Vibrant, encouraging art
By John Gregory
Anyone who speaks to Scripps Ranch artist Belen Islas for any amount of time can’t help but conclude that she has a positive spirit and a kind heart.
These encouraging traits show through when viewing her artwork. After all, her recent exhibit at Studio 21 in Balboa Park’s Spanish Village Art Center was titled “I Believe I Can Fly.” Not only was this the theme of her exhibit, it is the name of a standout painting showcased in the exhibit and seen above on this page.
The art piece features a woman wrapped in white and pastel-accented garb flowing behind her as she blissfully glides through a floral background with all shades of red and deep pinks as well as a spectacular assortment of blue hues.
“This exhibit explores the spirit of breaking limits –both real and imagined. I want people to embrace the freedom of flight, find the courage to dream, and appreciate the beauty of transformation,” Islas stated in a press release. “What if you could defy gravity, spread your wings and soar into endless possibilities? … Inspired by themes of freedom, resilience and limitless imagination, ‘I Believe I Can Fly!’ encourages visitors to let go of self-imposed barriers and take flight into their dreams.”
The theme did not end with one particular painting. Her exhibit in Balboa Park included 25 paintings, one mural and three sculptures – all in the dreamy style of the artist. She even invited the visitors to her show to participate in the creation of the mural with her. Islas showed them how she usually creates a mural. She taught them about the brush strokes and colors. This interactive experience allowed guests to contribute to a collective mural symbolizing dreams taking flight in a collaborative and evolving artwork.
She painted the basic elements, and allowed the visitors to add to the mural. It featured a figure, along with flowers in the background. The design of the figure was symbolic of finding its own wings.
It carried the same theme as the overall exhibit: “Finding your own ability to find your wings and fly, and try new things,” Islas explained.
Her exhibit at Studio 21 ran March 12 to 23. Studio 21 is among the art cottages within Spanish Village in Balboa Park. Certain artists are invited to exhibit their work for a period of two weeks throughout the year.
Islas creates colorful, whimsical art that stirs the imagination. She strives to accept commissions for public art with a meaningful purpose and shows how art can be a helpful outlet.
Other art murals to her credit include a colorful mural project at Jerabek Elementary School; a mural in Old Town San Diego Historic Park; a mural in a Los Angeles Starbucks in an area that was recovering from a recent tragedy; a mural for the Spectrum Collaborative in Ventura County; and another mural in a Ventura County public garden in Oxnard that helps feed the aging population battling food insecurity.
She has a degree in marketing from a university in Mexico and studied graphic design at UCLA after she moved to the U.S. several years ago. She has resided in Scripps Ranch for nearly four years with her family.
What’s next for this artist?
“I’m going to paint a mural in Los Angeles and then I’m going to participate in ArtWalk in Little Italy. It’s going to be fun,” she said. “It’s so fantastic. There are so many artists and art and, oh, I love it. It is one of my favorite shows.”
Mission Fed ArtWalk San Diego features visual and performing arts, and will run April 26-27 along the streets in San Diego’s Little Italy.
Islas also created a large mural for City Cruises, the company that launches the Hornblower Cruises around San Diego Bay.
“I painted a mural for them a couple of weeks ago – 40 feet by 8 feet approximately. So, we are thinking about another mural for them,” she said.
For more information about artist Belen Islas, visit belenislas.com; Instagram: @BelenIslas or Facebook: @StudioBelenIslas.
