Congratulations to Karla Rebolledo for earning her place as a Winner in the Boynes Monthly Art Award September 2024 Edition!

Who are you?

I am a Mexican artist who temporarily lives in the Dominican Republic. Art has been pursuing me since I was very young. I was always attracted to art and several mediums. On my journey, I got lost along the way for a while until I decided to dedicate myself to art full time. Currently I am working on finishing a apprenticeship program created by Anthony Waichulis at Ani Art Academies Dominicana.

What inspired you to utilize drawing as a medium?

When I was younger, handling colors was not easy for me. Black and white always attracted me and I began to experiment with different mediums. I started using charcoal when I was 16 years old. I really like the charcoal effect because of the realism it brings with the shadows and highlights. In the same way I began to combine it with the white pastel which made it stand out even more. Overall, I am very impressed by the level of realism I can achieve and the ability it takes to perfect techniques, it inspires me to improve every day.

How would you describe your ARTwork?

I take pride in expressing myself through my art. Every piece of art that I make has something that I want to communicate and show others my perspective. However, when observing pieces of art, it is not only about seeing them but about seeing beyond that work. Small details can convey so many things in an art piece.

Can you discuss the inspiration and thought process behind your winning work?

In my piece "Legacy of a poet", I wanted to signify, that some messages never reach their recipient. Messages that were never heard or expressed. In some cases, we tend to live for others and our emotions depend on others, which in a way means that we do not have a full life. When we die, our body disappears but only some memories remain. This work also transmits the importance of living in the present and understanding the importance of our words. What inspired me to do this work was observing the environment I am in and the people around me, along with their lifestyle and how they deal with their feelings.

Can you walk us through the technical steps of creating your winning work?

Through many exercises and practice of automaticity, I was able to develop a level of doing detailed work. I not only improved my hand skills but also trained my eye. Nowadays I can see details that I didn't see before. All these techniques helped me develop a level of realism that I want. On the other hand, I make sure I have references of what you want to create for my next piece of art.

What do you hope to communicate to an audience with your work?

I hope the audience keeps an open mind and see a deeper meaning beyond the surface. It's not just a story, it's not just a perspective. However, each work has its own story and speaks for itself.

Can you talk about your biggest learning experience during the process of creating your work?

Failing has been one of my greatest learning experiences. I believe that there are no achievements without failure. I have failed many times and I have thought about giving up, but deep down there is always something stronger that pushes keep my foot on the pedal. Once you pass that phase, a better version of yourself comes out, which means that the lesson has been learned.

Each exercise encourages you to learn something new and forces you to leave your comfort zone of the unknown. A person is not going to start with something perfect, it is all a matter of practice, discipline and a lot of consistency.

Can you discuss your biggest success since starting your artistic journey?

My greatest success has been challenging myself and finding my purpose in life. I consider that challenging yourself with new experiences is an opportunity to improve. On the other hand, finding my purpose in life was a success since previously I felt lost.

Nowadays I feel passionate about what I do and I do it with great pleasure.

Can you give us the best piece of advice you have ever heard/received?

Never give up! Stay focused. Believe in yourself and your intuition.

As a winner, do you have any advice for artists who want to apply for awards, competitions, residencies, etc.?

Be confident with your artwork. Every piece of art is worth submitting. Have faith in each piece that you create. Prepare yourself to evolve each and every day. Never be prideful to the point where you cannot grow. Expand your knowledge and skills in different mediums and areas.

What projects are you working on currently? Can you discuss them?

At the moment, I am experimenting with oil painting. I am planning to create a still life with different textures and details. Each piece will be more challenging each time.

What is your dream project or piece that you hope to accomplish?

I actually have a list of ideas and compositions that I have planned. I think that each of them will have their exact time and circumstances to be created. I’m a person who likes to experiment with different mediums, therefore certain ideas may not turn out exactly as originally planned. Circumstances change.

Lastly, I like to ask everyone what advice they would give to their fellow artists, what is your advice?

Enjoy the process! It is a beautiful journey from the time you brainstorm what you want to make, creating the piece, selling the artwork, framing, shipping, and entering into art competitions. Decide to be better! Be the change you want to see in the world with your art!

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