ia Llamozas

Tell us about how you became the woman you are today. Where did you grow up? What moments in life have influenced your character most?

 I am born and raised in beautiful and tropical Caracas, Venezuela where I studied journalism. Living in a tropical climate is what I miss the most from home. Now I live in sunny Barcelona so I can't complain, but there was something about always seeing abundant vegetation, an endless mix of greens especially Ávila, our most precious mountain that always inspired me. Back at home we always had animals, my dad also owns a farm and I rode horses and I believe this special connection with animals and nature have influenced my character a lot. 

I studied journalism not knowing exactly what I wanted to do in life, but trusting my parents a career was an excellent tool and it is, I am in awe for communication and all its possibilities. Up to date its one of the best decisions I ever made. I came to Barcelona in 2008 to do a master study but fell in love right away with this city, it's light, architecture, history, lifestyle and ever since day 1, I decided this was going to be my new home. 

All my life I've been surrounded by women, my mom, my grandmother, aunt, cousins, my 2 sisters, I went to an all-girls school. I've been blessed with all the amazing role models I have had and each one is so different and unique. I think probably my character was influenced by all of them, of course by the men too, but I always wondered when growing up, who of these women will I resemble they were all so different, strong and determined. All of their love and stories have helped shape who I am.

 Tell us about the exact moment or period in time when you realized you were born to create. 

I always had artistic interests while growing up, but never really fully pursued them. I remember a phase where I started painting, I was not very good, but my parents were so supportive and that made me so happy that definitely something sparked there. But it wasn't until many years later when I met my husband Francisco, who is an amazing photographer and artist when I felt inspired to give myself a real opportunity and try creating. I always knew I wanted to do collage, nothing else and back then there weren't many collage workshops or classes, I remember I joined a painting class and they all would paint and I would collage, my teacher was amazing to let me explore. It brought such happiness to me I knew I needed this in my life.

Tell us a little bit about what drew you to your medium. Did you choose to work with said medium or did it choose you?

I guess I can say it chose me. In Venezuela, there were a lot of plastic kinetic artists that I admired, I guess they opened my eyes to seeing art as something different than just painting. Also when I was about 2 or 3 years old, my mom tells me I would literally tear the whole newspaper into pieces and had such a blast, she even took some pics probably because she saw me so happy. She enrolled me as a teenager in a quilling class a type of art you create from paper and I believe all these things just made me love paper and all the creative possibilities.

When I started getting more serious about collage, I took online courses and courses with artists that I admired and I have to say its a medium that has endless possibilities and I just love it! 

A lot of women believe they need formal training in order to succeed as a female Artist. What’s your take? Did you have a formal education or are you self taught? 

Well, I guess this also depends on the medium. For collage one of the beauties of it is that it is very intuitive and you don't really need any experience to collage. However, doing courses and trying to learn more has always made me learn new techniques and approach this style differently and I believe although art can flow from within, the more you study and learn the better you'll be expressing yourself.

What do you want the younger female artists coming up behind you to know about you, your journey, and the art industry in general? 

In terms of collage: Explore! especially in handmade collage, there are no mistakes just the possibility of exploring things a different way. Don't be intimidated by other artists and their success there is so much to learn from other perspectives. Art making is usually a solo journey but visiting exhibitions, reading about other artists and meeting fellow creators is the best way to grow.

How do you define your creative gig? Full-time career or side hustle? Explain why you’ve chosen one over the other. 

 Currently its a side hustle, I make a living freelancing as a Community Manager and showing Barcelona to travelers all over the world. I do wish to make art my full -time career, but I have not made it yet, of course, I feel defeated to make it at times, but whenever I go back I have such amazing support that keeps me going!

What’s the most difficult financial hurdle you’ve had to overcome while running your business? Get specific! 

This is a tough one! I guess I would have to say NOW. Currently, I am answering this interview confined at home because of COVID-19. As a freelancer, it has affected me deeply since I need to be out to make a living. But it has also allowed me to look into my art and think things over. I am not sure how I will get through this, but then this interview landed on my email and it also gives a little hope of all the great things that are yet to come. Especially in times like this, I try to focus on the now, like they say "Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum"

 What specifically gives you the most anxiety when it comes to talking about money? Explain.

Health issues that might surface and not having the enough money to get well. I am lucky enough to have an amazing husband and an incredible family to help me with this. But it is still my biggest concern.

What do you know for sure? 

A smile can open many doors. And it is always better to ask than to never know. 

Give us three of your favorite/ most inspiring things right now. Could be a book, a food, a destination, a song, a person, etc. 

 Barcelona, meditation and yoga.

 What's the best advice you've ever been given?

Just breathe

It’s karaoke night and your up. What song do you sing? 

For karaoke definitely something fun! 80's music would be my pick!

 Finish this sentence. I never leave home without my…

Phone, for emergencies and for the very comfortable camera ;)

 Finish this sentence. I find myself most inspired to create when I am…

Alone, listening to music

 A genie grants you three wishes. What do you wish for?

Health, love and steady income

  Name 3 of your guilty pleasures. 

 Chocolate, french fries and walking my dog

 If you had to give a 30 min. speech without preparing to an audience of 1,000 what would it be on? 

Things I've learned about from showing Barcelona to people from all over the world and the many things I've learned while doing it