Interview

Those were years of much learning and growth for her, an important period full of rich experiences, interactions with people from different cultures, and new traveling destinations; a period of a wider vision creation and expansion of her heart and mind.

Back in her country, Julieta developed the Urban Image Manual for her home city, and afterwards in 2015, she started to paint with no further expectations than letting go of her emotional state, guided by her own personal skills and sensitivity, and her academic background.

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“My foray in painting has been an unexpected, curious and very cathartic process for me. Painting was a not very conscious pending topic in my life. I am a very creative person, and I have always directed my creativity in different ways throughout my life, from very creative scholar work, to more formal ways such as architecture and design, which I have studied as a career, and I really love. However, I had never tried it through painting — I had never painted before. I think because I was somehow avoiding it.
But it was in 2015, after concluding some work commitments related to my career, and starting to make arrangements to move away from my homeland again, that life stopped me, by shutting down those plans I was preparing. Life began to change the outward direction I was pointing in, and started instead looking inwards, unexpectedly letting painting find its way.
Here, with no more ‘distractions’, I was cornered with no choice other than confronting it, through the first blank surface, entering me in an inner self journey. It was time to unwrap and release this gift that had been claiming for years, to come out to the light. Finally, with no more delays nor expectations than just letting it be, it grabbed its space, and its time to be revealed.
And so, I experienced a totally unexpected and enormous breakthrough. I have the feeling that it was Painting that chose me, and not me that chose it.”

What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?

“My art is something very personal that responds to an internal world, rather than an external context or social issues. It is a flow of feelings and emotions, a strong self-expression, a permission to be, that I feel I now have to share.”

“Painting is something that I enjoy very much to do, letting it simply be as it wants to be... Free, spontaneous and full of life!”

Which current art world trends are you following?

“I enjoy abstract painting from different artists, no matter if they are very known or not, as long as their work attracts me or resonates with my sensitivity. I like to appreciate these works, not to find reference with them, but to delight me, as for me art is something very personal and free that comes from an inner source.”

Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?

“My work is a result of the present moment. I don’t plan it, I let it surprise me. This is where I allow myself not to be ‘perfect’, as I usually tend to be a perfectionist in other aspects of my life. Instead, I surrender, and let my creation happen however it comes, with no restrictions, no academic or stylistic pretensions. Everything is, and everything can be. It is only me, my heart, the brush, the paint, my hands, and a blank surface giving birth. I create very intuitively, guided by my own personal skills and sensitivity. And with no further ado, I let it happen.
My work is not only a visual exploration. For me, it is also a very intimate experience that I like to enjoy and feel through my senses. It is very important for me to feel good and comfortable when I create. Thus, I start by harmonizing my space, playing some nice ‘Neptunian’ music, and placing my hands on my heart to harmonize me with it. Then, I ask for presence and give thanks for it. This kind of ritual and the indispensable chillout music are very important for me to create a nice cozy, ambient atmosphere in my place, allowing me to connect and flow more easily with my work and my intuition, and in a few words, to enjoy it.”

JulietaCASMOR_ The beauty of imperfection_60x90cm.jpg

What process, materials, techniques, etc., do you use to create your artwork?

“In my art I use acrylic paint, oil sticks, brushes, spatulas and many different textures. I love textures because they provoke very attractive effects, whether they are viscous or fluid they always show up in my artwork. I enjoy layering the colors and the glaze effect of light and deepness it results in. I use different types of brushes in different ways, it can be by slipping it or hitting it on the surface, using not only my right hand but sometimes my left hand too. My fingers are part of my tools, and now I’m exploring with different artifacts to discover new effects. I normally paint on wood as I find it interesting how the brush responds to it, but now I’m starting to do it on canvas too.
I think my most important technique is: ‘no judgments, pretensions or expectations’, just create and see what happens. I don’t have a precise idea how my work will end. I usually pick up at first a combination of colors, but it is often that I change or add more colors and mixes during the process, as I like to explore. This is where the magic flows, with no restrictive approach; I just mix the colors intuitively, moving my hands and tools connected to my heart, and I let it flow till my artwork makes me fall in love with the result.”

What does your art mean to you?

“For me, painting represents my intimacy revealed and shared. It is a very inner experience that releases me, and it comes from the deepest part of me. I paint for pleasure, because I enjoy it, and I love it because it expands me. With painting, I let my deepest emotions flow, experiencing a very special sensation when I’m engrossed in it. It feels like time remains still, and that is very pleasant.
My very first paintings were created with a cathartic feeling that was too intense, and caused a lot of unexpected crying, but also a huge relief sensation, quietness and healing. It was an encounter. Now I realize I honor my essence with my art, that profound part of me that for a long time remained unconscious. That is why I embrace and kiss every single piece of artwork I finish – when it grabs me and makes me fall in love with it.”

What’s your favorite artwork and why?

“My work title ‘The voice of the soul’ is a very special piece for me and one of my favorite artworks. I remember very well when I painted it. It was the first work I created on a bigger format (90x90 cm), as I was passing from a small size to larger ones in just one step every time. My painting was asking me to expand very quickly, and I let it flow in this artwork – I loved the result very much. When I finished it, I looked at it and I had a special feeling in my heart, like it was whispering to me, trying to let me know something, and I knew for sure it was ‘the voice of my soul’ speaking back to me.
To my surprise, this painting was selected by curators from the 1340 Art Gallery in Holland, to be published online and printed, in their international 1340 Art Magazine, Q1 edition 2019, along with the work of other emergent talents from many countries of the five continents. A totally surprising event for me, as I didn’t expect this could happen when I was just starting to publish my work online.”

Please tell us about any previous exhibitions you found noteworthy and wish to share.

“My very first exhibition was held at the University Art Gallery of Colima, in June 2017. It was titled ‘From deep into oblivion’. For me, it was very significant, located in a beautiful enclosure where I presented my art publicly. When I showed up for the very first time, this facet of me that most of the people who knew me had not seen before and it was a surprise for them. I presented not only my paintings, but also some samples in wood of the work I do in furniture design, which is part of the concept I’m developing. I feel privileged as an emerging artist, that my work was unveiled at a Solo exhibition and stayed there for three months. I was also honored by the positive feedback I received from the visitors during this period. I will always be grateful for this encouraging and beautiful experience.
2017 - “From deep into oblivion” Solo exhibition, University Art Gallery; Colima, México.”

Do you have any upcoming exhibitions you would like to mention?

“Very soon I will have my first Solo exhibition outside of my country. It will be at the Artifact Gallery in New York, from June 8th to 26th 2022, and I feel very excited about it. The artworks that will be exhibited there are part of the series of paintings that I call ‘The spirit of wholeness… and love’. It is based on the feelings I have experienced with the work I am doing now, after the intense process that I, as everyone on Earth, have crossed over during the last two years of the pandemic. I am delighted by this great opportunity to expand and share my art out there.” Read more here