Carlota Santamaria

nomADRESS | Cristina Gil Donaire

2011-11-13T18:15:00.003-05:00

This next Sunday there is a great event going on.
Cristina is a stylist who has a great collection of vintage clothes,
she carefully remove all the labels, and then tag a small note with the composition and the origin of the piece.
It's a very nice concept, no fashion labels, just clothes by their own character and appeal. I love the idea!

I have been to two previous nomADRESS and I found beautiful stuff.

I had the pleasure of making the illustration for the promotion of this event,
and I really had fun with it! Hope you like it.

electric selection of men's & women's wear*
next Sunday Nov. 20th from noon to 6pm- Aperitivo at 3pm!
by appointment call 2129334897
160 W 122nd St. #5, NY, NY 10027

Chemigrams | Experiments

2011-11-01T17:36:00.004-04:00

Here are my first atempts to experiment with Chemigrams after being Teacher assistant for a great workshopo at ICP.
Also today I got great news, my work has been selected to be featured in the cover of the Illustration Served website. Really made my day. Thanks a lot!

Greenpoint Gallery | It Fashion Magazine

2011-07-08T19:55:00.008-04:00

So Happy! to get up this morning and find this nice article at It Fashion. about my recent exhitition! can't start my day in a better way!!
thanks!!

to read more click on the image

Opening | Echo and the Elements

2011-04-29T12:51:00.010-04:00

Hi!

I'm very excited about tonight.

Our Silent Canvas is presenting Echo and the Elements in St. Peters Church in Chelsea,
today at 7pm, where I'm taking part exhibiting a new piece of artwork.

The art exhibition will be also featuring 4 shows featuring new work by Blake Fleming, original drummer for Mars Volta, and some more classic and contemporary music pieces.

There is going to be a visual installation and projections from their team of visaul artist. I think it would be really interesting and great evening!

I'm very happy to be able to be part of it and be surrounded by all this great talented people.

I would love to see you all there!!

doors open at 7.30h and the show starts at 8h.

A little preview of the new work :)

Ja Band Aid | Relief Effort for Japan

2011-04-04T20:41:00.005-04:00

I'm contributing to Ja Band Aid - Relief Effort for Japan

A one day event to raise funds to help Japan.
If some of you happen to be around NY this Saturday, pass by and say hello!

I am contributing donating some artwork. I'm so thankful to have the chance to give a hand for a country that has given me so much, specially inspiration & knowledge.

I'm involved in some other actions and events that are being organize. I will keep you post it, as they are all great initiatives.

If you think I can be of any help to anyone organizing a fundrasising action please drop me an email.

BLEND Magazine | Interview

2011-03-04T12:43:00.002-05:00

I have had the honour to be invited by Blend, a magazine I deeply respect. They invited me to take part in their Time to time project. The interview they've sent me for my surprise it was quite metaphisic, asking about live, death and search.

You can find the extended version below with my random thoughts... together with the photo from my daymoon series that illustrate the article.

THE QUESTIONS:

1. What means freedom to you?
Happiness

2. Are you a fortune hunter?
Yes. I’m always hungry for life.

3. What’s your biggest dilemma in life?
Worrying about art, when there are people that the only worry in their life is surviving one more day. Not giving up my life to help others. This is for sure my biggest dilemma. I try to be authentic but at the end I am having a hypocrite existence, or not? That’s the dilemma.

4. Are you relentless in finding your fortune?

Yes, I am. Some years ago I worked in a geriatric. I though when people get to a certain age they feel their live has been long and fulfilled. But I was wrong. The day my grandfather died my grandmother look at me and said “Life passes fast, faster than I thought. I’ve lived all my life next to your grandfather but I feel it was yesterday I saw him for the first time in my garden. Honey, live your life full, follow your dreams and love, love as much as you can because it’s going to be short, very short.”

5. Do you believe in destiny/ fate, or do you create your own?

I believe in fate, I believe there are future events that are meant to happen. But I believe that we create those. I feel there is these thin threads connecting every single event, person, place or dream we had with the future. And as we go through life, we pull them and create new ones that are going to open or close doors in the coming horizon.

6. Are you doing what you’ve always wanted to do in life? Are you anywhere near where you want to be?
I don’t have an absolute idea of what I want to do in life. I don’t tend to limit myself with fix ideals or goals. I see it more as a path itself, where you fill your inner bowl. I am where I want to be everyday in the morning, and I work during the day so next day I wake up with a little bit more substance in my bowl.

7. If so, what/ where is it?
Life itself, and having the luxury of being able to have a creative one.

8. What would your life look like if you could recklessly drop everything,
without any negative consequences?

Once I was amnesic for few days. I was 17. I had perfect conscience of who I was. I knew I like chocolate and that I was Carlota but, in the other hand, I didn’t recognize anybody. I didn’t know what I was doing in life or which year it was. I found myself without any attachment. A feeling of freedom overcame me. I thought I could leave the hospital and go anywhere and do anything I wanted. A thought stopped me. I just imagined how miserable I would have felt if suddenly memories of my beloved ones popped up. I stayed. I realized I was not completed without my memories. I would have been like a soul without shelter.

9. What do you consider cultural rebellion nowadays? Is there still such a thing?

I consider “cultural rebellion” is a snob concept. Is the maximum stage of rebellion our minds can come up with. Social rebellion, economic rebellion, those are real events that change History. Cultural rebellion is a consequence of social and economic rebellion. It appears when there is no more real rebellion to do, but there is still a need to feel authentic. I think nowadays there are all different kinds of rebellions going on, but not in our side of the cake, not even cultural ones.

