Artist Highlight: Paulina Otero
Our new Artist Highlight series will introduce you to the minds behind our city’s thriving art scene: read on for inspiration!
Photos by Patricia Bordallo
Artist Paulina Otero’s work is easily recognizable: bright colors and bold shapes are the hallmark of her designs, and her growing popularity is evident throughout the city. Uniquely hers, they’re the perfect statement piece, recalling her equally celebrated sculptural and textile art forms– all inspired by her heritage and the beautiful motifs of Mexico. Read on to learn more about her process:
When did you start making jewelry, and how did you get started?
Jewelry-making is something that unintentionally kept coming back into my life. Growing up I would sit down with my mom in the evenings and I would just watch her assemble jewelry and work with natural stones. Eventually she taught me the basics of what I know now. She would take me with her every time she went to buy supplies and I fell in love with natural stones. I got books and took some workshops here and there but I kept it as a hobby. Funny enough I had been taking drawing and painting classes since I was eight years old so I though that painting would be my major in college, turns out I changed my mind and specialized in textiles design.
During my time and the Kansas City Art Institute, I got to experiment so much. There was a moment where we were introduced to digital fabrication and I fell in love with laser-cutting. I was creating weird sculptures out of acrylic and I had so much scrap material that I had leftover from projects. I wanted to turn them into something else so I began making jewelry again. I started by cutting simple shapes and dyeing the acrylic with different gradients. Back in the day I really wanted to buy my own sewing machine so I figured if I can sell something small then maybe I can make enough money to buy my next tools. The first night of our end of semester exhibition I had sold out of earrings. That was the AHA moment for me, my friends kept asking me to make more jewelry. Few years go by and after graduating I decide to start my own business, now it’s been almost four years since I first “officially” started my brand.
Photo by Lauren Pusateri.
Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
I am constantly reflecting back to my memories in Mexico. My culture is pretty much what I am always looking back on to search for new inspiration. From colorful and diverse architecture in Mexico, the traditional crafts and patterns, archeological motifs to the botanicals of the region where I grew up. It all begins with my interest in specific patterns (which I think relates back to my background as a textiles designer) and then color comes after. I find myself constantly dissecting all these things and creating my own version of them.
Can you tell us a bit about how you source your products, and some of the trips you've taken to do so?
Most of my jewelry findings, natural stones and packaging I source from Mexico. I have been building my relationship with small businesses in Mexico where I know they will always provide the best quality materials and at the same time I am giving back to the economy in my home country. For packaging supplies, my mom actually makes those for me since she has a small business back home as well!
In terms of acrylic, I am constantly trying to find new materials and textures I’m drawn to. Most of it I get from other small craft businesses within the US but other times I have outsourced from China.
How does technology play a role in your art?
My sketches always begin analogue, I still draw a lot on my sketchbook or on my ipad. From the I vectorize all of my designs and then I go through a sampling process with my laser-cut. It is so amazing how you can turn something flat into a wearable artwork! I was able to purchase an entry level laser cut very early on and that has been primarily been how I create the big components of my jewelry. Then after cutting we go back to working with our hands and enhancing the pieces that we cut. I would say my process involves a good combination of technology and hands-on labor.
What does a typical day look like for you in the studio?
Lately as I am trying to expand the brand, I am spending 40% in the computer. Answering emails, doing administrative work, designing flyers, buying new materials, planning our social media posts and things like that. Then the other 60% I am prototyping, designing new products, preparing for events and having chats with my studio assistant Riley. I am constantly trying to think of new unique products that my customers might enjoy. Sometimes I just have to spend time playing and experimenting because those are the moments where the good ideas come to mind. So every day looks different which helps not get bored!
You've started offering classes to the community, and they've been a bit hit! What's it been like connecting with people and teaching?
I honestly never imaged I would discover my passion with teaching! I had a really amazing artist mentor (Jason Pollen) after college who I would help out with teaching weekend workshops. I truly admired the way he taught others and just sharing his knowledge. I began to wonder if I would be capable of teaching so I went for it. So far it’s been so rewarding to share my creativity with others and see the excitement of my students when they start designing their own jewelry. Seeing how others use my materials and shapes in different ways actually inspires me so much. I can’t wait to continue to teach new things!
What do you envision when we ask "what's next"?
This year I am hoping I can grow my brand and try to start selling in more shops across the united states. I’ve spent the last year traveling all over doing curated craft shows in order to expand our audience. We will continue to do a lot of events locally and I want to teach more! Something very exciting that is coming up is our launch of Hair-Claws, this has been a new process for me but I have now doubt our customers will love these new hair accessories.
