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Art Instructor Mahara T. Sinclaire speaks about the formula for her survival as an artist in the highly competitive L.A. art scene.

According to Sinclaire the path to artists’ success is getting to know the scene. “Going to openings you can imagine your work would fit there and getting to know the other artists…become part of the fabric,” she said. “Takes a while to understand the L.A. art terrain but you get a feel for it after a while.”

She has guest curated for the Downey Museum of Art and Long Beach City College and had a number of solo shows at galleries and Community Colleges. Her work has been published in ARTSCENE, ARTWEEK and the Los Angeles Times.

As an undergraduate at the University of California, Davis, she had the privilege to study under the guidance of esteemed artist Wayne Thiebaud. “That’s when I met painting and color…I loved it. That was when I became a painter,” she said transmitting uncontainable excitement.

Sinclaire currently teaches art at PCC and Glendale Community College in an adjunct capacity. During a relaxed break in her color and composition in 2D design class she shared her insights of being an artist in Los Angeles.

Photography student Mirna Reyes finds inspiration in Sinclaire’s class. “She makes you get excited about the work that you are about to do. I enjoy her attitude,” said Reyes. “Her love [of art] spills through, how she explains things when she talks about other artists, it’s amazing.”

As an artist Sinclaire realized the need to find a path to a job or a gallery and decided to pursue a graduate degree, receiving her MFA at CSU Los Angeles.

“It was my goal to be a college art professor,” said Sinclaire. “Also as faculty I get to touch base with some of the impressive artists that I’m honored to work with.”

Design Instructor Richard Osaka said Sinclair’s work has a sense of humor and whimsy. “Her characters are self-portraits and she works with epic mural-scale canvas,” said Osaka. “She also encourages students to make their work as personal as they can.”

Interim Dean of Visual Arts and Media Studies, Joseph L. Futtner said Sinclaire is a skilled and professional instructor and remarked on her involvement by inviting working professional artists in as guest speakers. “I had the opportunity to attend one of these sessions, and I witnessed directly the positive contribution this provides to the students,” said Futtner.

Sinclaire’s current project is a full-scale mural about poverty. She defines her style as representational and responds to social ills with satire. “My goal is to make something that is meaningful to other people,” said Sinclair.

She explores human emotion within the context of society. “What does it feel like to be part of the social experience?” she asked.

Regarding her inspiration, Sinclaire draws ideas from her regular life. “I like faces and emotion…my work has a narrative, there is a lot of storytelling in it,” Said Sinclaire. “Love the idea of having a big wall, a big project, colorful, human and hopefully inviting.”

Kelly Camacho, fine arts major, also complimented Sinclaire. “The class is engaging, [Sinclaire] makes it interesting with her personality and vibrant way of explaining things.”

Her advice to aspiring artists includes a to-do list: “Being an artist is about budgeting money and time, carve out the time to paint, being disciplined about your time,” she said. “Get in to it, invest in yourself, make art that is true to yourself.” A final key element: “Keep in touch with other artists in your class.”

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