We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with West Sunset, a self-taught Mexico-based artist whose work beautifully captures the essence of nature and the complexities of human life. Through her art, she explores the nuances of identity, resilience, and emotional depth. While her artistic journey is still relatively new, it's already packed with important lessons, personal growth, and an ever-evolving definition of success.

In this exclusive interview, West Sunset reflects on pivotal moments in her life, including the challenges she faced that inspired her to pursue art. She also shares some key advice for emerging artists navigating discouragement and creative blocks. Whether you're an artist or an art lover, this interview offers an intimate look into her world of creativity and passion.

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At what point in your life did you firmly decide to pursue art, and what were the pivotal factors in making that decision?

 It's surprising that no one, not even close friends, has ever asked me when I decided to become an artist. I think this is the first time I've stopped to think about when I decided to dedicate myself to art. Reflecting on it now, I realise how deeply personal this question is. It's brought up other significant memories from my life. How this moment not only helped me decide to pursue art, but it also changed my art, my technique and what I decided to show with my pieces.

 

My decision to pursue art coincided with a serious health crisis. My right eye was severely swollen, and my doctor diagnosed dangerously high eye pressure. He told me that my problem could get me blind if we weren’t able to control the pressure. The possibility of blindness was terrifying. I learned I had a genetic condition common among people of mixed heritage, and I would need lifelong care. I was shocked, at all the things I was going to stop doing, the things I wouldn't be able to achieve, things I would never see again the same way I see them now.  

 

That moment made me reflect on what I really wanted. I was currently studying engineering, and I remember thinking, 'I won't even be able to practice, I won't be able to paint again, to see my work, to take courses from great artists.'  Faced with this life-altering diagnosis, I reassessed my priorities. Engineering, my current field of study, suddenly seemed unattainable. The thought of never painting again was devastating. In that moment, I committed to making art a central part of my life.

 

I expanded my artistic horizons, experimenting with different mediums and styles. Discovering my passion for oil and pastel painting was a highlight of this journey. Studying both classic and contemporary artists has been invaluable. 

Reflect on your younger self’s aspirations. How has your definition of success evolved with experience?

Initially, when I began exploring art, my perception of success was primarily financial. I equated it to commercial success – selling artwork, working with brands, and generating income. However, as I delved deeper into the art world and gained a broader perspective, my definition evolved significantly.

 

Today, I believe true success in art lies in its power to evoke emotions and resonate with people on a profound level. It's about creating work that transcends language and leaves a lasting impact. While exhibitions in prestigious galleries and public recognition are undoubtedly important, they are secondary to the core of artistic expression. Ultimately, success for me is the ability to connect with audiences authentically and to contribute meaningfully to the artistic discourse without conforming to trends.

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

That's a fascinating question. Reflecting on my artistic journey, which is still relatively new, is truly exciting. If I could revisit my early days, I'd focus on these five pivotal lessons that would have significantly accelerated my growth.

 

✧ Start big. This is the only thing I regret the most not doing earlier in my artist career. This is the first thing I would tell myself, go big, go for a bigger brush and a larger canvas or paper or wood panel to paint on. 

 

✧ I would go back to the moment I was starting to draw in a simple sketchbook with some pre-school watercolours and tell myself to forget about not being the best or the most talented; just go and start painting with what you have access to, and if you feel like painting or sculpting or anything related to art, go for a F***ing art career, don’t be afraid, PURSUE YOUR PASSION.

 

✧ Don’t wait for inspiration to come. Go and find your own inspiration. This is something I constantly repeat myself when having a block whether in art or in my daily life. I love this quote because, for me, it talks about not waiting for something to reach you; if you want something to happen, go and discover what it is.

 

✧ Stop comparing yourself to another artist, to their careers or the support they have. Most of the artists you will see, either in social media or in galleries or events, are artists who have years of experience, years of career, so don’t feel ashamed and most importantly, stop being afraid of not being as creative as them or as good as them, don’t be afraid and communicate with other artist go hang out together, it will help you create more and have a better understanding of how an artist career works.

 

✧ Don’t stop creating. Even if they are just notes or some basic sketches, even if you don’t have enough time to paint a masterpiece, all those small drawings will help you improve your skills and techniques when working on a larger piece.

 

Art is a reflection of your soul and perspective. Don't be afraid to experiment with different techniques and mediums. The essence of art lies in authentic self-expression, not in conforming to expectations. Embrace your unique vision and let it guide your creativity.

Share an experience of discouragement and its impact on your creative output.

At 17, I was at a crossroads, deciding what I wanted to study. While I chose the former to appease traditional expectations, at the time, painting became a therapeutic outlet. My mother, concerned about financial stability, strongly discouraged me from pursuing art professionally. She confessed to me she was glad I didn't pursue an art career, more specifically going to an art school. She told me she had that fear because she didn't want me to be unsuccessful because art is what people do as a hobby, not as a career. She told me my intelligence was not for an artist. This devastated me. I couldn't stop thinking about me not being good enough, not even good at arts. Her perspective, coupled with the stark contrast to the support my cousin received, her mom shared and loved her drawings even the ones that were not good, and I noticed how her mom supported my cousin no matter what, she even got her some commissions. So having my mom telling me I wouldn't survive in the art industry was rough.

 

Initially, this discouragement hindered my creative progress. I questioned my talent and considered abandoning painting altogether. However, determination prevailed. Through workshops and consistent practice, I not only overcame these challenges but also accelerated my artistic growth. Within a year and a half, I achieved recognition with exhibitions in two museums. In retrospect, my mother's doubts inadvertently fuelled my resilience and expedited my artistic journey.

