Page 16 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2024 - Online Magazine

LOCAL LEGENDS

Art Creates

CREATIVE THINKERS

Tina Fuentes

by Liz Adams | The Atom

Dibujar el Mapa (2024)

Nube colorada y gente (2017)
Photo Credit: Tim Broad
orn in San Angelo in 1949 would often ask students to to use a mark or gesture that
and raised in Odessa, Tina write their own conclusion to could convey an internal thought
BFuentes was the second a story. “It was an important or statement,” said Fuentes.
oldest of six children. She credits part of learning how to express “Those foundational skills are so
her grandmother for encouraging ourselves,” Fuentes noted. “She prevalent within the visual arts.
her early interest in art and her was an amazing teacher; I gained It takes time learning to handle
lifelong work ethic. “She was so much because of her. Teachers the tools and materials.”
a very hard-working lady. It can have such a significant
always amazed me. She showed impact.” Her focus was on painting,
me some of her skills in crochet, drawing, and printmaking.
embroidery, and quilting. She Fuentes said she didn’t visit a Fuentes found the exploration
was supportive of creativity. That big museum until her junior of various techniques rewarding
was one of my first introductions year in college. “I went to the and helped to advance her
to art,” said Fuentes. “I also Dallas Museum, and I was technical skills. “I took a lot of
remember having paper dolls, mesmerized,” said Fuentes. figure drawing classes. Before
and I started designing their While earning her BFA and MFA I could paint in an expressive,
dresses.” from North Texas State (now abstract manner, I knew I had
University of North Texas), to develop drawing first. I
In fourth grade, Fuentes had she was heavily influenced worked with pencil, charcoal,
a teacher who developed her by impressionists like Claude and ink. That is the foundation.
curriculum around the arts. She Monet, Édouard Manet and Later, I became fascinated with
learned to draw by illustrating Vincent van Gogh. “That’s when calligraphy and began using a
poetry and stories. The teacher I began concentrating on trying Sumi brush. I don’t know if I will

16 Lubbock Senior Link