Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonja Bales.
Sonja, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I grew up in a family of creative people, either they are designers, architects, weavers, or those who prioritize museums during every road trip. I feel so lucky to have the encouragement to pursue an art career without doubt of its importance. Throughout middle and high school I explored different visual media and enjoyed above all mixing sculpture and painting in new ways with interesting found materials to convey my ideas. Now, I am studying film and television production and animation at Loyola Marymount University. Though my first love was the fine arts, I believe film is the ultimate medium which utilizes as many creative contributions imaginable. The more I learn, the more I make, the more I understand the true genius of this pinnacle filmmakers and the powerful histories they can project. Now that I have experienced more of life, the grief of loss and joys of love, it seems that my priorities lie in improving our world through my arts.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I think the best way to describe what I make is where it comes from. Thinking of ideas is the most exciting experience, finding beauty in the details of life, remixing and interpreting my world into whatever media it is most fit to. As a result, I make many different things in many different styles. I feel strongly that being observant and active in experiencing your surroundings is the best source of joy and inspiration. No matter if you walk down the same street every day, there is always something new to find strange or elegant. Each idea is made of love for the world, and I endeavor to illuminate this philosophy for others through my eyes and hopefully protect our world. I agree with the overwhelming need and concern for our environments but I think this crisis demands overwhelming creativity to be changed. Hopefully, I can bring joy with my perspectives but dually instill that same love for our home and our neighbors.
How can artists connect with other artists?
I have so many ideas about this! I actually started an Artists festival last summer in Portland called BARTER where artists can come together and trade their work or supplies with each other to both collect artwork, clean their studios, and connect over their passions. My favorite way to connect and collaborate is to go on sketching adventures. If you have a local art store, drawing studio, workshop or class with other creative people, start a group message and suggest rendez-vous at cafes or parks to just sketch, write, photograph and above all talk with each other. If that is too daunting, just DM me and let’s gather up a group for a cappuccino or a Barter event!
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I update my instagram @sunshinestudiosla with my daily sketching and with project updates, and for my more professional works you can commission or just browse on my website sonja-bales.squarespace.com. I love collaborating with other artists and am always up for a challenge or something new.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://sonja-bales.squarespace.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunshinestudiosla/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClaee1XoR4Bx8YsVcfn_68A?view_as=subscriber
Image Credit:
My profile Photo of me drawing was taken by Frank Abruzzese
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