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? 

Inspiration, a blend of experience and observation. Whenever people ask me about my inspiration, I find it challenging to articulate. However, I can describe it as a complex interplay of personal experiences, observation, nature, and the works of other artists.

 

My primary sources of inspiration often stem from my everyday. I believe that art is a powerful tool for conveying emotions, and my goal is to combine personal experiences with the universal aspects of nature to create contemporary works that evoke a deep emotional response, seeking to highlight the details that evoke a feeling in me. That’s why my paintings go from contemporary figurative to abstract ones.

 

I know it might sound strange, but for me, art has always been an escape from the physical world. As a child, I found solace in the piano and dance, using these disciplines to express emotions that were difficult to put into words. One example is my recent painting called “La Mexicana y Sus Amores” where I seek to express the years of hard training when I used to dance, a dance called danza folklorica which is a traditional dance here in Mexico. Since I was a child, it has been difficult for me to express what I feel, and having ADHD doesn't make it any easier. When I found painting, I not only found a cultural discipline where I excelled but also a powerful means of self-expression, I try to express it with colours mostly a cold palette with little parts of warm colours to highlight. That's where the inspiration for my paintings comes from, it comes from my daily life, my roots, my feelings.

 

Inspiration is hard to define for me. It's a blend of my everyday life, nature, and other artists. I see art as an escape, a way to express emotions I struggle to put into words. Painting, in particular, has allowed me to combine personal experiences with observations of the natural world to create contemporary works that evoke deep feelings.

 

I strive to create works that evoke deep feelings and resonate with viewers.

Discuss the importance of personal connection to your subject matter. How important is having a personal connection to the subjects or themes of your artwork? Can you give examples of how this connection has influenced your work?

I believe this response relates to one of the previous questions about how my perspective on artistic success has changed. Before, for me, artistic success was mainly linked to monetization; however, now I have evolved towards a more intimate and personal vision. I seek to connect deeply with my audience, prioritizing the genuine expression of my feelings and experiences over commercial trends.

 

I feel that this evolution describes the importance of personal connection in our work as artists. When we establish an authentic connection with our creation, we give it originality and depth. By addressing topics that personally move me, I can convey emotions and experiences more authentically, such as the nostalgia and fragility experienced when losing a loved one.

 

For me, personal connection is the engine that drives my artistic creation and allows me to create meaningful and moving works. Finding this connection has been a turning point in my artistic development. It has given me greater confidence in my work and has allowed me to participate in group exhibitions in my state, being recognized as an emerging artist despite being self-taught, something that is challenging in Guadalajara. Additionally, I have managed to increase my artistic productivity, as my works, loaded with personal meaning, flow more easily.

 

Not only has my artistic career benefited from this connection, but I have also experienced significant personal growth by connecting with myself more deeply.

Offer five pieces of advice to artists who are experiencing discouragement or creative blocks.

Overcoming creative blocks is a common challenge for artists. I would love to share my tricks for overcoming creative blocks, which I constantly have, especially when finishing a painting. Here are five strategies that have helped me when facing discouragement or a creative block:

 

✧ The main thing I do to overcome any block is to step away and recharge. Relax, go to a place where you feel yourself, where you feel free. For me, it's where I can hear the sound of nature in silence, a place where I can take a deep breath and just clear my mind. I tend to go to a park near my house between 6:30 AM and 8:00 AM to hear the sound of nature in silence and observe trees, their barks, colours, the sky, and the birds. I hear them sing, I see the flowers and feel the wind. I simply disconnect.

 

✧ Experiment with other forms of making. Enjoy playing with your sketchbook, do some photography, try a different medium such as oil pastels, acrylics, or gouache, or do some prints or collages. This helps me spark creativity.

 

✧ Seek inspirations. Get inspired by another artist, go to a museum, an online exhibition, or dig into social media. See other artists' works and sketchbooks, their techniques, and mediums, watch a film, read books, or watch documentaries. Take a look at your notes, sketchbooks, past ideas that you never concretised, and your photos. Look at your past artworks and see what you can improve to stimulate your imagination.

 

✧ Embrace imperfection. Go and do some 'ugly painting,' buy a few cheap paintings and just vibe, do what it feels free to you, throw some paint, instead of a brush use your fingers or your entire hand. Close your eyes and let yourself go.

 

✧ Self-Care. Maybe it seems odd or cliché, but it helps me most of the time. Ensure you are getting enough sleep, do some exercise, get a massage, do a skincare routine, and exfoliate. Get time to reconnect with you, make yourself feel better.

 

Every artist experiences blocks, but with perseverance and a willingness to experiment, you can overcome them and continue to create beautiful work. It's also important to build a supportive network of fellow artists to share experiences and encourage each other, like social media. I hope these five tips prove helpful to any artist facing a creative block.

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We found this interview and West Sunset herself utterly delightful! Her story reminds us that art is so much more than technique — it's a form of self-expression deeply intertwined with personal experiences. We loved hearing about her inspirations, from nature to life’s daily moments, and how they manifest in her contemporary works.

If there’s one takeaway from this interview, it’s the importance of staying true to your artistic vision, even when the path is uncertain. We're excited to see where West Sunset's artistic journey takes her next! Stay up to date by regularly checking her Artit portfolio and following her on Instagram.