10. Did you ever come across someone/ something who/ that stand in your pursuit to
happiness?

Yes, so many that the list would be endless. Strangers from whom I just pick a sentence that reveled a whole new vision, views and moments that made a click on my mind and I haven’t noticed after years passed and suddenly they come back to me revealing a new meaning. Everybody I keep close to me makes me closer to happiness.

11. Do you hope to be remembered and what for?

It’s inherited in our human nature the desire to be remembered, and I’m not an exception. If I have to choose I would say for contributing in their life with goodness.

12. What does your photo represent
I’m not trying to represent anything in my photo. It is more a consequence of the need to capture those one time visions that just collapse for a second. I aim to fight against transient feelings cause by a brief sight. To grasp the ephemeral human existence and our everyday live to be able to repeat it so I can transmit to others the same experience of that first view. This photo has a banal existence until it reach a mystical sense for somebody.

Hiperpotamus | WeMake

2011-02-03T15:56:00.006-05:00

Lucas (aka WeMake) has release this new music video.
After all the time he has been working on it, it's great to finally be able to share it with you!
Every time I re-watch the video, I feel more and more proud of him. He did almost all the work by himself, Directing, Filming, illustration, editing... the list would be endless.
He could count on the great help of a group of interns for some of the retroscopy work. And some of his good friends held him a hand. Erik, as always, made an amazing job lighting the head shot. Check his work I'm a big fan of it. Carlos and Mario were really handy borrowing the optics for the shoot, pair of Brothers who also makes great photography work.
Over all, it's a beautiful and interesting exercise of self-exploration and I truly enjoy it. Hope you do too!

Francesca Woodman

2011-01-31T10:32:00.001-05:00

I found and admire her photographs without knowing anything about her, and nothing about photography, years and years ago... every now and then I felt attracted to an image that looks like is coming from a parallel mental world. I kept it in my memory. Until one day I found out all this photos were from the same photographer... Francesca.
Lucas told me about this documentary about The Woodman's family. This Saturday we went to discover a little bit more of Francesca's story. Don't miss it if you have the chance to see it.

Daniel | My bunny boy

2011-01-25T13:49:00.006-05:00

Talking to a new friend made me think about this illustration I've made some time ago.

As we were talking with Daniel on skype, I just wanted to keep that moment for the future so I draw him without him knowing... and this portrait came up. A good memory indeed.

Paper Planes Magazine | Best Fall/Winter 2006 Ad Campaigns

2011-01-14T12:35:00.006-05:00

Today is -7Cº in NY, is freezing, and there is snow everywhere. I wonder how the Mediterranean Sea smells today.

Carlos commissions this 7 pages editorial to me.
I had to illustrate the best 2006 Fall/Winter ad campaigns, you can see the complete work here. It was about respecting the original format and image but being able to give it a turn.
I really enjoy with this project. Diving into the world of fashion and its power of seduction. That's all about in ad campaigns, isn't it?
I specially enjoyed drawing Prada's dark and mysterious image, as well as the Balenciaga one, with its magic weightless feeling. But I have to confess, that drawing Kate had something of a fetish feeling.

Memories

2011-01-13T17:03:00.004-05:00

I just found this illustration I made some time ago in my backup folder. I bet some of you will have great memories poping up as I do.
It was so much fun! I miss you all.

Levi's | Clothes Illustration

2011-01-11T13:41:00.010-05:00

Before Christmas I worked with Lucas Borras in a very intersting porject for Levi's. I had the chance to create this Illustration made out of clothes. It has been a very interesting experience, and really fun.

The entire project has turned to be outstanding. It was a 5-day shoot, with other creative teams involved, and all together had been great.

It was my birthday one of the bussiest days, and to my suprise I've got an incredible chocolate cake! From The best chocolate cake in the world For those you know me... you can imagine how HAPPY I was! Thanks Mssng Peces.

Dundee | Tintype

2010-12-16T16:54:00.003-05:00

This is a Medium Format Tintype I made during my stay at Dundee.
We were sleeping in a Teepee, I will post a photo of it soon.

Paper Planes Magazine | Coming soon

2010-11-23T11:59:00.000-05:00

New work on Paper Planes Magazine.
Coming soon in the new beautiful issue named BACK TO BLACK.

Albert Folch | Portraits

2010-11-16T03:00:00.001-05:00

Albert Folch, from Folch Studio I'm working now on a Series of Portraits of good friends who have they own creative voice.

Moku Hanga | Carving Ian

2010-11-09T15:14:00.000-05:00

Final Key wood block

As I'm the kind who is always looking for learning new things I started to study Moku Hanga with master Takuji Hamanaka. I am fascinated about the whole process. Working with wood, the tools, the delicate Japanese paper, making your own inks.

In traditional Japanese Art three different masters will work in the creation of one print. The Actual Artist, the Carver and the Printer.
As a modern approach Moku Hanga can be done as one-man creation.

I'm drawing, and carving the wood in an almost meditative state. At first I thought I’ll loose my nerves with such a laborious activity, but surprisingly against my worst fears, I’m getting kind of addicted to it. There is a simple satisfaction in the action of modifying the surface of the wood with your own hands, and when I want my thoughts to have a rest I just sit and carve. Finally I will print the image, which is not less complex than the rest, let’s see how it comes up…
Soon I will post my first prints.

Ian Curtis | Joy Division

2010-11-04T16:06:00.000-04:00

Following the series of Bands&Musicians that are part of my live soundtrack, here is Ian Curtis. He makes me quiver every single time I hear him.

Nothing I can say that has not been said yet.

Camarón de la Isla

2010-11-01T20:56:00.000-04:00

I admire Camarón de la Isla for his revolutionary approach to Flamenco.