The pandemic pushed one Chicana to devote more time to her art

Many people who lost their jobs during the pandemic have been moved to find new work in completely different sectors. Arizona Horizonte host Jose Cardenas spoke with Aileen Martinez, a teacher, who turned to art when she lost her job during the pandemic.

Martinez has been drawing for about 10 years now but this wasn’t always something she felt she was innately good at, she continued to perfect her craft.

“I there’s a big misconception that people have that it’s something that’s innate, that you’re born with. I do believe people have natural talent but if you don’t keep on cultivating that talent you kind of just stay stuck at that stage,” Martinez said.

She said that she started drawing on her own growing up but she didn’t take classes until she started college.

At her college she studied art therapy and a part of that program included drawing classes.

When Martinez first began drawing in these classes she didn’t enjoy it. She began to get past the idea of things needing to look a certain way, “and I’ve been drawing ever since.”

Before the pandemic, Martinez worked part-time at a school and as things began to move virtually, she decided to devote more time to her art.

A woman from “The Churchill” in downtown Phoenix invited Martinez to take part in a market and from there, she’s been creating more and more art.

A lot of her art showcases buildings. She said, “I love the idea of illustrating the city, especially a place that I grew up…I’m a very nostalgic person, I love just good memories and so I started going to different spots that were very fond to me and drawing on location.”

For more information on Martinez’s art, click here.