CARLOTYDES CONSTELLATIONS
Carlota Santos, uses the artistic pseudonym Carlotydes (which is a fusion between the Caryatids and her name). In her final year of Architecture, she is known for her illustrations and love of esoteric disciplines (such as magic, tarot or astrology) which she translates into beautiful works of art.
I began to share my sensitivity and art on various topics on Instagram from Confinement in 2020 and my account grew very quickly creating a very beautiful community that has allowed me to expand into many interesting projects such as my book and tarot deck. My book Constellations (Penguin Random House, 2021), is a guide on astrology written and illustrated by me, in which I pay tribute to the ancient astrology with many mythological references. I am also extremely proud and grateful for the response to my Tarot deck with the emblematic Fournier House of Cards.
Tell us about your biggest inspirations or influences.
I love medieval art, baroque theater costume illustrations, mythology, medieval alchemical and astronomical manuscripts, Renaissance Tarots… my references are usually classic but very eclectic.
Artists of the 20th century like Remedios Varo or Louise Bourgeois also inspire me a lot. I would like to start experimenting in other formats such as embroidery or large format shortly and they are great references. I am immersed in finding the right space to begin this experimentation, since I am very used to the small format, to detail, to meticulous work (a bit of a medieval copyist) and I want to launch myself and expand myself to larger and more expansive supports, even murals or tapestries. .
Tell us a little about your creative process.
I am always looking for inspiration even if it is unconsciously. I read a lot, and I always carry a little notebook to write down or rather draw everything that catches my attention and calls me. I like to pull the thread when something catches me and even if I don't use it at the moment, I know that at a certain moment it can be useful to me. When creating, I use all these elements, references and sensations that I have accumulated and I take out the ones that best suit what I need, as if it were a piece of furniture with many drawers where I can choose which one to open according to what I need.
I am not a person who sketches a lot. I usually go more to shot, a couple of quick composition schemes by hand and I start to draw the final one, that yes, it usually has enough corrections until I get to where I want.
How has the pandemic affected your creativity?
The pandemic undoubtedly meant a space and a time in which I needed to express myself and create to compensate a little for everything that was happening in my life at that time (both globally and personally). After all, I started sharing my illustrations and content in March 2020, so I owe a large part of this boom to this necessary hiatus.
Who do you consider an icon of our time?
An icon would say La Zowi or Bad Gyal. They are very free and creative women with a super defined aesthetic and very influential.
What does wellness mean to you and what practice?
Well-being for me is having a clear conscience and taking care of yourself. Feel happy with what you do and at peace. Being able to dedicate the time to work on something that you like and that the people with whom you relate is by choice and not by imposition.
Eating well and sleeping well, in the end I am very from earth and water (astrologically speaking) from being well on the physical plane to being well on an emotional level.
