How Juliet from Ukraine, Ana from San Diego, and Rogui from Mexico Make Art That Feels Real and Honest

In this article, we meet three artists—Juliet Faldin, Ana Violeta Horta, and Rogui Martínez Oñate—who open up about the joys and struggles of making art, staying true to their values, and navigating the in-between moments that shape who they are. Through their stories, we learn that creativity isn’t about waiting for the perfect moment or chasing perfection. It’s about listening to what pulls you in, starting where you are, and letting the process change you.

Juliet shares how design, painting, and film intersect in her pursuit of balance. Ana discusses stepping into her calling after years of keeping it to herself and how using natural materials brought her closer to what truly matters. Rogui brings us into her world of playful storytelling, childhood dreams, and staying close to what first lit the spark.

Each of their journeys is different, but what ties them together is their honest take on what it means to keep going—to start again, take creative risks, and find meaning in the making.

Juliet Faldin on Staying Curious and Creating with Intention

Originally from Ukraine and now based in London, Juliet Faldin has spent the past nine years building a creative career that bridges design, fine art, and cinematography. She’s worked with well-known names like BMW, National Geographic, and Sennheiser—yet her journey hasn’t been a straight line.

“I’m just a girl who paints, works as a brand designer, and loves cinematography,” Juliet says. “Design, art, and cinema—they’re all about telling stories and speaking a visual language. That’s what keeps me going.”

Juliet’s creative process is grounded in her ability to hold space for contrast. She’s drawn to the light, but she doesn’t shy away from the shadows. Her art encompasses a wide range of topics, including feminism, politics, relationships, and personal struggles. Through experimenting with expressive forms and abstract shapes, she finds a rhythm that feels honest to her.

“Without darkness, there is no light. Without struggle, there is no growth.”
—Juliet Faldin

Her time in London, along with her studies at UCLA and UAL, has helped her branch into new mediums, especially cinematography and fine arts. She continues to build a body of work that speaks to what it means to be human in an ever-shifting world.

Meaning comes from the balance of opposites, from embracing both the light and the dark within ourselves and the world around us.

To learn more about Juliet, click on the links below.

Ana Violeta Horta on Listening to Nature and Letting Go of Fear

For Ana Violeta Horta, becoming a full-time artist wasn’t about discovering something new—it was about finally saying yes to something that had always been there.

“I have always been an artist,” Ana says. “The real question was whether I dared to do it professionally.”

Born in Tijuana and now based in San Diego, Ana brings her lifelong love of textures, storytelling, and nature into her eco-conscious practice. Her work employs natural pigments, recycled materials, and earthy tones to explore grief, transformation, and memory. After working in the renewable energy industry for years, she found her way back to art as a form of both healing and environmental activism.

“My art is a dialogue between the Earth and Humanity—a visual exploration of the struggles, transitions, and choices that define our existence.”
—Ana Violeta Horta

Ana’s work has been shown around the world, from Venice to Paris, and she’s committed to keeping her practice grounded in sustainability and awareness. Her art doesn’t offer easy answers, but instead invites viewers to sit with discomfort, observe the materials, and notice what changes inside them.

I work with natural pigments and sustainable materials, honoring the earth and challenging conventional art practices that contribute to environmental harm.

To learn more about Ana, visit the links below.

Rogui Martínez Oñate on Imagination, Identity, and Staying True to the Dream

From a young age, Rogui Martínez Oñate knew she wanted to make art. Growing up in Mexico, she remembers being inspired by Martha Chapa and dreaming of the day she could share her own heart through painting.

Now a surrealist artist with international exhibitions and brand collaborations, Rogui’s work captures emotion, playfulness, and layered meanings through bold imagery and mixed media. She credits Leonora Carrington as a significant influence, admiring how Carrington’s paintings carry both mysticism and quiet strength.

“Life and women are my main inspiration.”
—Rogui Martínez Oñate

Rogui believes that art is about expression, experimentation, and staying connected to your roots. Her paintings often feature female figures, animals, or hybrid forms that tell stories rooted in mythology, identity, and the unspoken.

“Each painting tells a story and reflects the artist’s emotional state,” she says. “I like when the heart speaks through art and people take away something different each time.”

Learn from my students and my own fears. Every day life gives you a lot of learning.

To learn more about Rogui, click on the links below.

While Juliet, Ana, and Rogui come from different places and work in various mediums, their stories echo a shared truth: creativity isn’t a straight path. It’s a process that changes with life, loss, growth, and curiosity. Sometimes it’s quiet. Sometimes it demands everything. But it always finds a way to surface—through a canvas, a design, a film, or a handful of earth-toned pigments.

They show us that making art is not just about beauty or success. It’s about trying things out, letting the work lead the way, and holding onto what matters, even when the road ahead feels unclear.

Their advice? Don’t wait for everything to feel ready. Stay open. Keep asking questions. Let the process surprise you.

And most of all—don’t stop making.

Stay tuned to the Women in Arts Network for more stories amplifying diverse, powerful contemporary art voices. Visit our website and follow us on Instagram.

Comments

  • No comments yet.
  • Add a comment

    🎊 Let’s Welcome 2025 Together 🎊 Flat 25% off!. View plan