7 Year Anniversary!!

Today marks 7 years since I first opened my art instagram account. Before I could even fathom what would be "44WATERLILIES",  my first user name was artist_ale and I would post collage art after realizing my strong interest for it in college. I've experienced so many amazing things ever since I took the step to share my work online and I wanted to briefly share my story!!

I was very hesitant to even start to share my work online because I felt like there was no use in it. I had no friends, I didn't talk to anyone about art and

I was VERY insecure... I was that art student who was too shy to talk to anyone for fear of coming off as "too bitter", "awkward" or "weird". I fostered a friendship with myself where I would make collages in my college's library, and watch youtube videos about art history, fashion and social political commentary. I was a loser who had too much in their hands and a dream to belong... or to at least find others who I could spend time with talking about what I was doing.

I decided one Sunday that I had nothing to loose in posting my art online. I opened up this instagram back in 2017. I didn't connect with anyone locally but rather found companionship with collage artists from across the world.

I connected with a really amazing community of collage artists throughout Europe and eventually had my artwork exhibited in Barcelona as part of a group show piece, "El Fiambre Fabuloso". I was not in attendance because I couldn't afford to go and strangely enough sometimes even now I forget it even happened... but I still think it was such an amazing experience to witness my piece through the internet. Collage will always have a special place in my heart for it has brought me so much joy and allowed me to begin my process of introspection. I collected so many Vogue Mexico magazines and would carry to school with me to work on my art.

I continued making collages and eventually a piece of mine caught the attention of my favorite designer, Alessandro Michele himself and he followed my account during his earlier days as creative director for GUCCI. I remembered I FREAKED out because he was and still is a strong influence in my art. The way he approached his designs by carefully referencing and alluding to art and fashion history is something I've always admired! At the time, I remembered dreaming of working for the brand as they were selecting artists to have their work be a part of their garments. In conclusion to that, nothing ever happened but he kept a close eye to my work which I thought was interesting. He has since left GUCCI and I always think of what could have been... That experience definitely marked my journey because I felt like I could make work that meant something to others.

Time went on and I continued my studies in school and was immersed in learning anatomy, the basics of oil painting and drawing. I was set in being an art educator while in college but then the COVID pandemic started and I realized I wasn't actually fit to teach in public education. While I was student teaching, despite being flooded with school assignments, exams, supervisions and lesson plans, I was very prolific in my artwork! I couldn't fully dedicate my time to just teaching as my college made it seemed.  I was burned out from teaching and I felt like it wasn't what I truly wanted to commit to. I wanted to be a working artist but I had no idea how. It was 2021 and I hadn't really had much social experience being at home for an entire year.

Fast forward to several months, I continued posting my art online and I started connecting with people from school and artists locally. I began slowly discovering that there was a local art scene that was slowly growing too. I took the step to go to art shows, sell my work in person, and meet new people (something that terrified me due to my social anxiety and insecurities). I was asked to be a part of MIRAAAA MEDIA Fest back in 2021 as part of a virtual artist show and the rest is history, unfolding beautifully into what my artist page is now...

I began exhibiting my own work locally, meeting amazing and sweet people whom I can now call friends and discovering that I can make a fruitful and colorful life out of being an artist. I've enjoyed the joy of sharing my personality online and not taking my self too seriously; all because I decided to take a step outside my comfort zone and take a risk. 7 years have passed by and I have evolved and changed for the better. I have had some of the most special and magical experiences ever and I can only wait to see what the next 7 years bring. I want my art to allow me to continue connecting with new people, new places and new experiences. I want to feel like I finally belong... I still think it's so wild how everything in my life now has been built upon this social media prescence. It feels very surreal to attribute my success to an instagram page but it's true!

I want to thank you for taking the time to read this and for appreciating all that I do within my art. You mean the world to me. Without you, no one this would be possible. I can't help but to always communicate how grateful I am for having this story and this small community of people who make the world a much more vibrant place!

If you are on the fence of whether or not to share your work, I encourage you to take that step and do so!! Whether it be online or in person, share your talent/ interest/ hobby with others. Go out of your comfort zone and try new things! It'll take time for you to perhaps feel successful in feeling confident but essentially, all good things take time.

Who knows what great stories lie ahead for you! Have faith in yourself that you will find your passion and your crowd and I wish you the best of luck! ❤️ ❤️❤️

-Ale, 44guaterlilis