Today we’d like to introduce you to Harriet Monzon-Aguirre.
Hi Harriet, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Painting has always been a form of self-expression and a way to process my emotion. I was born in England but spent my early childhood and formative years in Barbados. Never quite fitting in, I found solace in art and created bright, colorful works depicting Bajan fauna and flora.
I won National awards, sold paintings, and earned a scholarship to study for an International Baccalaureate in New Mexico at the United World College (UWC-USA). From there I continued my studies in Richmond, Indiana at Earlham College. I majored in Studio Art and Art History and double minored in Spanish and Psychology.
When I graduated, I knew I wanted to continue a career in art and I thought a Master’s degree would help me achieve that. I completed my Master of Fine Art from Newcastle University in 2011 with a body of work that explored national identity and my experience of (un)belonging. The ripple effects of the Great Recession made it difficult to find a job. After many rejections, I returned to the US deflated and dismayed.
Thankfully I found a position working for a wine and spirits portfolio management and marketing company based here in Tampa. I met my husband playing soccer in Safety Harbor and we have three beautiful children. After putting my brushes down for a long time, I am now committed to this new chapter in my story.
Reclaiming my identity as an artpreneur, I launched Bahia Studios in March 2021.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, I wouldn’t say smooth. The road has been full of potholes and crossroads. Moving around and living in different places means it takes time to find footing.
Once I decided to pursue art again in earnest, I knew I needed to take classes, join groups, meet others in the creative circle, and take active steps to be a part of my community. I am deciding the type of artist I want to be. And staying focused has been challenging—all these areas I am addressing while raising children.
The shift in work culture during the pandemic made me see how others handle the challenges of being a stay-at-home working mother. Another struggle for me has been business related. The Master of Fine Art degree taught me how to critique, curate, and research, but not how to balance books or meet with clients.
A third struggle has been overcoming rejection. I paint with my heart, and I’ve had to learn how not to take things personally if a painting does not get accepted for a show. One way of doing this is reminding myself of the wins – the people who have fallen in love with my work and have encouraged me never to give up.
The wins but also the whys. I’ve stared death in the face and turned to paint to help grieve. I want to set an example for my children, share the importance of art, and leave them a cultural inheritance.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a visual artist specializing in oil painting. My process includes taking reference photographs on family adventures from intimate walks in my surrounding neighborhood to exploring State Parks around Pinellas County. Returning to my home studio, I paint the landscapes.
At the moment my focus is on mangroves for their symbolism of protection but also capturing the mirror reflections created by the calm still water. When you consider how much visual stimuli we are exposed to daily because of technology, my work is there to remind myself and others to pause, to take time to observe and enjoy the beautiful details in nature.
There are a lot of artists with similar styles and beliefs as mine. The more I think about what sets me apart, I realize that my multicultural upbringing has imparted a different appreciation of color theory.
What’s next?
I am painting out of the Florida room in our house located close to downtown Safety Harbor. My husband Carlos converted his shed into an amazing studio this year, so I plan to work there once the next school year begins. I will continue applying for exhibitions and grants and will host an artist talk at the local business that showcases my art, The Tides Market, mid-November.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bahia-studios.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bahiastudiosfl/?hl=en
Hollis Gagnon
July 22, 2022 at 5:38 pm
What a wonderful article show casing Harriet Monzon-Aguirre! Such a talented artist with great vision. I look forward to checking out her studio in Safety Harbor. She has much to offer her community and the world! I will share this article.