My name is Laura Lopez, I’m from Medillin Colombia, and I currently am a student at Loyola University in New Orleans. I study graphic design and studio arts, and I’m an artist.What type of art do you do?

I like to do all types of art, but the work that I have done are paintings, drawings, sketches, digital art and animations. For graphic design I do logos fliers posters and brandings[CEM1] .

When did you first start doing art?

I feel like I’ve always liked art sense I could remember. My first art class was with clay and we made little clay models. I made a farm out of clay and at the end of the year we presented it. Ever since I was little everyone would say I was artistic. I always knew what I wanted to do.

Do you have a name as an artist?

My artist name is Amazro. I came to the United States 11 years ago. I was 11 years old when I moved here. It was a big culture shock. Since I wasn’t able to travel back it felt like I was losing part of me. I was learning this new culture learning a new language meeting all these new people, but I left everyone behind and couldn’t go back to it. I wanted to pay homage to my roots and my home. The Columbian flag is yellow blue and red. In Spanish those colors are Amarillo, Azul and Rojo. I took the first two letters from those and combined them.[CEM2]

What’s next for you?

I’ll be graduating very soon, in May! I’ve been focused on graphic design and haven’t had the time to advance in my traditional art skills. I want to go back to painting and drawing. I want to get more into murals. I want to start creating the art I like, and that I think will resonate with people, and hopefully start sharing it. I want to put a smile on people’s faces. I want to go back to Colombia and make art that is inspired by people there. I feel like I have so much bottled up in myself and I’m pulled in so many different directions. I want to be able to fully explore most of them if not all of them after I graduate. I want to do murals, animations, paintings, sculptures, just so much.

Who do you live with?

I live with my husband, and my dog. He’s single and looking to mingle. He’s neutered so it’s safe.[CEM1]

Any hobbies?

Yes! I climb at the New Orleans Boulder Lounge, and outdoors. I just started reading about a month ago. I hadn’t read an entire book since High school. I feel so accomplished when I finish. I like going outdoors a lot. Just being in nature. I feel like we have very busy days and are always on our phones and computers inside.

What’s your favorite meal?

I’ve been eating a lot of roasted carrots and beets. I like to get really fresh ones from the farmer’s market. It’s so good.

Favorite meal to cook?

Oatmeal. My mom taught me how to make this oatmeal, you put lemon zest and honey in it while it’s cooking then add all the types of fruit you want in it. I usually wake up right before class so it’s an easy recipe that’s so good and filling. It’s nice to have lots of fruit for breakfast.

What does your tattoo mean?

I got this in January, it was my first time going back to Medellin Colombia, my home, since I left. I knew I wanted to get a tattoo. The entire trip I had time to think about it. I got this word tattooed on my chest “Maestro” it means master in English. It signified taking the power back – I feel like people tell you how to live your life. It might be your parents, your friends, or society. They may say you can’t do this or do that and believe that the things you want are too much to accomplish. I wanted to remind myself that I’m the only one that has the power to tell myself what I can and can’t do. I’m the master of my own future, master of my own happiness, and the master of my own universe. I guess a double meaning is that in older times you would call painters that were really good “maestros” so I guess that’s a goal for myself that I want to reach. I want to be an artist that’s accomplished and known as a maestro.