Artist Interview: Lela Amparo

Lela Amparo is a multidisciplinary visual artist who uses machine learning to blend photography from her travels into otherworldly scenes. Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona and currently residing in Gothenburg, Sweden, the artist bridges the gap between her two worlds by taking familiar landscapes and different cultures and adding a touch of surreal.

With over 11 million streams as an ambient music producer, Lela combines her art and music to create immersive experiences that transport us to another dimension. The artist is represented by MTArt.

We asked Lela about her art, creative process, and inspirations.

*Digital Art by Lela Amparo: A different kind of frost*

Can you tell us about your background as a digital artist? How did you get started in this field?

Back in 2018 I moved from Arizona to Norway, and during this time I had documented the entire process through photography. From outdoor adventures to car rides home, I always had a camera with me but at some point this slight sadness hit me when I realized all of these photos would sit on my hard drive and not really see the light of day. While this was taking place, I was uncovering the world of machine learning and was entirely hooked by the concept, along with exploring data sets.

One day it struck me that I could organize my landscape photography into various sets. For example, “Northern Lights” or “Arizona Sunsets” and through this, I then experimented with merging these photo sets into something entirely else and more on the experimental side of things. That was my first jump into the world of digital art – a total accident but one I’m thankful for.

*Digital Art by Lela Amparo: At the soundless dawn.*

What inspires your art? Are there any particular themes or subjects that you enjoy exploring through your artwork?

Landscapes and places that bring a sense of peace are always at the heart of what I make. I want to create a visual space that expresses a place or memory I’m fond of, while also giving the viewer a sense of calm and intrigue. Coupled with this are the color palettes I like to intertwine into my work. You’ll often find purples and various shades of oranges found in each of my pieces, and at first it was the by product of my photography but now it’s become a staple that I incorporate into everything I make.

*Digital Art by Lela Amparo: First Rain*

Can you tell us more about your otherworldly landscapes and zen environments? What’s your creative process like?

The process has shifted over the years and was quite basic and raw at first, but as of late I’ve moved into using TouchDesigner coupled with digital collage techniques in Photoshop to create the most recent visuals. I love the feeling of establishing a scene that looks familiar, such as an arctic tundra, and then placing an object like a portal in the middle of it. For me, this is a nod to my every day life in the sense that my family and friends are in southwest while my new life is here in Sweden and in order to connect with them, it’s a merge of two very different worlds.

Can you tell us about some of your favorite pieces and upcoming projects? What makes them special to you?

One of my favorite pieces was my first, it’s called, “Memories From A Past Life” and was more glitch art looking than anything else, however the process was a result of 1,000+ images being trained into the final result. From the color palette to the twist and texture, it was the first time where I felt that this is a creative field I need to keep exploring.

*Digital Art by Lela Amparo: Memories From A Past Life*

Aside from that, I’m very geeked about a new series I’m working on for the upcoming months. I try to split my visuals into two halves – one for the spring/summer and one for autumn/winter. This new series is more rooted in animated visuals but they’re all first created from a still photo, and then manipulated, destroyed and re-created within Touchdesigner. In specific, this upcoming series centers around the concept of Higan and the melancholic feeling that is often found throughout the later months of the year.

*Digital Art by Lela Amparo: Into Some Spirit World.*

What do you find most fulfilling about working with machine learning to create art?

I would have to say it’s the unknown – that feeling of not knowing what to expect gives me so much joy. Often times I’ll have tens of thousands of pieces created but only one really resonates, and that’s due to the creative process of training an endless amount of visuals, without any certainty of what I’ll get back.

Generative techniques within any creative field really captures my attention, and what I’ve learned from digital art I’ve begun to apply to my music as well. Last winter I had a residency at Frameless London and aside from having a massive visual canvas, I also was able to pair a 14 minute generative audio piece that accompanied the visuals. Being able to bring my work to life in this other dimension has been wonderful and am hoping to create more music for future pieces.

*Digital Art by Lela Amparo: Mesquite Imprint*

Have there been any surprising or memorable responses to your work?

One of my favorite reactions was during the residency at Frameless, on opening night I hid within the crowd just to listen in to people’s responses. At one point, this couple sat on the ground for a 360 view of the entire piece and sat there debating with one another about what the art meant. They had made such great points, that even I as the artist hadn’t connected – it was such a fun thing to hear!

*Digital Art by Lela Amparo: Only Good Times Ahead*

What is a profound childhood memory?

I had to spend some time reflecting on this one, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was those in-between, micro moments. For example, the relief and excitement I felt as a kid when the summer/winter storms would move in across southern Arizona and the beauty that accompanied them. Hearing the distant thunder or having the pitch dark sky lit up by endless lightning strikes – those sights and sounds are burned into my memory forever and something I hope my children get to experience one day too.

What else fills your time when you’re not creating art?

Prior to my daughter’s arrival last year, I often times would keep myself busy with other side hobbies (Cheap Nordic Houses for example) but ever since she showed up, I love doing any and everything with her. Whether it’s making noise and listening to music or enjoying her favorite park, whatever I can do to make her laugh and smile is my main goal. I want her to be able to keep her curiosity for as long as possible, enjoy her surroundings and one day for her to hopefully find a creative outlet(s) like I did and for it to be the thing that introduces her to an entirely new and beautiful world.