In this engaging dialogue, we explore the creative universe of Joshua Carlos Barrera, a visionary artist whose work seamlessly blends elements of fantasy, cultural narratives, and profound personal insights. Joshua discusses the nuances of pursuing a creative career, drawing on a rich tapestry of inspirations from global folktales to modern fantasy genres like those in Final Fantasy and Pokémon.

His thoughtful insights into the emotional and logistical aspects of living as a full-time artist reveal the deep connection between his personal experiences and his artistic outputs.

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Share your thoughts on pursuing a creative career, despite potential risks, versus more conventional career paths. 

Perhaps the creative path, particularly when taken as a means of livelihood, is driven by one’s heart’s longing for fulfilment and a deeper connection with humanity. Creative fields, though seen as non-essential when it comes to facing the problems of society, are what let us continue to live life to the fullest. They add flavour to life – emotions, aspirations, and awe. 

 

That being said, to be in the art world is to take a leap of faith no matter the role one performs. As an artist who paints nearly all day in a studio, it feels strange sometimes to not follow a typical corporate work schedule. It doesn’t mean it’s easier or more flexible in time though. In fact, the freedom to set one’s own schedule is a test of discipline and determination – it all rests on me and nobody else. I treat myself like an entrepreneur. Being an artist isn’t just about creating artwork. There are personal branding, marketing strategies, communication and PR skills, and managerial tasks involved. 

 

Still, I am fulfilled by being creative despite its challenges. The anxiety of sales, stability, and even the mere continuity to create authentically always lingers. But to paint a landscape from a blank canvas, carve a sculpture from stone, weave a garment from fabric, or build a home from wood and concrete: all creatives put a part of themselves out there. I choose to be an artist to reflect on life – as it is human to imagine, explore, and return those dreams or visions to the world.

Share your sources of inspiration. What are your primary sources of inspiration? Do these come from personal experiences, observations, history, nature, or other artists? Can you give specific examples of how these inspirations have manifested in your work?

My biggest source of inspiration is the genre of fantasy whether it comes in the form of literature, video games, films, and art itself. I’ve always loved learning about folktales and belief systems from around the world, and how they are reimagined by people through time. This stemmed from my hobby of gaming since I was very little. It was franchises like Final Fantasy and Pokémon that piqued my curiosity in learning about their references which pulled names, terms, and concepts from mythology. Those games led me to begin reading the actual legends and epics, as well as classical literature like the works of William Shakespeare (i.e. A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Tempest) and Dante’s “The Divine Comedy”. And today, that constant desire to capture the ‘fantasy’ is central to all my art. 

 

My travels around the world influence my creative output. Every destination I go to must always have something artsy or cultural such as visiting an art gallery, museum, or heritage site. I love picking up motifs and symbols to incorporate or interpret in my work. Hence, after travelling usually, the series of artworks I create are based on those experiences in places outside my hometown. I further get to ‘meet’ new creatives. A significant example is my Winter trip from 2022 to 2023 around Japan: which involved seeing the works of Japanese artists like Yayoi Kusama, Katsushika Hokusai, and Ito Jakuchu up close. By examining their work, I pulled colour schemes and patterns – and transferred them onto the canvases of my 2023 creations. 

 

Sometimes, I’m even just inspired by the things I have access to at home: a vase of flowers, clothing garments, the creases of a curtain or blanket, a jar of candy, a random moth on the wall, a window to look at the sunset sky – I like to make them grand: fantastical even.

Explain the evolution of your artistic style and your aspirations through this technique. How has your artistic style evolved over time? Can you describe the journey and changes in your technique? What are your aspirations for your style and technique moving forward?

In my art, the style of combining pointillism, pop art, and ornamentation remains constant yet adaptive to the themes I tackle. The selections of subject matter, colours, mediums, and techniques in my creations are seasonal, just as life is. 

 

I started using stippling when I was in 4th grade by mere encounter when I observed 7th-grade students attempt to create portraits and still life drawings out of dots. Around that time I also learned about tribal patterns and likened their shapes to puzzles being put together. I carried this style all throughout high school and practised on sketchbooks I brought with me everywhere. 

 

Every time I wanted to artistically interpret something I fancied like a person’s face, a landscape, or a small creature, I made sure to recreate the subject using only my style. There were phases wherein my patterns were more geometric and sometimes more organic. When it came to human figures I cycled between depictions of faces in pop art and cartoons like Roy Lichtenstein’s works or the classical and Renaissance such as Sandro Botticelli’s and Rococo's works. 

 

When I look back at how I started versus where I am now, I realize that my style has always been in a cycle of metamorphosis. I personally want to challenge myself and try a new subject, and it develops from there. There is a feeling of renewal every time I switch between mediums and subjects. 

 

One thing I would really love to do with my art towards my growth is to explore with materials. For the longest I’ve been using pen and ink on paper, and only in 2022 have I formally brought my techniques on a canvas. I’m challenging myself to embrace the fun of mixed media: incorporating dyed and printed plants, fabrics, shells, wood, and metals. I want to see how far I bring myself to adapt my style.

Can you recall a pivotal moment or experience in your early life that ignited your passion for art?

