Olivia Barbosa: Dreams in Motion
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
Username(s): @olivesartworks
Your work often blends emotion, memory, and dreamlike imagery. How would you describe the world you’re building through your art?, and now stepping into photography. Do you remember when things first started to click for you as an artist?
I would describe a lot of my stuff as pretty surrealist. I like taking scenes from the real world and making them look a little funny or slightly off. I like making something that is pretty to look at and then you take a closer look and you start noticing all of these little details! I’ve been adding the yellow brick road into a lot of my stuff within the last few years though haha. Gotta love Kansas!
Was there a moment when your creative practice started to feel bigger than just a hobby?
I would probably take it all the way back to high school. I’ve always loved making art, but when I was in high school I had some really great art teachers, and they constantly supported my work. They provided me with resources that opened my eyes to the possibility of continuing with art in a way that was more than just a hobby. I had no idea then that I would be making art in the way that I am now, but I always had a feeling it would be a part of my life in a very big way.
What’s your process like when starting a new piece—do you plan things out or let instinct lead?
For bigger pieces, I definitely have to sketch things out first! But a lot of the time, I tend to just make things when I’m feeling up to it haha. My process can be very chaotic at times, and if I am having a moment when I feel the need to make something, I have to start it right then or I fear I won’t ever get it started! I like using references though and using Procreate to piece photos together to get a good idea of how I want the composition of the piece to look.
How do you navigate creative blocks or days when inspiration feels far away??
Sketchbooks are my saving grace! I always have a sketchbook on me so I have the ability to draw, especially if I’m feeling unmotivated at home. Whenever I have some sort of creative block, I try to remind myself that making anything is better than making nothing. I think drawing from life is one of my favorite ways to practice and it really helps me loosen up compared to trying to make something from a reference or from the top of my head.
What role does intuition play in your art-making?
I don’t know how much art I’d be making if intuition wasn’t involved haha! When I am in the process of creating a piece, I think going with the flow is very important in ensuring the process continues. If I find myself stuck working on a piece, I know that I have to just keep working through it so as to not stop completely. Working through “mistakes” and “errors” not only helps keep the creative process going, but it also a very strong problem solving skill for me. Rather than thinking “how do I change this completely” I am able to ask myself “okay how can I work from where I’m at and make it better”.
Can you tell us about a recent piece that shifted something for you—emotionally or creatively?
I started volunteering with Sunrise Movement KC late last year and since then I have made some graphics, taken photos, and taken videos for them! The work itself isn’t necessarily as detailed as some of my other paintings or drawings, but it feels just as good to be using my skills for something that I feel so passionate about and being in an environment with other people working towards the changes we want to see here in KC.
What do you hope people feel or take away when they experience your work?
I want people to feel many things when they experience my work! Depending on the piece, it could be something funny, or something that is upsetting, something that makes them think a little deeper or maybe something all of the above!
In my day to day life, I like to remind people that their voice always matters & all of us have the power to create the change we want to see in the world and within our communities. I think being able to express those sentiments within my artwork as well is just as important to me. I want people to feel powerful.
Who or what has been inspiring you lately?
Lately, I’ve been taking a lot of inspiration from day to day life. I haven’t been working on anything major, so being able to draw things that I see on the day to day, or drawing my friends has been keeping me motivated and in the creative practice! I am also a proud adult SpongeBob fan hahaha! So I think whenever I have the chance to study from that show, I take that chance. So much of that show is hand-drawn and hand-painted; it is really an interesting process to study!
What’s something you’ve learned recently about yourself as an artist?
I feel like I am constantly forgetting and then remembering that there is so much that I am capable of — I just have to put in the work to get the results that I want to see!! “Practice is progress” is the biggest thing that I am always reminding myself of when it comes to creating. We are capable of so much, we just have to get past the beginning stage of whatever it is that we are trying to accomplish. It’s okay to mess up! Just keep going! That’s what I tell myself.
You recently designed a PRIDE shirt for the KC Current. Congratulations! That is so incredible. How was that experience and how did it come about??
Thank you! Creating the Pride shirt for KC Current’s local artist series this year was super exciting! My art studio-mate and good friend, Kyra Gross, is one of the graphic designers for KC Current and was sort of leading the networking for Current’s local artist series. She reached out to me asking if I’d want to create the design this year and I immediately said yes! I started coming up with the design as early as February, but didn’t really start working on it until April of this year. I’m really happy with how it came out!.
With painting or Photoshop, you have full control over every element. With photography, there’s a little more spontaneity. Has that changed the way you think about creating?
I love that about photography, it makes the process more fulfilling when you get an amazing shot and know nothing was staged or planned and you took that photo at the exact right time. There are no do overs when capturing from life. It’s all about trusting yourself enough to find those moments. It’s definitely helped me be less of a perfectionist when I paint because I know no matter what happens on that canvas I can trust myself to make the end piece special.
How has Kansas City influenced your art or creative process?
I have really started to find my place within Kansas City, I would say, within these last 2-3 years. There are so SO many talented creatives here in this city, and finding myself in the same spaces as these other talented creatives has really shown me how much I am capable of. I think I’ve gotten bolder, looser, and more confident with my art since finding these spaces within the last few years.
What’s next—any new projects, mediums, or ideas you’re excited to explore?
I would like to continue working on digital art! I haven’t done much yet, I was pretty against getting into it for a while because I enjoy creating physical media so much, but I’ve started to realize that I can utilize it in ways that I enjoy and find beneficial. I really like creating physical pieces and putting them into a digital format in some way. That is something that I would like to keep messing around with!