ARTIST STATEMENT
“Daydreaming” is a piece that heavily relies on colors to give it a lightweight and airy feeling. The soft lilac mixed in with hints of pink, yellow, periwinkle, and white allow the painting to look peaceful and dream-like. A woman is shown sitting on a cloud, drinking a cup of coffee, and reading a book. In my own life, I get so lost in whatever story I’m reading that I start daydreaming and let my mind wander. I feel at peace and allow myself to take the time to enjoy every sip of my coffee. This is the very definition of what it means to practice slow living. It means taking the time to enjoy the small things in life like: reading a good book, watching the sunset, visiting the cool cafe or bookstore I’ve been meaning to visit, spending more time talking, and most importantly, listening. I’ve learned to be present and enjoy the conversations, interactions, and time that I have with those closest to me. If this past year has taught me anything, it’s that life is too short to not spend it how you want.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Milwaukee based multimedia artist, Maria De La O Sanchez, has been expanding her portfolio and exploring different mediums since 2013. Since then, she has been able to develop a strong appreciation for color and the emotions they can evoke from audiences. The purposeful use of certain colors to elicit certain emotions from her audience is what’s prevalent in her art. If she uses a particular color in a piece, there’s a reason behind it.
Maria is a first generation Mexican-American and like many children of immigrants, has had to persevere through those doubtful in her ability to excel in a creative career. That is part of her drive; she is here to show other children of immigrants that a creative path is just as important as any other path available. Maria is currently attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for her bachelor’s degree in art education, which will be used to impact children’s lives on a day to day basis.
© Maria De La O Sanchez