Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophia Lucia-Alarcon.
Hi Sophia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My love of art started at a very early age! I grew up watching cartoons and reading graphic novels, taking pottery classes at the public library, and seeing murals around my city. All of this exposure to art really nurtured my love for the craft and I’ve been drawing since I could hold a pencil.
I used to think the only viable career option for an artist was to become an animator so as an elementary/ middle schooler, that’s what I wanted to be, but my passion was always painting. It wasn’t until Highschool that I had started meeting working artists and painters and learned that I could make a career out of my passion.
I had also been posting my art on social media for a while and I had a few videos get a good amount of attention. I’ve gained a bit of a following and am super grateful to now be creating custom artworks for people all around the globe as well as selling my original work! I am now currently pursuing my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Central Florida and plan to be a gallery artist once graduated.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Becoming an artist has had its fair share of ups and downs!
I’ve always had an insanely supportive family who has encouraged my passion and believed in me whole heartedly which really makes all the difference. There’s also a wonder art community here in Orlando that’s been so supportive of me, opened so many doors, and taught me so much about becoming a full time artist.
I think the toughest parts of building my career so far have been learning to filter outside influences, accepting the critiques that will help me, and ignoring the ones that don’t align with me or my work.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Through large scale illustrative paintings of strange characters, I seek to create my own universe where I can investigate childhood and nostalgia. Through the labor intensive and highly detail-orientated creation process, I’m able to reflect on how expectations from our early developmental years contrast with the brutal reality that my generation has inherited.
I’m very proud of the unique art style I’ve developed and I feel that it has become recognizable in my community.
What are your plans for the future?
I will be finished up with my degree in May of next year and plan to apply to some art residencies afterward! I would love to see more of the world and be inspired by these beautiful places to create more art.
In the meantime I will continue to grow my business and show in local galleries. Most paintings won’t be available for purchase until my B.F.A show at UCF at the end of their Spring 2027 semester, so keep an eye on their website for details of when that will be!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sophiluciart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiluciart?dlrf=bHExNzE2YXM2emdm&utm_source=qr
