Teacher, Artist, Entrepreneur, Los Angeles, USA

Meeting Ms. Sonia Stiplosek in Los Angeles felt like a burst of inspiration. It was a much needed reminder on how to behave when you’re thrust into a new world, how to follow your curiosities and listen to your gut when you find yourself in a new country, city or community. Not only did Sonia embrace her recent move to Mexico from England, she opened herself up to perfecting a passion that was lying dormant for years.

“Bless the feet that take you to and fro.
Bless the eyes and the listening ears.
Bless the tongue, the marvel of taste.
Bless touching.

You could live a hundred years, it’s happened.
Or not.
I am speaking from the fortunate platform of many years,
none of which, I think, I ever wasted.
Do you need a prod?
Do you need a little darkness to get you going?
Let me be as urgent as a knife, then “ - Mary Oliver

1. Name.

Sonia Stiplosek.

2. Where is my hometown?

I am originally from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada 

3. What is your profession/title?

I am an English Language teacher and give online classes, but recently have been starting up my art business, so I am also an artist/entrepreneur. 

4. What did you study in school?

I studied English and History in university and then went on to get my Bachelor of Education, ESL Specialist Qualification, and TESOL certificate. 

5. What was the journey like to get where you are in life and career-wise?

As a child, I always wanted to be an artist. While other kids were playing with dolls, I was drawing horses on scrap pieces of paper. My parents felt that art was not a good career choice and actively discouraged me from taking art classes, so I decided that the next best thing was teaching. Learning new languages was always something that appealed to me. I seemed to have a good ear and picked up languages quickly so I decided to be a language teacher. I have taught English, French, Croatian, and Spanish over the years and it is still something I enjoy doing even after more than 20 years in the profession.

My teaching career brought me together with my husband, who came to Canada to study English. Due to his work, we lived in London for several years, and now, we are in Mexico. We initially lived in Mexico City, but the rising cost of living prompted us to move to the rural community of San Gaspar Tlahuelilpan in Metepec in the State of Mexico. Metepec has deep artisanal roots which reawakened my interest in arts. I believe that this move, more than any other, set me on my current artistic path.

Metepec is in an agricultural region with a deep connection to horses (one of my first loves!). “Charreria” is the traditional and beloved sport here, where cowboys known as “charros” show off their horse riding and herding skills. It is not uncommon to see charros working their horses in the fields and then cantering down the main street on Sundays to enjoy a taco or two at the corner taco stand. Parades and celebrations are common here throughout the year and the riders, both male and female, dress in elegant costumes mirroring clothing worn in Mexico in the early 1900s. Horses are adorned with silver embossed saddles and flashy headgear. Such scenes harnessed a perfect environment to inspire my artistic bent. I love to paint all animals, but my move here has immersed me in this new world where horses are a part of living history and they hold a special place in people’s hearts. 

6. How is your life different from what you pictured at 20?

I never imagined myself living in Mexico. Especially in a remote region where it often feels like I have stepped back in time. I currently live approximately 45 minutes from Mexico City, but it is a very different reality from the chaotic and rushed life of the capital of Mexico.

I live in the Mexico most tourists never see. Many of my neighbors still cook over open fires in their yards and draw water from a well for their household uses. It is common for the locals to live in very close quarters to their livestock and sell their fresh milk or eggs in the mornings. Celebrations (which are incredibly common considering the size of my village!) are open to all and frequently take place outdoors on the village streets with local musicians providing the entertainment while firecrackers explode day and night. Internet was a luxury we had to wait nearly four years to receive as service did not extend to our area.

It was a huge culture shock for me in the beginning, especially as we moved here almost directly from London, but now I find comfort in the modest lifestyle I see all around me. To be clear, not all of my neighbors live in such a manner. Mexico is a land of extremes. There are some neighbors who live in grandiose homes, with the latest cars and fashion trends. Just a few minutes from my village you can find gated communities with homes that rival the wealthiest neighborhoods in Canada, but I like to think my husband and I live somewhere in between these two extremes.

