We were lucky to catch up with Stephanie Gonzalez recently and have shared our conversation below.
Stephanie , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happy a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?
Although I thrive and work in isolation. What I miss from working a regular job is human interaction. I like working in a team to get things accomplished. I got a sense of working a regular job before I decided to go full-time as an artist eight years ago. I worked at a couple of art consulting firms for four years before taking the leap. In that time, I got a sense of what it’s like to be in a 9 – 5 environment. Overall, it is true that to be a full-time artist is more difficult, but the freedom that comes with it makes everything worth it. That and being able to use my time to do work that inspires others makes me never want to look back.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
Born in Monterrey N.L. Mexico, Stephanie Gonzalez grew up with her grandparents in Reynosa, Mexico and picked up painting from her grandfather. She began painting at the age of 14 to escape a hostile environment and later started developing new techniques and experimenting with different mediums. As a child, Gonzalez moved from Georgia to Mexico, then to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. After high school, she moved to Houston, where she currently resides. Gonzalez creates mixed media abstract paintings, graphic design, murals, and interior design. She has been known to use a variety of media, such as coffee, wine, aerosol paint, watercolors, acrylics, oil pastels, and china ink. Gonzalez holds a BFA in Interior Design from the Art Institute of Houston and MFA in Painting from Houston Baptist University. She has received awards from the Glassell School of Art, Brownsville Museum of Fine Art, and Rising Eyes of Texas. Public murals and collections include Starwood Hotels Le Méridien Saigon, Lot 8, Chloe Dao Boutique, Skyline Art Services, Make a Wish Foundation, and Pearl Bar. Recent work is currently on view in the exhibition, Withstand: Latinx Art in Times of Conflict, at the Holocaust Museum Houston.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect is when other people say things like “Your instagram stories inspired me to paint” or That piece speaks to me”. I think at the end of the day being a creative means you solve problems but when you can create a connection to another human being from something you created and brought to life is the best feeling. Whether it’s a painting, a sculpture, a song or a poem. To make a connection is rewarding for me.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
The books Big magic and The Artist Way are a great read that heavily impacted my journey. Working as an artist assistant for Blakely Bering was another really big help, I learned a lot from her. I also did a residency with John Palmer in Houston, Texas and learned about the business part of art. Watching videos on YouTube of other artist helped me understand how to talk about my work. I also recommend the art21 website. There are so many resources available now for anyone who wants to learn, its just a matter of putting in the time to do so.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stephaniegonzalez.net/
- Instagram: @me_gusta_pintar_si
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/megustapintarsi/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-gonzalez-59648743/
- Twitter: @megustapintarsi
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1eIaZGF4hq37QGddSRozFA
- Other: tiktok: megustapintarsi