Today we’d like to introduce you to Makaila Sisneros.
Hi Makaila, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always loved making and learning about art from a very young age, which for me was taking as many art classes as possible, and drawing little faces on the walls of my childhood home (in permanent marker no less). My great-grandmother who raised me always supported my projects and even refused to wash my figures off of the walls. My story really began with her, and her dedication to fostering my talents and allowing me to have creative freedom since I can remember. She was a school teacher for over 40 years, and I can imagine was as invested in every one of her students in the same way. My parents were absent for large parts of my childhood and If It weren’t for her guidance and love, I would not be the same today. My appreciation for photography came to me in middle school. I grew up with hundreds of photographs and paintings hanging up in the walls of my childhood home, constantly sifted through old family albums, and played around with my great-grandfathers cameras. This was shaping me to view the world in a certain way I had no idea about. Having little photoshoots and making silly music videos with my friends was also a way I would spend a lot of my time growing up around the neighborhood. It really blossomed for me when I found an old Polaroid SX-70 in the garage that probably hadn’t been touched in over 20 years, and shortly after I got my first Canon DSLR. Since then I have continuously observed the world around me, snapping candids of people on the street in black and white 35mm film (my favorite) or creating in the studio. I still use my close friends as many of my subjects. There is something very special about a fleeting moment spent with someone you know very well, forever frozen in time in a photograph.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Growing up with a family dynamic that was very different from some of my friends was not easy at times. There were moments where i wished I had a “normal” family, younger caretakers and less to worry about. But those moments never lasted too long, because I had great friends around with wonderful families who would take me along on their adventures as if I was one of their own, and I was very appreciative of my great-grandparents and their love and wisdom they would share with me every day. My great-grandfather passed away when I was 8 years old, and those feelings are pretty hard to understand at such a young age. That seemed to trigger a domino effect for my family, with a lot of people I held close following shortly after. This made it hard to focus on my studies and art consistently as an adolescent and even now, but the inclination never left me. My great-grandmother Vivian, is still alive today at 96 years old, and even though she suffers from dementia, she still drops words of wisdom on me every time I go to visit her. I always try to take a polaroid of her when I see her. You can never predict how these things affect you day to day or when they will suddenly pop up. I try to create when I can, and my experiences have shaped my style in a certain way. I believe I create my best work when I am exploring a lot of these thoughts and feelings.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I mostly specialize in photography. I love to shoot film, portraits and street photography. My favorite moments to capture are the fleeting ones, which really is the heart and backbone of the craft. If I have learned anything it’s that time is not promised, and when you get to look back at all of those memories you can really appreciate what it means to be here. To be surrounded by friends and family, happiness and sadness, or just be alone and looking out of a window. It’s interesting how the past can really make you become more present. Nostalgia is one of my favorite feelings, and when I look back at old photographs I have taken I am in instantly in that moment again. Im very grateful that my craft allows me to speak to that significance. I have dabbled In painting and poetry as well, and its something I intend to explore more.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Appreciate what you have, the good and the bad. Be eager to learn and constantly evolve as a person, and art is a big part of that. Love your friends and family and spend as much time with good people as you can. Leave people who don’t align with you behind, but still appreciate the lessons. “Everything is a Teaching experience” is what my grandma used to say, so even if there is something so horrible you can’t wrap your head around, its an opportunity and there is good that will come along with it. Something I am learning is really believing in myself and what I am capable of. Being able to organize raw ideas and thoughts in a meaningful way isn’t always easy and it takes time to fully understand what you are trying to say.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.masi.photos
- Instagram: Makaila.sisneros
Image Credits
Makaila Sisneros (MASi)
