Lenora Palacios - Painted Mosaics - A Thousand Easy Pieces

Lenora Palacios
Texas, USA

Medium: acrylic glazes

Style: painted mosaics

Favorite Book: American Made by Shylah Boyd

Favorite Movie: Casino

Rising Sun © Lenora Palacios


Introduction:

In life we all have things we need to fix, pieces of ourselves we give up whether for love, money or fame. We are all different but all the same. When you go back and try and put all the pieces together and fix everything you've ever done you will be surprised at how kindly people truly perceive you. Even though you thought you were the worst person in the world, you forgive and start loving yourself. It brings you to a place where you don't remember the things you thought were so bad. Love and accept yourself - then the pieces become memories and stories you can share with other people. That's how I would describe my world - it's the brokenness of it that I find the most beautiful - strength and feeling that I portray.



First experience creating.

I decided to paint on canvas after I lost my job and home during the economic downturn. There were no jobs to be had. The feeling I had that I could create something for myself out of what I could do was the best feeling in the world. Even though it's difficult people don't understand what's really involved with being creative it doesn't always just happen it takes work and dedication.


Music and Art

I listen to the tv and laugh mainly comedies that I've seen a million times and they still make me laugh out loud.


If you have a job besides being an artist, can you tell us about it?

I have. One bookkeeping client. It's a gentlemen who found me on Linkedin. He told me he was a tour manager for some very recognizable names and I thought he must be some kind of scammer. My husband went with me to meet him after a lot of cajoling. He was who he said - I met his his wife, they are wonderful people. Go figure.


What are you trying to convey to viewers through your art?

Strength and beauty in scars and marks on a canvas and the more I mark it up the more beautiful each memory becomes like us as people the more we live and interact the more our experiences change us into who we become and the worse the scars the more beautiful you become.


Creative process

I start with an idea of what I want to paint - it's normally people because people inspire me.

I then either take a photo or find a random photo I'll change up to be who I want, sometimes I stand in front of the tv with my iPad and take photos that become my references.

I then Photoshop and use a couple of  apps till I get it like I want it. Then I'm ready to transfer to canvas.

Depending on how fast I need to go determines how I get it to the canvas. I normally draw with watercolor pencils because it adds to the effect when it hits the glaze.

Once there it's normally the underpainting and then the eyes I paint from dark to light with hundreds of layers of glaze with thin paint.


Inspirations

Children, beautiful strong people with intense stares. Surreal things


Exhibitions

I'm showing now at the Bisong Gallery in Houston.

I've been in many in a few different places in Houston. My studio is at the Silos on Sawyers, which is the second largest artist community in the country, after LA. I show on a regular basis there and I occasionally go to the First Saturday Art Market on 19th street, which is another one of the coolest places to be - it's really a great market.


Have you sold any of your artworks?

Yes I've sold many out of my studios and different events I've done commissions for people I know. I actually did a grandmother with her four grandchildren that she never saw it was a very difficult painting because I wanted it to be perfect.


How do you promote your art online?

By doing things like this and the regular things. I have a website, lenora palacios.com, an Etsy site, Instagram.


Influences

I'm very influenced by America and the people in it, colors influence my feelings and expressions on the faces of people.


Please recommend another artist you admire 

James Rosenquist - his imagery about America and commercialism speak to me his work tells a story about our culture


Tell us something interesting in your life

My achievements are mainly my family and breaking a cycle of dysfunction that's the greatest one of all, I have amazing children who have and are achieving their dreams with minimal pain unlike what it took me. Moving up in an industry that afforded me a salary I never thought possible with no degree. Becoming an artist.

I've been around the country lived a lot of places and have seen more than I care to, but all of those experiences have made me the person I am today.

As far as funny I laugh all day I continually find the humor in life and people it's all so funny of course I also am aware of the great sadness and needs of humanity and my heart breaks for that.


Do you have an embarrassing moment in your life?

So many I can't name - being a person that would try almost anything you have to know you embarrass yourself a lot.


Would do anything differently?

I would be more aware of how my decisions impacted people and be more careful of people's feelings especially in my younger years.


What plans do you have for the future of your art?

My plan is to become an full fledged working paid full time artist. I don't know how you get there but I'm working on it. I have a story my full story I want tell all at the same time. It's been an amazing life. I've made many mistakes and done much I'm not proud of. I want people to know they can move on from that and my story is about that.


Do you have any good advice for emerging artists? 

Yes, be open and honest with yourself and other people about why you are doing this and what it means to you. Don't be afraid to open up you waste many years doing that and you could miss someone who might need to know.

Lenora Palacios
Texas, USA
Website:lenorapalacios.com
Instagram: @lenpal01
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