Pepa Prieto was born in Granada, Spain, which is an amazing little city enclosed by mountains but not far from the sea. Surrounded by a mix of cultures in the old part of the city, her love of color and texture grew into the vast array of illustration, graphic work, paintings and installations she creates today.

What lead you to create art?
It’s something that came naturally through all of my life since I was a child. I have always enjoyed crayons, scissors, papers…and bedroom walls so much! Ha. When I grew older I just saw clearly that I should keep going with my art. I have been very lucky and have always been around arty things with my family as a child.

Did you ever study the arts or are you self-taught?
I have been both self-taught and I studied. I studied Fine Arts in Madrid and got specialized in painting (in the classical way) and photography. Then I kept studying in Barcelona and London for a few more years and worked in the meantime.

Where do you find your inspiration and what drives you to create?
I find inspiration in so many things but especially in little things like a flower, a smile, a person, a sunset, snow, ice cream, and also in travelling, music, and love. What drives me to create probably comes from trying to understand this place we’re living in!

Does your work carry a certain message?
I always start from an idea inside my head and, yes, it has a message that anyone can interpret for his or her own needs.

What are the things you enjoy doing in life besides creating your art?
I love nature; going up the mountains is a need for me. I love sports, snowboarding, surfing, biking around cities, music, travelling is an important part of my life too, sharing with friends and family, helping others…

How did you get in touch with Element and why did you accept becoming the first European Eden Advocate?
I just got in touch through an e-mail…ha-ha…a classic start, and then we met in Barcelona. I accepted being an Advocate for Element Eden because I think it’s a project that gives a very good perspective to artistic things. It is a very good combination of artistic and commercial work together. I also really liked the work of the other Advocates.

How do you see your future?
Smiling as much as possible and giving importance to what is important and letting go of things that don’t help the human race.

Could you share some artists that you’ve found influential?
Oh, yes, there are so many I love. Old Flemish painters from the 17th century like Rembrandt, el Bosco. I love old-world Spanish painters like Goya – his sketches are amazing. In contemporary art there are so many amazing artists, too. Louise Bourgueoise, Annish Kappor, Mark Gonzalez, Mies Van der Rohe, amazing illustrators, graphic designers and so many that I forget!

Any tips for aspiring artists?
I’m not good at giving tips but maybe I would say it helps to have a lot of love for your work and to work hard. It also helps to have determination, patience, enthusiasm, honesty, and a bit of luck!

pepaprieto.com