Written by My name is Maria Navarro and I am from Yakima, Washington, United States. I grew up in the orchards. My parents are farm workers, and took my brothers and I every summer after school to pick cherries, pears, and apples. Even before we were old enough to pick fruit, we spent our afternoons out there, playing with other kids.
I loved the outdoors, and still do, spending weekends out in the orchards whenever time permits. I graduated from Washington State University in 2016 with a degree in Economic Sciences, and a degree in Foreign Languages. Art was always a part of my life.
I have been drawing since I was a kid, and picked up painting in a high school art class. In college, I took a few art classes but never decided to make art a career. It had always crossed my mind, however, with the constant pressure to study something “worthwhile” that would make me money, I caved and took a “practical” career path. I don’t regret my choice, because thanks to my degree, I now have a well paying job (took a career in Banking) that gives me the financial capacity to fund my hobby on the side.
Early this 2018, I decided I needed to be more active with my art and seek opportunities to exhibit my pieces. Slowly but surely I will get there. I paint on my spare time and I enjoy it. As I get older, I value time so much, because it really does fly by.
I primarily paint with watercolor, and ever since I was introduced to it in high school, it has been my favorite medium. I have delved into other mediums, such as acrylic, oil, and some mixed media. I particularly love watercolor because of the freeing feeling that the water with the paint creates. There are no restrictions it seems.
When I first picked up a paint brush, it was as if two long lost friends had been reunited after years apart. I knew at that moment I had found my hobby, my passion, and another reason to live. A reason to keep going amidst a world of monotony.
I had come to this world to bring color and positivity into the world by means of my art. I, more often than not, use color to illustrate that frequently things may appear cheerful on the outside, however always possess a hidden mystery or sadness on the inside.
For watercolors, I enjoy using Daniel Smith, Grumbacher, Winsor & Newton, and Da Vinci paints. There is such variation between all of these types of paints and I jump around from brands depending on the look I am going for.
My go to brushes are Grumbacher, which makes great quality brushes for a great price. I also use many brushes with no particular brand and find do a good job with washes and detailing.
We paint our realities without ever thinking about it, unveiling the subconscious. My work is vivid; whose subject matter centers in faces, birds, and nature. Varying a use of warm and cool tones to evoke feelings of happiness or sadness, I often implement decorative shapes to adorn the subject and bring more attention to it.
I love using splatter techniques, and bleeding colors into one another to create rich color combinations that give pieces a unique feel but also pull the piece together.
Painting is a career for few and hobby for most, but to me it is more than that. Painting allows my mind to let go of all the limitations and pressures it is put through. Painting is that breath of fresh air you need on a hot day. It lifts the spirit through its themes and colors, its textures and mediums. My art is entirely me, and through it, I tell you who I am.
Hi Maria, your work is beautiful and you have such an imagination — It’s wonderful! I love your sentence “Painting is that breath of fresh air you need on a hot day.” I couldn’t have put it any better than that. Thank you for sharing your art and your story!
Thank you so much Sharon. Very Nice of you!
Lovely, imaginative work. I especially like the flowers at the beginning of your post.
Thank you! 🙂 It truly means alot!
Very beautiful. I love that you are able to paint from within. Not something everyone can do. It is so free’ing.
Hi Maria i loved your art work.all are some where pretty good.n liked your art journey.
Gaining knowledge. thanks so much
For sharing.
Thank you very much!! 🙂
Maria, your work is amazing! As I read through your story, each painting was a surprise, and a beautiful one at that! Thank you for sharing your artistic journey with us.
Beautiful story, beautiful art!
Thanks Chelsea! 🙂
Thank you for showing us how painting something lovely and painting from the soul are not always the same thing, but both can reveal fantastic results.
Thank you so much! Agree! 🙂
Your art is you and what you enjoy, how you feel and what you like. You have done a terrific job with all the meaning behind your paintings. Very nice work. Thank you for sharing.
Both your art and your words are great 🙂