It all began when an aunt, who is also a painter, gifted me my very first set of coloured pens by Staedtler on my 12th birthday. I only used black pens prior to that and was so excited to use colours that I asked for a little sketchbook from my parents. Once I brought home my first sketchbook, I just drew all sorts of organic and geometric shapes apart from each other like a broken puzzle. 

 

Those birthday presents changed everything in me. I began creating art, and when I could not because of homework, I felt unfulfilled. My friends and teachers would see me drawing during recess and complimented my small works on every page. I promised myself to never tear a page no matter how unsatisfied I may be, and have kept that promise. My parents loved to show them to relatives and their own friends too. 

 

I still have that sketchbook with me, just as I archive and document every work I’ve ever created. After a few years of using it, I moved on to better-grade sketchbooks and papers. Today that very first sketchbook’s remaining pages are used for my studies. Every time I open it to the first few pages, I am reminded of when I started, how I started, and why I became an artist.

List five key insights or lessons you wish you had known when you started your artistic journey.

✧ When setting foot into the art world, one will realize that while art and its creators are at its core, there are many other roles dedicated to keeping the creative industries moving such as curators, writers, art managers or administrators, conservators, researchers, art lawyers, and patrons. It is an ecosystem, and artists will not only be interacting and/or working with other artists but everyone involved in it too.

 

✧ What you envision isn’t always what ends up as the result, and that’s part of art. There are mistakes and even changes while in the creative process. To aim for perfection will only hold your creativity back, aim for growth instead.

 

✧ Resting is important to maintain and refuel creativity. Artists are not machines, and burnout happens. 

 

✧ Take the time to learn about the mediums and materials you use. They all have different characteristics as well as different interactions with other materials and even their environments. Some paints and inks for instance are lightfast while others aren’t. The materials you choose to work with and the way you store and display them affect how long the works will retain their appearance. 

 

✧ Everyone’s artistic journey is uniquely their own. It is great to admire the legacies and aspire to have the success of artists who came before us. But at the end of the day, you forge your own story. 

If you could choose to live anywhere in the world, where would it be and how does this location connect to your art?

Tokyo. I am currently based in Manila which is a 4-hour flight away, so it’s close to my loved ones, and both are megacities by a bay, only with different climates and cultures. A lot of the art materials I use and my earliest sources of inspiration also come from Japan.

 

I have been to the country many times and Tokyo is by far my favourite place for being a big city where ancient traditions meet the dreams of the future. I love how there are pockets of sanctuaries –the gardens and shrines– scattered in this sea of buildings. Their spirits and legends live on, adapting to modernity. That is how I see my art: bringing both the glory of the past and aspirations of tomorrow into my works. 

 

‘Mono no aware’ or fleeting beauty is a key concept in my art and appreciation for things in life. I’m inspired by Japan’s treatment towards the changing of seasons: the flavours, fashion, and scenery all suit and respect the season they are in. I feel that a city like Tokyo is one where life is everchanging yet never loses itself – its soul. That is how I create: in cycling seasons, with growth and something new every time, without losing myself.

 

Tokyo is the one place where I learned that the smallest of things can make a moment or day beautiful.  I’ve taken value that with me back home in the Philippines to appreciate nature and cultural traditions, and will bring it with me wherever I go.

What superpower would you choose that aligns with your artistic endeavours and why?

The superpower to command time and destiny best aligns with my artistic thought. For every dot, stroke, and line I paint from a pen to create a whole image from these fragments and points, many minutes go by. Each and every little element is deliberately placed by chance too – a butterfly effect of sorts where even mistakes during painting become a part of the identities of my artworks. It is as if every brushstroke or drop of ink was destined to be there. 

 

My artworks tend to eternalize the ephemeral – beautiful but very brief moments like dawn and sunset, flowers in full bloom, ocean waves, meteor showers, resting insects, and youthful faces. When I paint and when I cherish experiences, I often catch myself pausing to reflect and absorb what is happening around me as if time stood still.

Given the opportunity to interview a creative mind from any era, who would you choose and what would you ask?

If only I could have a seat and sip a cup of tea to converse with Katsushika Hokusai, who is referred to as the “Old Man Mad About Painting” in his final years and artistic phase given his lifestyle and massive amount of works produced, I would first ask him: “How do you live?” 

 

I’d love to get an answer straight from him himself, as I’m intrigued by his aspirations and outlook toward creativity, age, and self-actualization. From there I would follow up with more questions about his lifestyle, let the conversation go where the wind blows, and then maybe enjoy the sights of Edo–or even show him Tokyo and the world today if that’s a possibility.

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Thank you for joining us in uncovering the depths of Joshua Carlos Barrera's artistic journey. His commitment to blending the fantastical with the real, and the ancient with the contemporary, showcases his role as a true innovator in the art world. As Joshua continues to push the boundaries of his creative expression through exploring new mediums and techniques, his work remains a compelling exploration of imagination, culture, and personal growth.

We eagerly anticipate witnessing the future chapters of his vibrant and dynamic artistic evolution, which promises to bring more intriguing and inspiring creations. Keep an eye on Joshua's Portfolio for more.