Greenbrae artist’s art inspired by growing up in Mexico
Growing up in Mexico, Eustorgia Sol Navarrete was discouraged by her family to follow her dreams to become an artist. She may have never picked up a paintbrush to follow her passion if it weren’t for Isabel Allende.
While interviewing for a job with the renowned author when she came to the United States, which she later got, Allende asked her, “What would you like to create for your life here?”
She told her how she wanted to be like Mexican artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, the masters who inspired her. To her surprise, the next day, she was gifted paintbrushes and told to start trying.
After getting her degree in fine arts at the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura in Mexico in the 1990s, the Greenbrae artist returned to Marin, where she threw herself even more into her art, studying with Chester Arnold at the College of Marin, participating in the Marin Open Studios for more than a decade and showing her work around the county.
Her surrealistic-style creations, which are no stranger to vibrant colors and patterns, are in part inspired by Oaxaca’s culture, where she was born, and the regenerative power of women.
Her work can be seen through Nov. 12 at the Sausalito Center for the Arts as part of its “Milagros & Memories” exhibit, which highlights Latin American artists from around the Bay Area.
Q What pushed you to finally pursue your dream?
A I always dreamed for something bigger. I remember being 7 years old and watching the stars, dreaming for a better life, because my life was not very easy in my childhood. I moved not long after to be with grandparents in Mexico City to have a better life. From there, I saw artists on the TV and I told my aunt that I wanted to be like them, an artist, but she said, “No, that’s for rich people.” It broke my heart. … When Isabel gifted me those tools, I said, OK, I have to do it. That’s my passion. After working for her, I met a boyfriend and he told me, “Let’s go back Mexico.” I go back to Mexico. We broke up. I got pregnant. I saw in the newspaper a piece about registration for art students. They accepted me. I studied there for five years, while I was pregnant, too. And then I came back here and got with Chester in his class.
Q How does Oaxaca inspire your art?
A The colorful clothes, happy colors, even the food is colorful. That’s why I paint colorful, because of all these things. It’s all in my brain, in me.
Q How does Frida influence you?
A Someone told me, “You look like Frida Kahlo.” She was suffering a lot. I was suffering, too, in Mexico. So, I had that connection with her. Even though she had a different pain, I am connected with her. I feel, too, in how she paints her colorful works.
Q What did you learn from working with Arnold?
A He was the best. I remember, one day, I was late for his class. I didn’t bring anything. Zero canvas, no brushes, nothing. What happened is he gave me little canvas. I didn’t have a brush, so I used my fingers. My classmates loved it and my work. They told me it was perfect and they wanted to do it like that. I still have my first creation from this class. I studied with him until he retired.
Q Can you believe your dream came true?
A Would you believe that my dream get true? I wanna show my passion to people and my passion for this life.