7. Was there a time when life knocked you down or out and how did you get back up on your feet?

When we first arrived to my village in Mexico I had a severe case of culture shock. I couldn´t communicate well with my neighbors, I had no friends as of yet, and my husband worked long hours in the city, often travelling out of state for work. I didn´t know what to do with myself. In London I had a job I loved, many friends, a culture I was familiar with. Here I was alone most days in a small rural village where the locals did not speak any languages I knew. I was homesick for London. I was homesick for Canada. I became very depressed. Nothing held interest to me. This went on for months.

And then, one day, I got a feed on my Facebook account about a Dutch artist who specialized in acrylic pours. It piqued my interest. I watched her YouTube videos on repeat. It was like a spark igniting inside me and it was at that moment that I knew I had to pick up my paints again. A strong wind had blown into my sails, steering me in a new direction in life.

I began to experiment with different mediums and styles. I started to sell some paintings which helped me gain confidence. I took workshops with Mexican pastel artist, Edith Ruiz, whenever I could save enough money to attend her intensive classes. I integrated more and more with Mexican society. I no longer felt separate, but rather a part of a greater culture. I had found my place and purpose in my life.

9. Knowing what we know now in a current political climate, can women be ´all that we can be¨ in today´s world? What is the way forward, as you see it, for “feminist values”?

This is a difficult question, and it saddens me to say that this is not possible at present in many areas of the world. Patterns are difficult to break, even in what are perceived as modern societies, with women themselves often falling into old patterns of self-sacrifice and submissiveness. How many women have willingly given up on their dreams in order to tend to a house or take care of the children? How many women have accepted lower salaries because it is just a given that men are paid more for the same kind of work?

There are regions where there is greater equality between the sexes and these countries, such as Sweden and Iceland for example, give hope. However, until women realize that they hold power over themselves and unite all over the world, there will be no real change in the near future. In Mexico, women are striving to make changes through protests and marches. Rather than supporting them, they are mocked and ridiculed by the government, by men, even by women themselves. It is very difficult to change societal expectations.

Women can only shine in societies where they are permitted to do so and this involves a fundamental shift in the way people think.

10. Where in the world do you feel ¨tallest¨?

For me, my happy place is while exploring nature. I love to walk. 10, 15, 20 kilometers a day while hiking is the perfect way to spend my free time. My parents fostered this love of walking in nature. Weekends were often spent exploring the outdoors and connecting to the natural world around us. It is my place and time of peace, where ideas and inspiration come to me.

Currently, I am unable to do this activity as it has become very dangerous in the region I live in. Kidnappings and robberies are very common in more isolated areas and organized crime has blocked off entire regions. It makes me very sad and frustrated to know that activities I did just a few years ago are no longer possible. Now I do my walks while on vacation in other countries. At home, I tend to my garden and try to create my own little natural haven where I can escape and recharge my batteries.

11. What extracurricular activities/hobbies are you most proud of? Why?

I am proud of the way in which my artistic skills have developed over the last three years or so. Many people say that it all comes down to talent, but really, talent plays a small role in how skills develop. It involves a lot of practice and trial and error. I often post paintings on my Facebook page, but what people don’t realize is that quite a few end up in the trash in between the good ones I choose to share.

I am most proud of my advancement in the artistic sphere because these past three years have been a personal challenge for me to catch up on all the years I never picked up a brush or pastel stick. Only recently can I say that I have discovered my style and a preferred medium. I now feel like I can show people the way in which I see the world around me.

12. What do you want for the future in terms of goals and challenges?

I definitely would love to set up a business based upon my art. Prints, commissions, perhaps even merchandise featuring my designs. I have given art classes in the past and enjoyed them immensely, so I would also include giving workshops in my business plan. This whole undertaking is a huge challenge for me. I feel like I have mastered the artistic side of my plans, but now I must learn the business end of it. Hopefully it won´t take another three years to get my business off the ground!

