Carlota Pereiro, works in full colour
Her style and personality are a perfect match: cheerful, impulsive and full of humour.
Carlota Pereiro is an all-round artist. She has collaborated with companies and organisations such as AC Hotels by Marriot, La Cartuja de Sevilla, Madrid City Council... and combines her work as a freelance artist with that of a designer for the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza. Almost nothing! She herself says that what she does and her personality are closely connected, and we couldn't agree more.
Tell us about yourself and your work. Where did your vocation start? Any first memories?
I am a spontaneous, dispersed, impulsive, passionate, sensitive person, with a lot of humour... I think that what I do, my style, my personality... have a lot of connection. In the end, what we show the world is a bit of a reflection of what we are inside; how we dress, our character... I think it's all connected... When I was a child, I saw being a grown-up a long way off, and I still do now. I don't remember thinking about what I wanted to do when I grew up and when I was serious, I don't know, but I really liked the arts, colours, creating things and getting my hands dirty... that was always the case. According to what they tell me at home, I always said I wanted to draw and paint, which is what I spent my time doing.
What do you find most satisfying about your work, and any that you are particularly proud of?
What I find most satisfying... I think it's working on something that I would do anyway if I wasn't getting paid for it and continuing to learn to be more honest with myself every day. It's that when you've done something in your life that has nothing to do with you and you go over to the other side to do something you love, you value it so much! It's so lucky to discover what fulfils you and to be able to dedicate yourself to it.
As for feeling proud, I always say the same thing, I feel proud of everything I do because I have learned to see it as a reflection of me at the time I did it, regardless of whether it is a bigger or smaller project.
What is your creative process like, what are your sources of inspiration, any particular music while working?
I don't have a fixed creative process, it depends on how I come up with each thing and it goes by periods, but for there to be inspiration, above all, I think you have to work a lot, because when you do things and think a lot about them, other things come up that you didn't have in mind. I don't have a specific source of inspiration either. I think we are surrounded by millions of things, and we live in infinite situations, all of that is stored in the subconscious and comes out. I always listen to music when I paint, depending on what I'm going to do, I get into something livelier or slower.
Favourite colour, book, film and record - in that order! ;D
I always found it horrible to say 'favourite thing' because I like thousands of things and I have a fish memory, and the next day I can't remember what I fell in love with yesterday.
The colour thing is easier because there is a slightly more limited number... colour is one of my passions, and I'm very much in favour of the primaries. Of these, I think right now I would say red.
The book, film and record thing, I really can't decide. I can tell you that I'm not much of a reader, I've always found it hard to sit down and read because I'm very restless.
Is your home a reflection of who you are? Tell us what it smells like, your favourite corner, your favourite decorative object or piece of furniture, if you treasure a collection... And if you have a pet, introduce it to us!
At the moment I move around quite a lot, I don't have a fixed home... and yes, the time I spend in a place I think is a reflection of who I am. I usually have a house-workshop. I like to have everything at hand, so I can start painting, designing or doing whatever at any time, because for me it's part of my life, it's not like going to the office and having a timetable. I just need a couple of pieces of furniture: a bed, a table, a shelf and some chairs. That's it. I fill it with paintings, ceramics, papers, drawings, things I design... I feel comfortable making the spaces I'm in my own, even if it's only for a short time. And I don't have a pet, it's hard for me to take care of plants, now I'm trying with cactus to see hahaha.
If you could buy anything right now and take it home, what would it be? Anything!
Well, as it can be anything, I would buy a kidnapping from a couple of friends (so that there is no denial or possible excuse like "I can't because of my schedule"... "my boss"... "my boyfriend/girlfriend"...) with some plane tickets included to go around.
A great plan at home always includes...
A few beers, a few friends and a few chats.
Do you have a signature dish?
I'm not much of a cook, to be honest. I think it's an art that takes time, and I'm very impatient.
Where is your favourite place in your city and abroad?
My city. I've lived in Madrid for about ten years, but I'm very Galician. I'm from Santiago de Compostela, and I go to the Rías Baixas a lot. My favourite places: the beaches in the area of O Grove, and in Santiago, any bar in the old town with some friends and a good beer. To say a favourite place abroad (taking into account that it includes the rest of the world apart from Spain) seems impossible to me hahaha.
