Today we’d like to introduce you to Marlene Jorge.
Hi Marlene, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I come from a hardworking Dominican family of seven children. I am an adopted child and even though biologically I did not inherit the art I can say creativity was a big part in my family. When I look back at my upbringing I remember endless days of family gatherings, my father beautifully singing, my brothers playing the guitar, or my uncle singing Silvio’s Rodriguez song at the compass of his guitar, my sister ballet’s concerts, etc. My mother said I showed an inclination to fine arts at a very early age, 4-5 years old. Yes, I was the child drawing on the walls blaming my little brother Carlos for it, I was indeed the wildly boisterous child among the seven, and my notebooks were filled with drawings, poetry or comics. I remember I was so abstract, extremely quiet. I would sit in the back of the room at school so I could dive into that fantasy world I constantly was drawing. I was a good student; however, I never picked up a book to study but was able to retain a lot in information and pass my classes with good grades with the exception on classes that I considered too boring for my creative brain. I was a tomboy, in a way I believe I still am.
My parents enrolled me in summer art classes at the Palacio De Bellas Artes in my beloved city, Santiago, however, they were singing and piano classes due to the fact that I was able to sing like an angel (per my father’s appreciation). I remember the times I sang at a family gathering at my daddy’s request. He always looked so proud of me maybe because since I was the little girl out of the seven I was the closest prospect to follow in his footsteps as a singer. He had such powerful vocals, a natural beautiful voice. His dreams ended the day words would not come out of my lips at one of his friend’s gatherings due to stage panic. Eventually, I was once again enrolled in painting classes but they lasted three months as I was spelled from the art academy when I told the art professor I was not going to draw the same still life subject for another three months, nor was I going to do the shadowing his way or remain isolated in a room with a bunch of other people because it was killing my creativity. I never went back to art classes. Time passed by I picked up drawing in my teen years, started experimenting on my own with carboncillo, sanguine, and pastel, and studying some amazing national artists like Candido Bido, Amaya Salazar, Elsa Nunez, and others like Picasso, Degas, Rembrandt, etc. When I reflect about my younger self, what I remember the most, is a big love for literature. You see, most people in my life would think I was specifically inclined only to Fine Arts but my biggest love was literature, and I wanted to become a nonfiction writer. My love for literature was born out of seeing my dad writing peaches and going through several books in his office, I became an avid reader, I would a book in two days maximum. I was greatly mesmerized by the power of words, how they could touch your soul and transport you to a magical plane faster than what looking a at painting could accomplish. I remember how much I loved the sound of my dad’s typewriter reason why I learned from him how to type and write speeches.
Was this love what inspired me wanting to pursuit a career in the communications field, however, at the time this was only possible by enrolling at one of the capital’s universities, and just like an art school (Altos de Chavon), the commute was too far, I would have to live outside the city in campus to which my mother was not to. I ended up enrolling at Law school because, in my mind, somehow it combined my two favorite things, writing and reading, plus I could help others. After starting college painting was no longer a priority, and life happened, I was married, moved to NYC, and for over 10 years or probably more I did not paint more than I few times until 2007 when I moved to Marbella & Miami and started doing private commissions. In 2009 returned to NYC and decided to take summer art classes at SVA after a month into it I was advised by my painting processor to start showing my pieces in the Soho galleries so I began to be part of several art shows, and in 2013 I moved to Austin, TX and two years later I started establishing myself as Muralist. In the process, I collaborated with several non-profit organizations in the area, did many private commissions and commercial work participated in several art shows and traveled to other states to do commercial & private murals.
Currently, I live in Salado TX, where I have focused myself in commercial interior designing /renovation & rebranding as well as graphic designing with a focus on wine branding.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of my really good friends in NYC mentioned to me a couple of weeks ago when I participated in a digital art exhibit in Times Square, NY, that most people will think that stroke good luck but they would never see or know the amount of hard work, determination, the time invested, the energy, the hope that lead to that specific moment, but he followed my trajectory since NYC and knew all work behind everything I have done everywhere I moved to. No, It has not been a smooth road at all. There have been so many roadblocks, closed doors, so many tears, impotence, frustration, self-doubt, and solitude. The doors I knocked, all the sleepless nights working on my pieces while holding an 8-5 job, through sickness, personal problems, laid offs, sometimes we nobody by your side, no family around. So many laughter, so many plans, dreams, wonderful souls encountered in my path and so many gone from it. Texas has been the ground where I decided to blossom even when at times, I just wanted to leave it all behind and move to another city, it has been the state where I stayed the longest and has taught me so much about myself, life and confirmed and golden rule I guide myself by that stated: “The good you out there will always come back to you in a full circle”.
I think the biggest obstacle on this road has always been that I am a neurodivergent artist. I have endured Chronic Depression since I was a little girl and it has been a constant cloud over my life. It is an everyday battle, a battle sometimes you don’t know if you will win but you try your best. I know most people’s perception about me is of a girl who is always smiling, laughing, and creating but most of them would ever imagine how hard and heavy, at times, is to fight against it depression, and for being such a long battle in my life is that I learned how to see it approaching beforehand, and deal with it without medical treatment. I changed my lifestyle, I work out, do yoga, I am careful with the atmosphere where I live, the people I surround myself, etc. It is truly difficult to pull yourself up, push yourself, and believe in yourself when there is no energy to do, is a real struggle but their nothing faith can’t help us overcome. We are all given a big spirit to accomplish great things it’s just time, work, faith, and love to find that energy and hold on to it so you can keep accomplishing your destiny on earth. My advice to anyone out there enduring any kind of illness is, Please, do not give up on yourself, and to those dealing with depression like me, please, do not quit on life, do not give up, let this world see the beauty God created you to be. I love you all.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Well, this one is complicated because since I moved away from my country. I worked in so many things, doing so many different jobs, I have to say the one I enjoyed the most was working as a Software Engineer for Verizon Telematics, and it was because a great team and I am the kind of individual who likes to learn new things every day and technology grants you that, specially in the telematics field. I what sets me apart will be having a great attitude while dealing with lots of emotional and professional stress. I am always laughing or singing or dancing lol, maybe the cultural background since my Dominicans are very happy people, regardless of how hard they get it in life, and also it is the fact that living with depression has trained me to focus on the positive and find the good in people and things even when is hard to do so. I always been known for my determination, hard work, honesty, friendliness, independence, loyalty, and creativity, some say I am a smart ass but I like to think I am just a fast learner with a great eye on detail, I have always been the leader type so I am great working alone even though I enjoy working with others.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I do not necessarily believe luck has much to do with all I have experienced as an artist, in a professional and in a personal level. I was raised by a very particular woman from which I learned that when truly and passionately want something in life, whatever it may be, you should and get. She always would tell us, in your life, you must always think big, picture yourself accomplishing big things, for simplistic you may think they are, you are responsible for being the best in anything you choose to. If you think small about you and your goals you will remain small while if you think big you will become big. You stay at the stature of your thoughts and image of yourself. She is a go-getter, extremely intelligent and all-around an alpha female, a successful businesswoman in everything she has done. So, I believe having a clear idea of who you are, your advantages and disadvantages, your calling, your dreams and goals along with impeccable work ethic, putting the work, will lead you to great accomplishments. In my opinion the greatest satisfaction one can get out anything in life is to be able accomplish our dreams and goals by our own hand, meaning that there might be opportunity to get ahead faster and through shortcuts that may compromise our integrity, morale etc,it depend what our core values are. In my case I am happy knowing everything I have done until this very moment I obtain by my own sacrifices, putting the work, and not losing sight of my values and dreams.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jorgemarlene.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marlenejorgeartist/