13. What fears are you still hoping to overcome?

My biggest fear is that of failure. At home, as a child, I was always expected to succeed at everything I did. Failing to be ´the best´ had negative consequences. My rational mind now knows that through failure we learn and move forward. It is not something to be ashamed or fearful of. The little voice inside my head, though, still hears my parents´ words and it makes me hesitate to try new things.

14. Anything you would do differently, if you had another go at life?

No, I don’t think I would do anything differently. Life is a journey and I wouldn´t be where I am now if I had followed a different path. Yes, I have made mistakes. Who hasn´t? And yes, I sometimes think that I should have taken this or that opportunity when it appeared, not done this or that thing which turned out to be not the wisest decision. But then I realize that my choices have led my down my own personalized path and forged me into who I am now. I would not change that awareness for anything.

15. What inspires you?

Beauty in nature inspires me. The way the light hits a flower petal, the soft murmur of wind in the trees, the sun gleaning off of the feathers of a bird in flight. I am not a city girl at heart. My soul beats for this wonderful natural world we have been given. All things man-made are superficial and temporary. Nature is eternal and I hear its beat.

16. What are you hopeful about?

My biggest hope is that mankind is reaching a new awareness and that we will be able to save this planet for future generations. This world is finite and we cannot keep treating it as though it were expendable. I see the move towards renewable energy instead of fossil fuels and it gladdens my heart. Children are taught to treat animals and the environment with respect. I hope that this new and awareness catches on all over the globe and that we can learn to live with, as opposed to against, the natural world.

17. What are some ingredients to a good life? Has the pandemic changed your perspective about the world, about your life, your goals and dreams?

For me, the ingredients to a good life are simple: finding balance between your work responsibilities and your private time, appreciating what you have, and learning to accept yourself for who you are. There is a lot of negativity in our world and if we focus on that, it will slowly poison our happiness. Instead, one has to find the positive around us. It is there, but we have been trained not to see it. For me, the pandemic allowed me to slow down and focus more inwardly. The pandemic was a pause button which forced me to reevaluate what I want or don’t want for my future. It gave me greater clarity and the drive to accomplish my dreams.

18. What are three qualities you love about yourself and why? What are your superpowers?

Three qualities I love about myself are my honesty, my simplicity, and my zealousness. I cannot tolerate pretense in people. I don’t understand the need for deception in our society. We are inherently good people and we should not be afraid to express it.

19. What advice would you give to your 14 year old self?

Be true to yourself and never compromise on your happiness.

20. What are you reading now? What are your favourite reads?

The Devil´s Daughter by Lisa Kleypas. I enjoy romantic novels as they touch upon a topic I have always been very curious about: what is it that makes people click aside from the physical/chemical attraction? Why are we drawn to one person and not another? Lisa Kleypas really expands on this concept and she writes in such a way that her characters leap off the page and become neighbors, acquaintances, and friends.

21. Who is a WOW woman in your world who inspires you and why? Who would you nominate and what would you tell them if you had the opportunity as to why you admire them?

The three women I admire most have all passed through a very similar situation and have somehow found the strength to recreate their circumstances and shape a new life for themselves. My sister, Gordana, and my friends Kathy and Edith, have all gone through difficult divorces. They went through a very dark period of self-doubt and uncertainty where they had to start their lives from scratch.

I admire their courage in doing what they felt was right for them and staying true to course. It is not easy to leave a known situation, however uncomfortable, and jump into the unknown. I admire their willingness to take the risk and also their perseverance in creating a better life for themselves. They have always been an example of strength to me and are a beacon of hope to anyone living in a less than ideal situation.

22. Where can others find you/your work?

Facebook. Sonia Stiplosek Fine Art- Specializing in Animal and Human Portraits

Instagram. Sonia Stiplosek Fine Art: @ssiso1970