Yakima Valley Libraries’ Bookmobile is colorfully covered in custom artwork by local artist Consuelo Soto Murphy. Consuelo’s paintings are inspired by her experiences as a child migrant worker. She focuses on the positive images that color her memory and brings to life blank canvases with the Pacific Northwest’s beautiful landscapes, flourishing crops, and loving relationships forged with her family and friends. Her artwork has been featured on television productions, in museums, and in offices across the world. Consuelo’s Bookmobile artwork highlights motifs that honor Yakima’s diversity of culture and ecology. Believe us, the following words are worth your read!
Learn more about the artist’s background, experience, and motivational encouragement in this inspiring Q&A:
Q. How long have you been painting? And what mediums do you use?
I have been painting since I was 13. I’m 62 now, so I have been painting almost 50 years. I sold my first painting as a 7th grader at a parent-teacher conference. Another teacher saw my work and offered to buy my piece. It was an evening landscape painted in monochromatic greens.
I use acrylics on canvas primarily, but I also like working with watercolors; I just love the flow and transparency of watercolors.
Q. When did your interest in art begin? What led you to start painting?
My interest in art began in elementary school. In first grade, I already knew I was artistic. Mrs. Lindenberg, my second-grade teacher, was the first person to declare I was an artist, however. Mrs. Lindberg read our class a story about an octopus and asked us to illustrate it. She gave us a large piece of paper and I produced a giant lime octopus with purple, twisted tentacles. She called me up to the front of the class, put me up on a box, and told the class that I was “Connie the Artist!” Having my teacher showing off my drawing, affirming what I already believed, solidified it for me. I was Connie the Artist after that!
Throughout school, I wanted to spend all of my time in the art rooms, drawing, painting, and getting my ideas on paper. The high school art teacher had taught all five of the Soto’s, and he especially liked my older brother Pablo; he was a wonderful artist. My brother Pablo has a painting at the Smithsonian. Rumor has it, I have one of mine traveling to the Smithsonian as well. I knew I wanted to be a high school art teacher like my favorite teacher Mr. Burelle.
When I started college at Eastern Washington University, I didn’t know how long I would actually be there. My family were migrant workers and had little money for necessities, let alone college… but I was determined to go. We knew very little about loans, grants, scholarships or financial aid of any kind and my counselor in high school told me college was not for “people like me.” I saved what money I could and took myself to Eastern Washington University. I figured since my time in college would be short-lived, I would take classes I liked. I took all Fine Art classes first, and I was in heaven. I would go to school a quarter, then stop a quarter to work and save money, then I would return to take more classes.
It took me 6 years, but I finished with a B.A. in Art Education, B.A. in Studio Art, a B.A. in Education, and a minor in Spanish. I also met my husband at Eastern Washington University in a nude drawing class, he was not the model.
I just retired from Richland High School after teaching Art for 33 years, but after school I always went home and started painting. Now, I am devoting most of my time to painting. I love colors and paint, aside from family, it’s what makes me happy.
What inspires your artwork the most?
What inspires me the most are the memories I have as a child migrant worker, working with my family, and the love and experiences we shared. Although I despised getting up at four in the morning to go out and cut asparagus or pick fruit in the cold mornings, I admired the fact that we were all going to work together. It was horrid getting out of my warm, cozy bed, but once we got to the field it was absolutely beautiful to me. My dad worked alongside us, and I saw him sweat and work his hands to the bone, but we all worked hard together, trying to keep pace. It was extremely difficult work, but at least we could talk and laugh and listen to music as we pushed on. Year after year, strong bonds were created in our family and other families that worked alongside us.
When I worked, I always wanted to remember how amazing the nature was. The dangling cherries were so red and beautiful under the long green leaves; they were so sparkly and so pretty when the morning sun would make them glisten. I used to really inspect and take mental pictures of how everything looked. I would stare at the pears, apples, peaches, prunes and their amazing colors amongst the trees. Nature is glorious! I was mesmerized by the repetition of the rows and rows of fields which I often paint in my landscapes. Every field has so many different smells aside from the crop, like cut grass, and leaves, and dirt, especially when we arrived early in the morning.
In my artwork I try to capture all these elements of the fields and paint my people in the positive, beautiful light they should be. We are not peons nor are we worthless. We put food on everyone’s table.
Is your artwork currently on display? Where can it be viewed?
My artwork is currently displayed at the Governor’s Mansion in Olympia and at Tinte Cellars in Georgetown, Seattle. I do a few shows in summer — the biggest one is “Art In The Park” in Richland, WA’s Howard Amon Park on the last weekend of July. My work can also be viewed on my website SotoArt.com where one can also order originals and prints or email me to commission work.
Why did you decide to work with Yakima Valley Libraries’ Bookmobile project?
I wanted to make reading more appealing to children and I loved the idea of being able to contribute to the YVL’s mission. I wanted to show kids and their parents that reading is important. When you have knowledge, no one can take that away from you.
What thoughts, feelings and/or emotions do you hope your artwork helps evoke in viewers who see the Bookmobile drive around Yakima Valley?
I hope they will enjoy the art and recognize some of the elements I included from the Yakima Valley. I hope they think it is beautiful and follow the Bookmobile to check out the books and take a closer look at the artwork on it. Painting makes me so happy, and I want to share that even if it is just for the moment they see the Bookmobile go down the road. I hope it leaves them with a smile for a minute or two and to pique their interest in the Bookmobile. Reading sparks creativity and can go hand-in-hand with art, as I described earlier in my story about creating an illustration for a story that was read to me in the second grade. Without that reading, who knows if I would have had a chance to stand out to my teacher and be designated Connie the Artist to give me that affirmation to go forward with my dream.
Do you have any advice to those who dream about sharing their artwork with their communities at the level you have achieved?
I would tell those that dream about sharing their artwork with their communities to keep doing what you love. You have to start somewhere so start small and continue to perfect your craft; I paint every single day. You will never know if you can or cannot do something if you do not try.
What is the best way the public may reach you for custom art orders or to purchase original paintings?
Website: www.sotoart.com
Email: sotoart509@gmail.com
Phone: (509) 727-7770