Today we’d like to introduce you to Gretchen Velarde.
Hi Gretchen, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My professional career in art started around seven years ago in a moment of great loss while looking for the power to express my feelings with complete freedom.
I started taking painting lessons and became obsessed with the calm and happiness that it brought into my life. I don’t think there is a better form of therapy for myself than art. Shortly after, I found myself immersed in this beautiful profession, and going around the world selling and exhibiting my artwork.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would say that it has been a smooth road overall. I like to think that I have been blessed with incredible people who have had faith in me and my work.
In the beginning, it was sometimes hard to understand the subjectivity of my line of work. Not everybody will feel the same way about my art, so I can only hope everybody will at least perceive the love and effort I give into every piece that leaves my workshop.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My canvases are frequently characterized by my frankness and direct temperament, which leads to strong and sincere views in my work. I strive to achieve etherealness, which is why my paintings as well as my sculptures, abstracts mostly, tilt towards the lyrical and poetic.
Mixed media is my specialty in paint, which means that I always use different techniques in one artwork. I also do encaustic, which is painting with molten and tinted wax. My sculptures are bronzes and ceramics which I love to finish with Raku enamel. Finally, I love doing engravings and prints on wood, linoleum, metal plaques, bottles, etc.
I have had more than fifty exhibitions in important venues, among which stand out the selection to represent Mexico in “Latinamerica, what unites us” for UNESCO; award in “No lockdown for creativity” in India; acknowledgment as Cultural Ambassador for Mexico in Qatar; QIAF, Qatar International Art Festival; exhibitions in important museums in Mexico as well as international exhibitions in Italy, Ireland, Argentina, Russia, South Korea, some countries of the Middle East, among others. I was invited to participate as an exhibitor for International Museum Day.
My work and articles have been published in national and international magazines and catalogs. I am a member of prestigious artists’ associations such as Mondial Art Academie; ARTAC, AIAP Mexico, among others as well as part of the IMSS Sculpture Workshop.
A part of my profits always go to different foundations that work towards making this world a better place. I would like to contribute with my views to an aesthetic movement that promotes hope and feelings of well-being.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Thank you for reading and sharing a little part of me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gretchenvelarde.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gvelarde_arte
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gvelardearte
