April 24, 2018

Check out Crystal J Ocegueda’s Artwork

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal J Ocegueda.

Crystal J, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I could never live without art in my life.

I can confidentially admit I am an emotional artist (but maybe we all are?), it drives the colors I use, the shapes my hands develop and the clarity of the object. Each piece of art I develop is an evolution of the one before it. Each painting incorporates the discovery of a new technique and skill I didn’t know I could do.

I’m a fairly new “painter” although I’ve always been an artist, this new form of self-expression and creativity was a discovery from someone who loved what I was doing just for fun so much that asked me to curate my very first show. That experience and outcome within itself was unbelievable, unexpected and now I’m officially HOOKED!!

Me? I guess I would say I have a digital creative background. The fundamentals driving this brain come partially from the creative side of retail. I started in apparel, designing and developing shoes and accessories and most recently designing textile prints on the home side of retail. It would be ignorant of me to believe these experiences haven’t contributed to my bold style in one way or another. That being said, I do gravitate to clean lines and clear shapes and challenge myself/let my feelings drive my more organic looks.

The breakdown is simple… I LOVE art, I love being in a city that support its local artists, I love the cultural world that surrounds me full of ideas and emotions that drive my passion.

Thank you CHICAGO!!!

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
As a new painter, I started my journey feeling confidant in my watercolor skills. Although still fairly new to this technique, I wanted to play with a watercolor look on canvas. What I developed then was an experiment that created abstract pieces of watered down acrylic paint layered into these magical spills of dimensional color. My eye was driven by the saturation of color on one side vs. the other. The question of “is there a balance in these colors?” and “does this look unfinished” came to mind.

I’ve heard the quote (and I apologies as it’s not verbatim) “more is sometimes more, and not always better.” Which found its way in to my thought process as I was judging my paintings. But then, I realized fearlessness is the one common trait in all people who make “shit” happen.

Fearlessness in my art was what I focused on. Whether ugly or beautiful I wasn’t going to stop until my gut felt satisfied.

Am I now the most fearless person in this world you ask? NOPE! But “fuck it” fail or not I was having a blast!

Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
Success like beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Decide what you think that means to you and find your way there. In my mind Chicago has always been a city of acceptance, culture, innovation and art. I truly believe it thrives and supports what’s homegrown, local and encourages its unique talents and beauty. We all have a hand in what we want our city to be and we simply have to continue supporting each other. I love my city!

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I recently had my 1st exhibition at Nichole.Beck hair boutique. Sarah Gutierrez owner of the salon and also my neighbor was the lovely person who, for lack of better terms “discovered me”, and has discovered many other underground artist throughout Chicago. I will continue to display my art available for purchase at the Nichole.Beck hair boutique thru the rest of 2018.

I’m planning future exhibitions which I will post on my website crystaljocegueda.com, as well as my Instagram account. Don’t forget to follow @crystaljocegueda

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