Vibrant Visuals

Xochi Solis' mixed-media wall art layers on vibrant colors and forms

Tucked behind some oak trees in a cul-du-sac in the Cherrywood neighborhood sits the converted garage studio of Austin artist Xochi Solis. Youthful in appearance, enthusiastic yet unhurried, she is quick to welcome you into the white-walled space full of paint supplies, collectibles, natural light and varied piles of scrap paper that's served as the birthplace of her layered, colorful compositions.

Organically shaped, bold and dynamic, her artwork — perfect piles of mixed-media and color sometimes applied directly to a wall — has steadily gained a devoted body of fans from collectors to art blogs. Solis thinks of herself as a painter first, and her abstract, paint-and-paper pieces (big and small) have resonated.

Her process begins with paint, exploring colors and organic "blob" shapes, emphasizing brushstrokes with gouache. Then, following color instincts, and mixing materials like house paint, acrylic, acetate, colored paper, mylar and found images on museum board, she layers. She steps back, and repeats until it feels right.

An early art history lesson in middle school made an impact on her future work: Learning about Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera was the first time she saw art and tradition merge. Growing up with a creative graphic designer mom and a musically minded educator dad meant a colorful home inspired by their Mexican heritage (she is a second generation Mexican-American). Solis affectionately recounts being surrounded by cantaloupe-colored walls and music as a kid.

Today, she listens to music while she creates her work, and experimenting with color continues to be a common thread. From her heritage to music to exploring her surroundings, Solis finds her inspiration from anything and everything. On the surface, these compositions seem like simple mixes of found objects and paint, but they're also an abstract reflection of her experiences.

"The interconnectivity of being an artist isn't different than other professions. It's all tied together, tied to your vision of what you want to do in the world. It all comes back into your work. Everything you see is something you can use," says Solis. "I synthesize whatever I see into what I'm making. I just want to see and experience everything."

Along with a thriving art career, Solis has also had great experience with jobs in the arts. She's worked as an art instructor, a gallery assistant, and was the executive director of the 2009 Texas Biennial. Currently, she acts as the director of events and public programming at the Visual Arts Center at the University of Texas. She describes her job as "getting to do all the fun stuff," like running new media series, lecture series and planning parties. She's the catalyst between the VAC and the Austin community, continuously encouraging, connecting and energizing.

As if a full-time job and a thriving art career weren't enough, Solis is also a member of MASS Gallery, an artist collective founded in 2006 and recently relocated to 507 Calles Street to a 1500 square-foot gallery primed for experimental art, musical performances, openings and more. She also recently mentored a young artist in The Contemporary Austin's (formally AMOA) Advanced Young Artist Program, which currently has a show up at The Jones Center downtown.

If it sounds like Solis must either have figured out how to clone herself or live without sleep (possibly both), she admits she has a hard time saying "no." But "no" is what you'll get if, after spotting her artwork on a popular blog (like Design for Mankind, Beautiful Decay and Daily Candy to name a few), you ask her to slap one of her pieces on a canvas and ship it your way. She prefers if you call her and tell her what it is that you like about her work.

Currently, her work is showing in a variety of spaces across Texas. You can catch her work in two group shows, "Variations in Color" at the G Gallery in Houston through July 28 and at the Advanced Young Artists Teen Artist + Mentor Exhibition at The Jones Center downtown through September 1. July 27 marks the opening of a solo show, "Volcanic Eruptions" at the Murphy Street Raspa Co. in Alpine, Texas.

For Solis, her work may be a playful exercise in color and form, but it's also intentional. And this summer, Xochi's taking three weeks off from her busy life to attend a short residency program to learn about natural pigments and paper and cloth dying techniques through the Arquetopia Oaxaca program in Oaxaca, Mexico. It'll be three weeks that will undoubtedly add even more colorful, rich layers to her art.

Xochi Solis in her Cherrywood studio.

Photo by Adrienne Breaux

Xochi Solis in her Cherrywood studio.

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Outside the Lines

Buda artist releases intuitive drawing book with fun prompts

Photo courtesy of Ronald Gross

Artist Ronald Gross creates an intuitive drawing with crayon, which he considers a "joyful" medium.

Buda-based artist and writer Ronald Gross released a book in November called Unlock Your Creativity: A Guide to Intuitive Drawing, which will walk aspiring expressers through drawing without worry. On December 6, he'll be on hand to help in an intuitive drawing demo at Buda Public Library's Holiday Open House.

The book is a hands-on guide that teaches readers how to lean into their own desires and intuitions when drawing, whether they feel like an artist or not. In this way, intuitive drawing should feel relaxing, meditative, and ultimately, beneficial for mental health. If you find coloring books relaxing and meditative, intuitive drawing may have the same effect on you.

"Intuitive drawing is the practice of creating art without a specific plan or outcome in mind," says Gross. "It’s about letting your hand move freely, guided by emotion, curiosity, or subconscious impulses; not about making something perfect."

An intuitive drawing by author and artist Ronald Gross. Intuitive drawing is simple, joyful, and according to Gross can calm the mind much like meditation. Photo courtesy of Ronald Gross

This book presents exercises to access a mindful state: freeform doodling, blind contouring drawing, drawing from the imagination, and drawing from emotions. For artists feeling stuck, Gross also includes plenty of exercises for overcoming creative blocks and even discusses ways intuitive drawing can be applied to other creative projects and areas of life.

In the December workshop, Gross will give a quick demonstration on how to create an intuitive drawing using nothing but lines, shapes, and simple marks. Then participants can try it out with a variety of crayons, because crayons are "tactile" and can quickly transport people into a "playful, unselfconscious space," according to Gross.

"The workshop is all about creating a supportive, judgment-free space to explore intuitive drawing," he says. "Attendees will leave with tools to keep practicing on their own and, hopefully, a renewed sense of creativity and playfulness."

An intuitive drawing from author and artist Ronald Gross. In college Gross was taught how to take a doodle and elevate it into fine art.Photo courtesy of Ronald Gross

Gross's own journey into intuitive drawing started at a young age, when he would doodle and sketch throughout the school day. Years later at the Academy of Art University, a professor encouraged him to lean into this more intuitive and abstract style of art. Since then, Gross has been exploring intuitive drawing's ability to access a meditative state, as well as tap into the subconscious mind.

"When you draw intuitively, you’re fully present in the moment," Gross says. "Your mind quiets, and you become attuned to the flow of your thoughts, feelings, and physical movements. It’s akin to meditation, only instead of sitting still, you’re actively channeling your inner experience onto the page."

An intuitive drawing by author and artist Ronald Gross. Gross's intuitive drawings each evoke a different feeling through his simple use of color and linework. Photo courtesy of Ronald Gross

Gross adds that over time, doing some of the exercises included in the book may even help boost confidence, since intuitive drawing can help people learn to trust their instincts.

"Intuitive drawing can unlock creativity, reduce stress, and help people reconnect with their inner selves," he adds. "It offers a space to process emotions, spark ideas, and break free from perfectionism or overthinking."

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