028: Carly Munoz

Carly Munoz, also known as CarlyArtz, is a Guamanian creator who explores the themes of nature and her island roots through acrylic and oil paints. She now resides in Stockton, California.

Her vibrant works often feature renditions of turtles and various animals, serving as nostalgic reminders of her island roots.

For Munoz, art isn't just a hobby; it's her life calling. Reflecting on the essence of art, she describes it as a steadfast companion in her life journey, akin to having a supportive and faithful friend. Despite occasional frustrations with her projects, she maintains a daily creative habit, acknowledging the therapeutic value of artistic expression.

Munoz’s artistic journey feels almost predestined, as she believes painting chose her rather than the other way around. From her early experiences with acrylics in high school to exploring diverse styles in college, her passion for painting has remained constant and profound.

Inspiration for Munoz springs from her surroundings, especially her children, and she emphasizes the importance of persistence during moments of artistic blockage. Her signature style incorporates emotional depth and the vivid use of colors to highlight and contrast elements, often applying paint with her fingers to leave a personal imprint—her “fingerprint”—across her work.

Her creative process is intuitive, guided by her emotions and daily experiences. Munoz suggests that her artwork has evolved significantly over time, particularly during the pandemic, when she delved deeper into her craft, resulting in works characterized by increased depth, movement, and detail.

Despite grappling with self-doubt and societal pressures, Munoz has learned to embrace her artistry and find fulfillment in the act of creation itself. Reflecting on her journey to discover her own artistic vision, she promotes the integration of art into educational curriculums, recognizing its therapeutic and expressive value for individuals of all ages.

In offering advice to aspiring artists, Munoz emphasizes the importance of embracing the creative process for its own sake, rather than seeking external validation.

To read Munoz’s full interview, continue reading below. Also, check out her Instagram as well as her website, where you can support her by purchasing her artwork. Thanks again!

Please introduce yourself and describe what you do.

Hello, I am Carla, born and raised on the island of Guam, currently living in Stockton, CA. I primarily focus on acrylic and oils, using bold colors to project my feelings of the world around me. I love to create my own versions of turtles and different animals because they remind me of my island home. Creating beautiful paintings has brought a sense of peace and calm during tumultuous times in my life.

How would you define art?

Art for me, is personified as a passenger in my life story and has in a way been somewhat similar to having a best friend by my side during difficult times in my life. I focused on making it a habit to create daily even though I was frustrated at times with the outcome of my projects.

Why did you choose your art form?

I feel that painting chose me. The reason I say this is because I have been painting on and off since high school without putting much thought into realizing that it was so much more than just a hobby. Art manifested itself into my life during different periods with a message of being ingrained into me and probably never really left.

How did your high school/college years affect the work you make today?

I can remember drawing at a very early age for a school project. But it was in high school that I took up acrylic painting. I loved painting portraits and could not wait to come home from school and paint. In college, I attended a painting class and was exposed to different styles with my classmates.

Who do you idolize?

Frida Kahlo, Van Gogh.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I get inspiration from my children and literally from everything around me.

What do you do when you're stuck on an artwork or lacking motivation or inspiration?

During my art journey, I experienced art blocks plenty of times and I find that the best way to overcome this is to just paint. Take a step away from your piece and take some time if it gets too overwhelming. We become so distracted with the idea of perfection or the artwork looking exactly as how we pictured it in our heads. But, realistically that is rarely the case where an artwork will be the exact replica of your thoughts. So, instead just create and the motivation will come later once you let go and trust the process, despite your painting looking awkward at first.

What do you like incorporating most into your art?

I love incorporating color and emotion into my subject.

What is something that you add to your art as your signature?

I love to use my fingers, other than my brushes when painting the sun or blending in colors. I feel it's like leaving my fingerprint or an identifying mark on my work.

Take us through your process for making art.

My process of creating art is mainly focused on trusting my intuition. I choose to paint things based on how I'm feeling during the day. Once I make a decision of where I'm going with what I feel like painting, I map out which color combinations I plan to use on my sketchbook. Next, I make a rough sketch of my subject and just let go.

What do you struggle with the most when making art?

Myself. I am my worst critic and most times, I put so much unnecessary pressure on myself. Over the years, I've learned to release all that negativity and trust in my talent for creating beautiful pieces. Also, the whole idea behind social media and the numbers game. You post something you worked so hard on only to get 2 views or 1 like and this equates to you not being good enough. This could be farther from the truth and hindering in your artistic journey. I learned to shut that out over time and accept that I am happy with my work.

What role do artists have in society?

Artists play a highly important and sometimes underrated role in society with the old school ways of thinking like the idea that art isn't a career. I believe art should be more incorporated into school curriculums because it provides an outlet for children especially in dealing with their emotions or things they struggle to understand. Art is also beneficial in terms of therapy for adults and children.

What characteristics do you think all artists share?

I believe all artists are highly emotional beings that view the world in a different light. I believe all artists are intense and sensitive beings.

What’s your favorite place in Guam?

My favorite places in Guam are the beaches. They are arguably the most beautiful beaches I've seen and I miss it.

How has your artwork evolved over time?

I immersed myself in painting during the pandemic and have greatly improved once a comparison is done between my old works and the new pieces. There is definitely more depth, movement and details in the features of my subjects.

Why did you choose to become an artist?

I chose to become an artist because it's the only time in my life where I felt I had direction and passion in creating art. Painting ignites my soul and I enjoy provoking a sense of emotion onto my audience through my art.

Is your art geared towards a specific audience?

I don't think my art is geared towards a particular audience because I have heard from young adults, and older people about how my artwork made them feel.

Do you have any tips for aspiring artists?

Fall in love with the art of creating for the simple goal of just to create rather than perfection. Focus more on loving your creation more than seeking validation from your audience.

029: Hiro Kurashina

027: Ha'åni Bettis