Young Artist’s Sketchbook Serves as a Visual Journey of Her Growth

Share Article

First generation American Katharine Barahona shares her early body of work

News Image
This is my debut as an artist,” said Barahona, “and I want to show that the beginning is not always the prettiest, but there is still too much beauty to dismiss it.

Artist Katherine Barahona was taught at a young age to work hard for what she desired. This is the protocol she followed to finally be able to publish her first collection of artwork.

“Where’s the Pause Button to Life?” is a retrospective of Barahona’s early body of work and is what she attributes to helping her find a way to break through her artistic block. While furloughed during the COVID pandemic, Barahona turned the negative into a positive, as she filled the time putting together this sketchbook and reigniting her artistic passion.

“This is my debut as an artist,” said Barahona, “and I want to show that the beginning is not always the prettiest, but there is still too much beauty to dismiss it.”

Barahona is the first generation of her family to be born in the United States. Her parents, both Salvadorian, emigrated to New York City at a young age, where they worked hard and eventually moved to Virginia to open their own restaurant. This is where Barahona said she learned the value of hard work, and seeing her family’s humble upbringing, she strived for more. As she got older, Barahona began to focus on her art. Creating this book helped her overcome depression, and though she feels the work isn’t “gallery worthy,” she deems it the biggest stride she has ever made to following her own path.

“I’ve seen more milestones reached through my artistic passions than any other route,” said Barahona, “and I want to encourage others to believe in themselves and do things they never thought they were capable of.”

“Where’s the Pause Button to Life?”
By Katherine Barahona
ISBN: 9781663226884 (softcover); 9781663227027 (electronic)
Available at iUniverse, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the author
Katherine Barahona was born in 1995 in New York City, the first generation of her family to be born in the United States. At 10 years old, her chores included helping her parents run their restaurant in Virginia, by taking orders and helping to cook. Her parents hoped she would be a doctor or take over the family business. After some college, she decided against living out dreams that were not her own and began to focus on her art. Barahona began to share her work by painting on hats and jackets, and finally overcame a bout of depression and artist’s block by creating this book. To learn more, please visit http://www.iuniverse.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/823531-wheres-the-pause-button-to-life.

Share article on social media or email:

View article via:

Pdf Print

Contact Author

Ziggy Goldfarb
LAVIDGE
4803067065
Email >
Visit website