OLGA BRACAMONTES
Exploring the Arts
Portrait courtesy of Olga Bracamontes.
Architectural Designer at Orcutt Winslow
College Liasion Coordinator at NOMAarizona
Member of Designing in Color
Olga is a first-generation Mexican-American architect in training, with an interest in creating spaces that foster social justice, inclusion and opportunities for amplifying voices. She is among the founding members of NOMAarizona (the Arizona Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects), serving as the College Liaison Coordinator. She developed the chapter’s college program that provides students with mentorship, events and internship placement opportunities. For the last ten years, she has been mentoring both high school and college students through various organizations, aiming to assist the pursuit of higher education, especially for first generation students. Olga is also a member of Designing in Color, a collective of architects and designers that aim to diversity the way architecture is taught and practiced.
Inspiration
What inspired you to pursue martial arts (capoeira, brazilian jiu jitsu, kickboxing, painting, watercolor, Samba music)? How did you get into it?
Growing up I found myself drawn towards music and art, and through my curiosity I became a jack of all trades. I grew up playing the viola through the end of high school – so music has always been a part of my life. It wasn’t until college that I really dedicated more time to sketching and painting, and today art has become therapeutic for me. My interest in martial arts began in 2012 when I signed up for a capoeira elective class in college. It was through capoeira that I learned how to play Afro-Brazilian music, and as of the last two years I play samba with Samba de Cavalo. I have also explored other martial arts (such as kickboxing and Brazilian jiu jitsu) because movement was not only intriguing to me but also became an essential part of my well-being. My passion for martial arts is driven by its functionality, constant challenge and discipline that it brings.
Capoeira. Image courtesy of Olga Bracamontes.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Image courtesy of Olga Bracamontes.
Samba Music Performance. Image courtesy of Olga Bracamontes.
Olga Bracamontes, Ink on Paper. Image courtesy of Olga Bracamontes.
Olga Bracamontes, Sketch along Chicago Riverwalk. Image courtesy of Olga Bracamontes.
Olga Bracamontes, Acrylic on Wood. Image courtesy of Olga Bracamontes.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Workshop. Image courtesy of Olga Bracamontes.
Time Management
How did you manage to maintain your time with the sport and your artwork/playing music as a practicing designer?
As a working professional, I make sure to make time to stay active and create art/music, because all of those bring me happiness. Music, painting and martial arts have formed a huge part of my life and although I can get pretty busy through my involvement in other professional organizations, I always find ways to weave them into my schedule. Because I enjoy multiple arts, sometimes I dedicate more time to one over the other- that is my main challenge.
Ideas
You mentioned in your feature for Designing in Color that martial arts “challenges both your body and mind”, does this help especially while practicing architecture? Does it ground you? Does exploring different mediums of art (painting/sketching and music) help especially while practicing architecture? How?
It’s amazing how different arts impact my mind, whether it be in similar or different ways. When I started training Brazilian jiu jitsu (also referred to as ‘the gentle art’) two years ago, I immediately became fascinated with the way it challenges the mind and body alike. It is like having a dialogue, while your mind is thinking creatively in how to respond based on your partner’s movements. There can be several approaches to a technique, similar to how in architecture we can come up with several solutions to a problem. Brazilian jiu jitsu definitely keeps me grounded because it keeps my mind sharp through its problem solving. On the other hand, when I sit down to sketch/paint, it forces my mind to slow down and really observe my surroundings. Sketching allows me to notice the correlation among different elements while noticing the minute details of life.
Olga Bracamontes, Watercolor. Image courtesy of Olga Bracamontes.
Olga Bracamontes, Ink on Paper. Image courtesy of Olga Bracamontes.
Olga Bracamontes, Watercolor. Image courtesy of Olga Bracamontes.
Olga Bracamontes, Watercolor. Image courtesy of Olga Bracamontes.
Olga Bracamontes, Watercolor. Image courtesy of Olga Bracamontes.
Capoeria in Public Space. Image courtesy of Olga Bracamontes.
Resources
What are resources (equipment, influence, gyms, art mediums, instruments) that you use?
The beauty of martial arts is that it can be practiced anywhere! Capoeira is known to be found anywhere outside if you look around. Through capoeira, I was able to experience the urban environment in a different way because I would specifically seek for open spaces, with smooth surfaces, that would allow me to move around. However, with Brazilian jiu jitsu you would ideally need a mat to do most of your training. As for creating art, I use black ink and sketchbooks for sketching. My paintings are primarily watercolor, and some acrylic on wood. I’m currently exploring oil pastels and gouache, which is like a mixture of watercolor and acrylic.
Process
Can you show us a quick visual guide for your hobbies?
Watercolor step by step: I typically start by sketching out with black waterproof ink, which will prevent from washing when adding watercolor. Then I begin to layer the colors – staring with a light wash and slowly adding more color as I go.
Materials for Watercolor Painting. Image courtesy of Olga Bracamontes.
Watercolor Process. Image courtesy of Olga Bracamontes.
Capoeira Demo of 'meia lua de compasso'. Image courtesy of Olga Bracamontes.
Want to start #Painting, #Martial Arts, and #Music? Follow These Steps!
What are the bases to start martial arts, painting, and samba? What mediums/art supplies/instruments do you use the most? How do you get inspired? What do you hope to convey with your artwork/music?
When Covid started, I began training at the park by myself even though it’s not entirely the same because Brazilian jiu jitsu relies entirely on the eb and flow between two people. Some people use mats to train on, but I would train whatever drills I could on the grass – due to the hard surfaces. Capoeira on the other hand can be practiced wherever – in your room, backyard, park, anywhere that gives you just enough room to move around and you don’t need any equipment. The following are my go-to materials for sketching or painting: 1) black waterproof ink (Platinum Carbon), Lamy fountain pen, and paper for sketching 2) watercolor/gouache/acrylic paint, brushes and watercolor/mixed media paper depending on the paint being used. With sketching you will need to learn to ‘draw what you see’, the various shapes created by what’s in front of you and train your mind to not refer to the shape you assume the object to be. When it comes to learning music, it really depends on the instrument. Since I play a percussion instrument, my focus is a lot on rhythm, I practice by tapping my hands on the table/my lap or using the drumstick on the repinique (Brazilian drum).
In terms of rising concerns and problems (in the architectural profession) over the past year, what is one change that you wish would happen and it did not?
Academic institutions need to include the works of Black, Indigenous, Latinx and other people of color in their curriculum. Architectural education should no longer revolve only around White Eurocentric ideals and instead focus on dismantling White supremacy through diverse design and education.
Olga Bracamontes, Visual Art. Image courtesy of Olga Bracamontes.
