Guada is an artist from Madrid but she moved to York (UK) in 2017 and has lived there since then. From 2019, she started to create linocuts as a way to connect back with art after finishing uni a few years before. During lockdown of 2020, Guada used my her time at home to create more and more linocuts. Nowadays she is trying to explore other techniques and create new things. She finds inspiration mostly in nature, space, colours and forms… but she is very interested in philosophy, cinema, photography and many other things.
What was it like moving from Madrid to York? I can imagine they’re vastly different in many ways.
It was (and it is) a very exciting experience. Madrid and York are significantly different but when I moved to the UK, I was in a point of my life that I needed to reset and to live in a more calming place rather than a hectic and busy city like Madrid. York gave me that tranquility and from the beginning it has been one of the most creative and inspiring places.
Have you always wanted to be an artist since you were young?
I have always had an interest with art since I was young but being an artist wasn’t my dream job when I was a child. My first dream job was to be a journalist, like my father, but my interest in the arts grew bigger and I thought of being an art historian at some point. But, just before I started what it would be my GCSEs back in Spain, one of my teachers encouraged me to apply for a Fine Arts degree.
You discussed your struggles with imposter syndrome - when did this first become an issue?
I have the feeling it started back in Uni but, I didn’t realised it was such a big issue until I finished my degree and I wasn’t sure how good my work was and I founded difficulties to be creative.
How did you keep going forward when it became difficult to get a job in the industry?
I try to think that there is always a new opportunity or an option for me out there. I also try to connect with people and keep in contact with other creatives or artists and most of all keep in contact with my old friends from Uni. They are the people that keep me thinking that there is a chance to find a creative job, even if we have to create it ourselves.
What have you personally found improves your relationship with your own artwork and creative skills?
As I mentioned before, I think being in contact with other creative people is very important to help your progress and think that your artwork is worth of being contemplated and enjoy by others. Also, long walks and power naps! Sometimes I have the best ideas or I think of the best ways of creating when I am doing any of this two things, believe or not.
I think being in contact with other creative people is very important to help your progress
You mentioned that you considered moving abroad to improve your experience with imposter syndrome - Why did you consider this?
Yes. After Uni, I wasn’t sure what to do with my future and I was struggling to create new things and even finding my creative path. At that time I was working with video and photography and I wanted to do something related to that but I wasn’t happy with what I was achieving. So I thought a changing of scenario would help with that. And it did to be honest. In my first years living abroad, I have found ways of being creative and feeling proud of what I am creating without thinking much on the outcome or if it is good. I still have days that I think I am not doing it right and that my artwork is not the best, though, but it is something it doesn’t bother me that much as it did before.
I still have days that I think I am not doing it right and that my artwork is not the best, though, but it is something it doesn’t bother me that much as it did before.
As someone that has experienced imposter syndrome, what advice would you give to others feeling the same?
Stay connected with people and other creatives, look for advice and feedback from others, don’t fear on sharing and showing your artwork (as hard and difficult this might be). You might be surprised how people would enjoy and appreciate your work and that it is the best way to encourage yourself to keep going and that what you are creating is valued.
You might be surprised how people would enjoy and appreciate your work and that it is the best way to encourage yourself to keep going
You said you mostly work with linocuts, what is it you love about working in this medium?
Using linocuts was for me the easiest way to reconnect with being creative and the most affordable. I also love how calming it is when your carving a plate and how satisfying when you see the results on paper.
As you want to explore new areas and techniques, is there anything at the top of your list to try?
I am thinking of going back at using video for my art. But I really want to learn more about digital techniques. I would love to be able to know how to use technology to create art in general. It fascinates me art that is being created in this way.
Who are your 3 favourite she/they creatives?
Very difficult question, not just because I change my influences very often but also because it made me realised how little female creatives I am inspired from at this moment and that is very sad. But I would say Sonia Delaney, and two artist I discovered recently: one is Regina Schumann and she does very impressive light installations; and, the other one is Jessica Backhaus who works with cuts of paper creating abstract collages.
How do your interests like philosophy and cinema affect your creative process?
They influence my art work in different ways. From philosophy I get ideas for my projects. I really like to discover new ways of thinking or how, for example, shapes or colours affect our ways of seeing things or our understanding of some other more abstract ideas like death and love.
With films I usually find inspiration for my aesthetics. I have always been very influenced by directors like Kubrick, Lynch or Wes Anderson.
If you could move anywhere for 3 months to complete a creative project, where would you go?
For creating a project, I have been recently thinking that my parents village in the middle of the mountains in Spain would be a great place to create a project. It’s the most beautiful place I have ever been and it is also one of the places that I feel most inspired at.
Huge thanks to Guada for the great feature -- keep doing great things !
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