Today we’d like to introduce you to Cristina Mondragon.
Cristina, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Going back as far as I can remember I cannot recall a time I was not creating art. As cliché as it sounds I like to think of myself as a kid that never grew up. I am a self-taught artist however my family is very crafty and supportive, that I am grateful for. I started off with pencil and paper and It wasn’t until College that I experimented with all sorts of mediums including body painting.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I am influenced by films, music, cartoons I watched growing up especially from Tim Burton and mother nature. My art doesn’t really have a style, everything I do is usually different. Sometimes I will have some very abstract backgrounds or very washed down backgrounds. But they do tend to have an element that connects them together. The meaning to my work is an appreciation to all forms of art that I encounter daily mixed with my imagination.
If I do want to deliver a message in any of my work it will be through my black and white illustrations. Those I create from ideas that come to mind when I prepare to start illustrating/writing a book. They reflect from personal experiences but I keep it subliminal so anyone can interpret it their own way.
Mediums and style, I shift quiet often giving each one a break. I do some black and white illustrations that are slightly surreal with a lot of stippling and hatching involved for detail. I also, paint animals because I love and enjoy detail especially fur. Ceramic and sculptures, I do every one in a while of some cups and characters I have created. Body painting is one of my most favorite mediums to work on. I do a lot of self-painting with the same amount of detail that I apply into my canvas paintings. It is hard sometimes and can take up to 2-4 hours that will be just the painting, that is not including the other hour that I spend taking photographs of my creation. I do work alone so it can get very tiring but I love it.
Currently I do work as an instructor for kids in an art studio as well as for a puppy rescue where I have done several murals. If I am not at work I am at home creating. In other words, art, just doesn’t stop for me.
Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
I do not think it is harder in terms of creating art but I do believe that we have come a long way since caveman painting that there are so many jobs in seek of creators in the art industry. Now, we have so many artists creating and doing the same things that it is difficult to find a way to STAND OUT. Better way to say it, artist have to be ready and prepare for any task if they really want to become successful but for that they must have that highlight that makes them pop.
Miami I think is a perfect city to fill with art. There are so many cultures mixed here and can be expressed in architecture, sidewalks shoot even those Metro buses we have here need some form of art for that artist here can be commissioned for. There is so much talent here even the art walks every month help get the art flowing and Wynwood is growing more and more with the it. As long as that keeps growing and going I believe that we artist here have a chance to express, share and make money with our beautiful art that we have to offer Miami.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
Currently my work can be seen in my website CristinaMondragon.com or my Instagram account ‘Yo_Artsy’. I do showcase, compete or perform every month in different venues, that I share on my social medias for the public to go support and of course have a great time all at once.
Contact Info:
- Website: CristinaMondragon.com
- Instagram: Yo_Artsy
Image Credit:
Photos were all shot by me
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