Interview with Mitsy Avila Ovalles
Mitsy has been pushing boundaries in the art scene for years. Her work stands alone and speaks for itself without the artsy fartsy gimmick. Her visual transitions from Pop Mexican Icons like Juan Gabriel to Hip Hop overtunes, speaks volumes to the psyche of young Chican@s. Residing from San Jose Califaz, Auspice Media is proud to feature Mitsy Avila Ovalles!
Q. When did you first realize that you had the ability to draw well?
When I could smoke all the other kids at drawing The Simpsons characters. That's like when I KNEW KNEW. :) But really in elementary school- I lived to illustrate. I was all about the visual aids. It was my crutch. My storytelling was for shit. I'd end up with pointless vignettes. I would just try to work things into my tales that I already drew really well- showing off basically. True to this day- ha. Also, kids live to appoint. You always knew who was the fastest, the best at kickball, the kid you'd cheat off. My strong suit was drawing. But yeah, it didn't go down like one of those child prodigies that have conversations and visions with God. That would've been awesome! Instead, like with anything you enjoy, you just keep at it, and get better.
Q. Did you ever feel like you had to compete with the boys?
Not compete, like in direct competition but I often felt they were presented with more opportunities. I know now, it's because generally your gender is much more boisterous or confident in what they do and have a more aggressive approach. At least more so than myself. I would never put my stuff out there like that. It was like pulling teeth with me in the beginning, as far as showing work. It still kind of is.
Q. How would you define your style?
Chunty. I don't know...hodgepodge? It comes down to, working in whatever medium you want and creating/making whatever you want. Without worrying about straying too far from what you're known for or what people like. Dowhatchulike, don't worry about style points, that should be organic. Draw for yourself.
Q. Whats up with the curvy women in your pieces?
I just like drawing bangin' bodies- ha. I don't know...I guess we all have an ideal, it's just my stylistic approach, I guess? Just more dynamic to me. I rarely do life drawing anymore, even when I did, my figures were always somewhat stylized like the ones I do from imagination now. You know what? I blame those mexican historietas like Frontera violenta, La novela policiaca y El libro vaquero. The ladies in there were always stacked.
Q. I notice that you use a lot of Mexican pop icon's from the 80's, can you tell us about that?
It's just what I know- what I grew up with. It makes me laugh. It embarrasses my Mom. It connects the dots for me. Just being nostalgic, and a bit homesick. Sabes como? We're all kinda obsessed with looking back, romanticizing, anyway.
Q. What was it like growing up in San Jose... Does it reflect in your art? and what do you think about the San Jose art Scene.
I grew up on the crime side, the San Jo north side, staying alive was no jive...(sorry) I DID grow up on the Northside (across the way from Columbus park) & Downtown (South 10th street) but I've been on the Southside for a long time now. I loved growing up here- there's diversity. I always felt that San Jose was an easy place to avoid trouble- to be a ghost. That's all I've ever wanted, was to go unnoticed. :) I'll tell you how we got here... Back in the day my overbearing grandfather sent my Mom here to visit with a friend of the family to keep her from marrying a lecherous playboy type named Mario Benson in the old country. She made the yearly journey over for seasonal cannery work until she wed and convinced my dad to put roots down in SJ, in '75. I think geography totally informs or reflects in my work, just like anything else- I'm inspired by what I see and saw growing up. Not just in San Jose but in Mexicali. If you think about it, you never forget your old neighborhoods, the landmarks, it's dwellers. I actually hadn't really shown here in SJ in years up until a month ago. So, I know ABOUT the San Jose art scene(s) but I don't KNOW the art scene first hand. I can't speak on it too much- like it's inner workings. I see it as more of a scene made up of different circles. The circles I am familiar with, my friends or friends of friends, I fully respect because they're very dyi and create their own opportunities. I think that's great. I'm more of a lone wolf :) I don't really attend openings/receptions but I'm totally appreciative to those folks/institutions that STILL invite me to participate in shows despite my social awkwardness and inability to network.
Q. Whats the future for Mitsy?
Get married, have babies and leave all this drawing hobby behind me. Nooo- I don't know. I'll probably still be doing the same thing, making stuff, forever, regardless of where it takes me. Hopefully BIG THANGS will come along. But you know, where I still don't have to hang out & be famous, just hexa rich.
Check out Misty at http://www.mitsyavilaovalles.com/
