Yunuen Esparza

INTUITION/IMAGINATION

How does intuition present itself to you – in form of a suspicious impression, a spontaneous visualisation or whatever - maybe in dreams?

For me, generally it comes with a spontaneous visualisation, it can happen anywhere anytime. But sometimes I have to look for it, investigate and document it in order to get it.

Will any ideas be written down immediately and archived?

I have them written down immediately, otherwise, I would forget them. I have to write everything down always, from my grocery list to inspirational ideas

Are great ideas based on intuition and do they reveal themselves in a kind of clear as well complete version that just has to be realized? Or is it endless trials and errors (after the first spark) that result in constant developments up until the final result?

Most of the time, they come clear, in almost complete versions, and I am grateful for that.

What if there is a deadline, but no intuition? Does the first fuel the latter maybe?

If there’s a deadline, I have to force myself to investigate the theme until I find the best solution. I don’t like working with deadlines, but sometimes you can’t avoid it.

INSPIRATION

What inspires you and how do you stimulate this special form of imaginativeness?

I love getting inspiration from everyday things and personal experiences as a woman, daughter, sister, and as a rebellious inhabitant of this place. I also love vintage elements and pop culture.

How do you separate the good from the bad and which ideas are worthwhile to be explored further or whether one idea has the potential of being outstanding really?

I write them all first and then I look for the theme that most inspires me. Still, I can begin to paint an artwork and realise it was a bad idea. Nevertheless, I would continue working on it until I make it work.

Has it to appeal to you primarily or is its commercial potential an essential factor?

Definitely it has to appeal to me first. If it doesn’t inspire me, I simply don't do it. Yet, I try to transform it into something commercial for sustancial living.

Do you revisit old ideas or check what colleagues/competitors are up to at times?

Yes. You can get inspiration from everything and everyone. Or you can know what other artists are doing and avoid doing the same.

CREATIVITY

Which time/place/environment suits your creative work process the best (tranquillity or pressure) and which path do you take from theory/idea to creation?

I work better when everything is in order and without pressure. But sometimes you can’t avoid short notice work and you must do your best. That's the reason why I only accept commissioned works with themes I love and not because of the money earnings.

What is better in the realization process: speed and force creativity i.e. grasp the magic of the moment, or a slow, ripening process for implementation/elaboration?

Grabbing the magic moment, I am very impatient and I want to see the artwork finished as soon as possible.

If problems occur during creativity or one’s stuck even, how can these be solved?

Taking a day off from that project and continuing with another one until the next day or next week.

How important are self-doubt and criticism (by others) during such a process i.e. is it better to be creative on your own, only trust your own instincts, or in a team? 

Generally, I go on my own, but a sincere and honest opinion is always welcome, mostly from my partner and family.

Should a creative always remain true to him-/herself including taking risks & going against the flow or must one, for reasons of (commercial) survival, make concessions to the demands of the market, the wishes of clients and the audience’s expectations?

I think there’s room for both, you must have personal and commercial projects. One does not exclude the other one, on the contrary, they complement each other as each one offers different challenges and lessons.

How is innovation still possible if one has established a distinctive style and, just in case, is it good to be ahead of one’s time even one hazards not being understood?

In my case, I mix traditional art with technology, so my objective is to be aware of the new technologies, learn them and apply them to my traditional art. Try to get out of your comfort zone!

When does the time come to end the creative process, to be content and set the final result free - or is it work-in-progress with an endless possibility of improvement?

There's always time for improvement, but for me, being a very anxious person, I want to finish it as as possible. I don't care so much about the final outcome, I just enjoy the ride.

In case of failure or - worse - a creativity crisis how do you get out of such a hole?

Cooking and reading until the crisis is over. Give it a few weeks, then force me to keep working.

SUCCESS

Should/can one resist the temptation to recycle a ‘formula’ one’s successful with?

It is very important to first define your formula, and then break it. It will be challenging to do it, but eventually one must. Renewing or dying!

Is it desirable to create the ultimate/timeless work, but doesn’t “top of the ladder” bring up the question of “what’s next?” i.e. isn’t such a personal peak “the end”?

If you work always for yourself and without expectations, you will always have something to work on, and if you somehow create a masterpiece you will feel satisfied, turn on the page and continue working. For me, the goal is not to create masterpieces, but to have fun.

MY FAVORITE WORK:

For me, my 'Rabbit Magic', musical show, is one of my favourites artworks. It was my first big format canvas and it was a nice challenge for me to paint it. Also, because the theme I painted represented my experiences as a mother. I represent how sometimes it felt like I was raising a child from another animal species. How, somehow, I had to manage things in chaos, in order to make them happen, like using a magic wand. Motherhood can be bizarre, yet funny and colourful. I am very proud of that artwork!