Life & Work with Arely Sojo of Irvine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Arely Sojo.

Hi Arely, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up in Orange County, I moved from home to home and attended so many schools that I can barely remember most of them. But one thing that never changed was my love for traditional art. Growing up in a Mexican household, success was often associated with having a stable career, and becoming a fine artist wasn’t exactly a path I saw laid out in front of me. Thankfully, my mom always supported my creativity, especially once I began taking art seriously in high school.
Her support encouraged me to take a leap of faith and apply to Laguna College of Art and Design, where I was accepted with a scholarship and became the first in my family to attend college. Four years of late-night projects, endless studying, and the occasional complaint session with my nursing student friend about how painfully difficult a foot sculpture assignment could be later, I came away with much more than technical skills. I developed discipline, patience, and my own artistic voice. College taught me that being an artist isn’t just about talent. It’s about curiosity, intention, and a willingness to put in the work.
I’ve been selling artwork since high school, but after college, I began taking myself and my business more seriously. I’ve created commissioned paintings, including large-scale pieces, and have exhibited and sold my work through art shows and competitions. Each experience has taught me to trust my creative decisions and recognize the value of my work. I’m still growing, but I’m proud to be building a business around something I genuinely love.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. One of my biggest challenges was learning to believe that pursuing art was a worthwhile path, especially when success was often measured by having a stable career or being able to give back to your family. As a young artist, I sometimes felt like I wasn’t doing enough, even when I was working hard toward something I believed in.

Art school also challenged me in ways I hadn’t anticipated. Beyond developing my technical skills, I had to learn discipline, patience, and how to push through frustration. Also affording high-quality art supplies. We were expected to use professional-grade materials because they help us learn the full potential of each medium, but keeping up with the cost wasn’t always easy.
I remember one of my LCAD professors kindly giving me her watercolor palette after noticing I was using an old, low-quality one. I never wanted anyone to feel sorry for me, but her kindness meant so much to me. I felt like she saw potential in me.

Growing up with a single mother taught me to appreciate her strength and sacrifices. She gave me the freedom to pursue a path that wasn’t necessarily familiar to us, and her support helped me keep going when I wasn’t always sure where that path would lead. Those experiences have taught me that success doesn’t have to look the same for everyone, and that building something meaningful takes time.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a fine artist specializing in drawing and painting, and I also run my own art business creating commissioned work, including portraits and large-scale paintings. I’ve had the opportunity to exhibit and sell my work through art shows and competitions, and I’m proud of the business I’ve built from something I’ve loved since childhood.

My current work explores humanity’s impact on nature and the ways society has tried to control women. I depict women as modern mythic figures who embody the natural world: beautiful, powerful, and fundamentally untamed. I use ornate rugs, patterned drapery, and structured interiors to symbolize attempts to control and domesticate both women and nature. In contrast, animals and loosely painted plants reveal the wild instincts that persist beneath cultural expectations.

My approach to painting has also evolved. My early training taught me to work in a highly academic, realistic style, but over time, I’ve learned to embrace experimentation. I combine carefully rendered figures with expressive brushstrokes, layered backgrounds, and varied textures. I sometimes leave parts of a painting unfinished or allow earlier layers to show through. I want my work to hold a balance between control and freedom, both in its subject matter and in the way it is painted.

For me, a painting isn’t just about the final image. It’s about the decisions, discoveries, and emotions that happen throughout the process. I’m most proud of developing an artistic voice that reflects the ideas I care about while continuing to grow as an artist and business owner.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something people might not expect is how much teaching has changed me as an artist. After college, I became an Advanced Painting instructor and teaching assistant at Costa Mesa High School. Teaching students who were learning to paint for the first time brought me back to the basics and reminded me how exciting it can be to create without worrying so much about perfection.
That experience encouraged me to loosen up in my own work, experiment with bolder brushstrokes, and appreciate the imperfect stages of a painting. It helped me realize that the process can be just as meaningful as the finished piece.
Teaching has also given me some of my most meaningful memories. When I left the school, my students and mentor gifted me a Meeden easel. It was such a thoughtful gesture, and I’ll always remember it as a reminder that the work I was doing mattered. I’m also incredibly proud that one of my former students was accepted into LCAD.
Today, I see myself as a fine artist and business owner who also has the privilege of encouraging others. Art gave me something constant when so much else was changing in my life. My mom helped me believe I could pursue a path I couldn’t always see for myself, and I hope to pass that same encouragement on to others. If I can help even one person believe their dreams are possible, then I know I’m doing something meaningful.

Pricing:

• “One More Round” 4ft x 5ft, oil painting, $3000

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arely.sojo?psln=Y2ltN3EybHFjMWkx&utm_source=qr
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arely-sojo-04763b40b?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios