Margaux Belleza

Art is a form of release. It doesn't matter if the person viewing it knows the intent behind every art I make. As long as it still evokes a feeling to them, then I'd like to think I can make someone's day maybe a little bit better, even for just a minute. Don't we all need that escape sometimes? Art and doing art can be both an escape or being more self-aware. My favorite subject is humans in their most vulnerable state. I've always found beauty in that: the rawness, painful, insecure, passionate, bare human beings we are.

I've always done art as a hobby when I was a kid, but I never considered it a job when I grew up. Funny how things have changed. My dad is my first inspiration. He is a freelance artist, painter, sculptor, and more. He had his little workstation beside the house, and he had so much paint and sculpting tools and stuff. I always hung out with him while he paints and listens to the radio. Although he never really taught me anything, I was too shy to show my artworks to him to this day! I taught myself everything!

Besides humans, I also love painting places. I particularly love abandoned buildings and ruins. There's so much history in those structures, but I'll never know what, like in humans—we have our pain and suffering and joy and happiness. In addition, my artworks aim for simplicity, almost wishing we weren't so complicated, finding yourself and true happiness from simple actions.

I can't say I've found my natural style yet. I have ADHD, so I tend to experiment a lot and get bored with the same style every single time. I don't know how people do it, honestly. It is crazy to me. But even so, my art still would have a signature style to it that's me. Just don't make me do portraits of women for weeks straight. My head will explode.

There's no formula to this. Anything can inspire me, absolutely anything. And that is the beauty of art. If I get moved by a movie so much, I might paint a scene, or if I see a random picture of a woman with a strong facial expression, I might make a story in my head and use that as my motivation to start painting. It just comes to me. The spontaneity of making something and the process is what excites me to start, so yeah, I'd like to keep it like that. Even while painting, there is no step one to step 10. There can be new ideas mid-painting or modifications and compromises, and I love that.

I don't have any success story they might find worthy yet. The industry is brutal. There is a lot of competition out there. I still cannot afford the materials I want or the computer I want. I have two other jobs aside from being an artist, so I can feed my dogs, pay my rent, and have my dad live with me. It can easily bring you down, but if you want something you have to grind, you have to do the work--I'm still doing it. But one tip is to not think about success as earning lots of money. If that is your motivation to do art, then stop. Please remember why you started art the first time and what made you fall in love with it. Money will come if you work hard, but passion doesn't come for everyone. So treasure it.