Today we’d like to introduce you to Damaris Chamorro.
Hi Damaris, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
At the age of 9, I moved from Ecuador to the United States. I grew up with a love for books; however, when I moved to the U.S., I was confronted with the fact that I didn’t know any English. The same books that had once made my heartbeat with excitement had been transformed into sheets of paper full of empty words. However, one day at school, while my classmates and I sat on the reading carpet, my gaze became fixated on the book The Tales of a Fourth-Grade Nothing. I sought hydration from the torrents of words I found no meaning in, and the swimming turtle on the cover quenched my thirst. Through this simple drawing, something clicked. On that day, art became my new language. Looking at all of the colorful book covers, suddenly, English didn’t seem so daunting anymore. My connection to art motivated me to open my mind and overcome the language barrier that had greeted me the moment the doors to the JFK airport opened. This is where my love for art was found, and I’ve been pursuing my interest in illustration ever since. I had the opportunity to attend Art and Design High School, where I learned the value of an environment that advocates connections between individuals and the world around them, and this opened up a new way in which I saw everyday scenes suddenly being transformed into countless possibilities of what a drawing or painting could be. I am now graduating from The Fashion Institute of Technology with a B.F.A. I am in Illustration and am so grateful to be where I am, having had the opportunity to study what interests me the most, having support from my family and friends, and being surrounded by an equally goal-driven community.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
After I enrolled at Art and Design High School, I found a place to create and transfer my motivation into breaking down barriers, linguistically and artistically. As someone who used to squirm at the thought of being called on to speak their mind throughout elementary and middle school, I was able to connect to people through art. Not only developing a voice to share my opinions but taking the time to listen to what other people had to say and become involved in a community. Speaking my mind and public speaking overall has always been intimidating for me, but having the opportunity to share and talk about my work has encouraged me to come out of my comfort zone and put myself out there.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love to work with different mediums, ranging from drawing and painting to photography, as well as mosaics made from paint swatches. Specifically, I am interested in genre paintings, children’s books, and wordless picture books. There is a lot that can be expressed in moments where everyday life is captured, especially in the subtle, quiet moments that can go right over our heads sometimes. What also inspires me is observing the shift in time as seasonal change occurs. I like illustrating the beauty in nature and how we interact with it. I’m fascinated by how the environment that we’re in shapes what type of activities we do and influence our mood. Within my work, I also aspire to develop my own narratives to portray the dignity of working people in their work environment. Overall, I want to continue to capture the essence of people who are often overlooked but are what makes society so admirable.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I would say that you need to push yourself to be the best version of yourself every day. The more and more that you encourage yourself to create, the more you learn to advocate for yourself and learn to talk about your own work. It is also so important to keep an open mind when it comes to looking for inspiration because it can come from anywhere. Every day is different, and with that comes new experiences and observations that can be applied towards the process of creating new artwork. I wish I had known earlier how significant it is to draw from observation; it is a discipline that must be practiced whenever possible because you learn to see your surroundings in terms of art. This has and keeps on teaching me how to be more observant, whether the focus is on a person’s raised eyebrow, the wrinkles in someone’s hands or the texture of a tree bark, there is always something so beautiful about life observation. Through this, you’re invited into a world of elements where you start to notice color, line, shape, and space differently.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Damarischamorro.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/createtheframe/
