Today we’d like to introduce you to Karina Soler.
Karina, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I have always liked doing crafts, one of my aunts has an exceptional talent for crafts and painting, so every time I visited her (which was very often) she taught me a lot of things, from stained glass creation, pottery painting, pyrography, and the list continues… so, in part, she was a big influence for me in that area.
Besides that, I have always loved art in every form, every place I visit and even in my hometown, visiting an art museum has been a must for me. I really enjoy the sensation that is left when you step out a place with such visual, musical and sometimes sensorial experiences.
Born and raised in Mexico City, the city with the most museums in the world, there was always something to do, something to learn and enjoy. I am Industrial Engineer, have an MBA in Finance and have more than 12 years of experience in Supply Chain… but being an engineer does not prevent developing a passion for art, and that’s my case.
I started doing jewelry in Mexico about 10 years ago, when I was unemployed, in part needing an income and also because I was bored ha! So, when I was unemployed, my mom taught me the basics of making jewelry, such as what type of materials I could use as well as the techniques to crimp and handle the metals, so she was another person that really influenced me to start making these types of crafts, even as of today, whenever I need specific stones, metals or materials she helps me get them.
Two years ago, I moved to Houston, after getting married to my beloved husband who was relocated here; leaving back my friends, family, job… so, there I was again, unemployed, knowing almost no one and at home… So, that was the perfect time to refresh and learn more techniques, like micro-mosaic, who I learned from a friend of mine, which is the one I am using the most, recently for my jewelry creations. In the meantime, I started volunteering at the Museum of Fine Arts, I also went to ESL classes to improve my English communication skills but mostly to meet people, and now I am working again in my field. And while the process of adapting to a new country, new lifestyle and new people is still going on, I am thankful that art has always helped me to cope with times of change, to strengthen my psyche and to express myself.
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 mostly make Jewelry. Being from Mexico I have a big influence on wearing colorful and creative necklaces, earrings and bracelets… and now that I am in another country, I want to impregnate all that cultural background in my designs. Every piece of jewelry I make, has a little bit of my personality, with my favorite colors, symbols, and combinations. For sure, I would wear them. If I don’t like a design, I throw it away. I want to deliver quality in my work, so, if it is something I wouldn’t wear, then why offer it?
What you should know about my art is that I want to express in a charm, a pair of earrings and every piece I make, that art is universal, that it doesn’t matter what language you speak, where you come from, art will always connect you with other people, and mostly, that art will help people to know the cultural background of where you come from, what you are and what you want to share. Lastly, and as I mentioned before, art has helped me going through moments of change, making myself more resilient and thankful for every person I have met during the process because we share the love for it.
How can artists connect with other artists?
You should create your network, if there is a museum nearby, an art association or whatever activity that could allow you to volunteer, learn or give; that will help them to meet people with the same interests. Look for meetup events, go to local art fairs and things related to that.
I agree that being an artist can be lonely, but I also believe that sometimes destiny or luck puts you in front of people with your same interests, and with other talents, so that you teach them something new but also, they teach you something in return. In these almost 2 years that I have been living here, I met two good friends of mine, both artists in different fields, one of them I met her at my ESL classes, and the other one while volunteering at the MFAH. All of us expats (Chile, Indonesia, and Mexico) and who would know that we would meet here in Houston… so, you have to work on creating your network and going outside, and the universe, luck or circumstances, do the rest. =)
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?
It’s a very small business, actually, I only have an Instagram page, I mostly sell it person to person, to friends and friends of friends… People could support my work reviewing my page, sharing it with friends and if they would like to buy something, they could ask by message.
I can deliver in the Houston area or if outside, I could send it via postal service. Maybe eventually I’ll open an online store… I plan to go to hand-made stores near Downtown and Montrose and offer it, I know they sell to consignment, so if anyone knows any owner of these stores, their recommendation is welcomed.
Contact Info:
- Email: kscrafts.jewelry@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kscrafts.jewelry/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KS-CraftsJewelry-203989356875879/
Image Credit:
Karina Soler
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