Embracing Her Heritage

How do you represent these two parts of your heritage?

I visually separated the suburban American front porch and the desert scenery. The desert is based on my research about the Sonoran Desert—I’ve never been there—which stretches between Mexico and the Southern U.S. My figure looks away from the desert but also steps into it. I’ve become more conscious of my identity as a Chicana, and I’m trying to rediscover my heritage.

What was your working process?

I started with soft pastels on paper to play with the composition. Then I started working on canvas for the final version. I drew my figure in the center, painted the suburban side—the red brick evokes a traditional American house—and then filled in the Mexican side. I didn’t want to simply copy someone else’s photos of the desert, so I worked freehand from a sort of informed imagination.

What advice do you have for young artists like yourself?

Just keep making art. Burnout is real, and it’s important to pace yourself. But there’s only one way to get better, and that’s to practice. You’ll end up with work that you’re really proud of.