artiste d'mon >>> rocío heredia

The Metalsmith Beauty and Deity of Rocío Heredia is in Season
Interview by: silverio pantalla

Who is Rocío Heredia?
I am a very lucky person. I feel blessed because God gave me the opportunity to learn to take any personal pain and turn it into beauty.

Do you choose your subjects or do they choose you?
The metal is an inspiration to create Art, and it moves me to choose my subjects... but lately, it looks like the subject chooses me. My St. George series is now an inspiration for some to slay their own Dragons.

Describe your technique.
I work several techniques, embossing, repoussé, chasing, patina, and basically I use my heightened sense of touch, it helps me define what my eyes cannot perceive. I really enjoy getting deeper into the detail, no matter how much more time it takes.

Are you a religious or spiritual person?
I believe in God wholeheartedly and I am very spiritual, religion is a part of that.

What is your most important goal in life as a person and as an artist?
My goals are deeply personal, I have hope they will indeed come to be.

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet and why?
My grandfather because he died when my Father was 4 years old... and I want to meet all the wonderful people who made my trip to New York last year possible.

I have been interviewing artists around the world for an online gallery and I would like to meet them in person.

Also, I would love to meet Gene Hackman, and Tony Danza.

How would you describe your work?
My artwork expresses That which my words cannot. I strive to show it as very detailed and precise and hear that from a viewers point it is fun to imagine what all when into it to become what it is.

Who have been some of your main influences as an artist and a person?
My parents and my sister Gabriela have been the main influence as a person, I learned from them to be a strong person.

The fifty four children who attended my Day Care Center, were also a sweet essence in who I am. Valentin Yotkov has been my main influence in metalsmithing.

Karen Christians and Bruce Paul Fink influence my direction. One begins on their own, but along the way you meet and study with others such as them who believe in my work and encourage me, and I feel blessed to have met them. I would also like to acknowledge all the other friends that have been so kind and generous in helping me along the way. There are so many of them, I would have to write a small book just to thank them all individually.

One very strong influence was a negative one, an "Art Critic" who wrote "you will never be an Artist". I had to prove to myself that he was wrong.

What are your immediate plans for the future?
Live, I hope... to enjoy more life and strive toward many goals.