and flow of forms into each other, using metal sheets as a three-dimensional surface. Working with metal sheets, I am interested in an illusion of reflection and the theme of distance and longing.
While painting, I imagine that the real object is not here. I am thinking more of what’s outside of the actual piece, as if the full image will never be revealed, staying a secret forever. This series of work on metal is a kind of puzzle to me that has its pieces fragmented and scaled up after the image was formed. I am interested in exploring the beyond, or the unseen.

My work is about melancholy that does not necessarily have to be heavy – it can be light and beautiful. There is no need to intensify this feeling or run away from it – you need to live it. And the experience of loneliness does not necessarily fill you with bitterness – it can fill you with gentle sadness. That’s the main subject of my work at this moment.

I’m a big makeup junkie, and ‘painting’ on my face, creating makeup looks comes naturally to me, as if my physical self is a part of my creative process. I often go back and forth between painting on metal and doing my makeup and back to painting, where the process of painting gives me a certain direction and then I am inspired to create a look on myself, so I feel empowered and have more inspiration to paint. During the first year of motherhood I was struggling to have me-time and to have time to create and paint, so I would often have my baby on my lap and do my makeup and create this fantasy, and that was my outlet to feel like ‘myself’ again. I’ve had many collaborations with beauty and skincare brands on Instagram after companies saw my videos online and loved them, so I am also a self-taught makeup artist and an online creator.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

The amazing podcast called Make Art Not Content has significantly impacted my creative thinking and philosophy. The author is very straightforward, and gives you the real motivation that you need: there is no touchy-feely stuff, just straight, practical advice. If you’re looking to up your game as an Artist, I highly suggest it.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

As an artist and a mom, today I am full of pride and bravery, but it was a long period of being scared if I am ever able to make it as a professional. Being a freelancer, especially an artist, and a new parent can be scary at times. After I became a mother, I couldn’t find my mojo as an artist. I couldn’t concentrate for any length of time. I would read articles/try to work/listen to professional podcasts during these short nap times when I really had to lay down and recharge for a little bit. I was in the superhero mode. There was no family around, so it was just my husband and I figuring it all out and taking it day by day. I learned that acceptance is the only way to go further. It is a unique journey and an important time in your and your baby’s lives, and I had to learn I physically cannot dedicate this much energy and time to my craft anymore. It took me a while until I could say I felt contentment, but it took me so much time! Eventually, it gets easier and you’re able to work again, and then all of a sudden you realize you are not the same person, you are so much more motivated, stronger, smarter, and bolder.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sofiaecha.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sofiaecha/