What inspired you to dedicate yourself to plastic art and how would you define your style?
I am 37 years old, I am from Córdoba and I have lived in the Federal Capital for more than four years.
In 2012 I graduated as a Public Accountant, a career that I chose based on what they told me, I interpreted that I had to study something profitable, for a long time I complained about having studied it, but currently I am grateful for everything I have chosen up to this moment, which brought me here today.
In 2017 I decided to listen to my desire and studied Interior Design, I resigned from the company where I worked and we started a lighting and design business with my brother (he is an Architect), it went very well, but then I received a proposal for a company, which I accepted because it gave me security in the face of the uncertainty of independence.
I worked in the corporate world from the age of 18 to 35, what I liked most were human relationships, I was always looking to learn, talk to people, listen and observe.
In June 2022 I decided again to resign from companies, with an uncertain future I opened myself to the possibility of new opportunities, that year I created my own human resources consultancy (New Work HR), to return to work in companies, but from the outside and in 2023, I certified as an Ontological Coach.
In a conversation with my Coach, in April 2023 I told him that “I wanted to go paint.” Something I had never done until then, being a world unknown to me.
On the way back to my house I went to the art store and bought some acrylics and brushes. When I got home I got ready to paint. The first thing I said when I saw the result was “how bad I am at this.” I’m sharing the painting with my brother and he tells me “Manu, turn it around and you have a snowy landscape at night with golden pine trees”, clearly I was looking at the painting in the wrong way, from that moment on I continue painting, experimenting with colors, techniques and I am finding my style.
What does your workspace mean to you?
My workshop is an art space in the broad sense, sometimes I paint and sometimes I offer coaching, where conversations become art.
What techniques and materials do you use to create your works and what challenges do they pose to you?
Currently I work a lot with acrylic, spatula, free and abstract style, I was creating my Instagram, signing up for calls, exhibiting, something I could not imagine doing in such a short time, I had many doubts but today looking back my confidence was greater.
Painting connects me with the present moment, the fear and beauty of the uncertain, having the blank canvas in front of me is always a challenge, I have thousands of ideas in my head, but in the end I end up doing what calls me at that moment , it is pure energy, it connects me with enjoyment, my emotions, taking photos, creating reels, I have fun.
What projects do you currently have underway and what goals do you propose for the future?
Today I am training in Art-Therapy, if it works for me, it may also make sense to others, Art, Coaching and HR are very linked, it is one more way of knowing ourselves internally, it is another type of language, I like to call it language of the soul.
I am working to create group workshops and individual sessions. In the future, I aspire to create a space where people can connect with themselves, whether through art, coaching, or work.
I feel like I have found my purpose in painting, it is a challenge, every morning I wake up remembering my motto “life stroke by stroke”, which would be one step at a time, remembering to enjoy the journey.
Contact information:
Instagram: @manubartolome.arte
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by CEDOC