Artists have the power to change the world

Recently, I was featured in Issue 3 of Clover + Bee Magazine along with other talented artists and writers. The magazine also published our interview on their blog, and I thought you might enjoy it as well. In the interview, I share details about my artistic practice and much more!

C+B: Tell us about yourself, Ariana!

AT: Hi, I’m Ariana Tavares, a Brazilian artist based in Brooklyn, NY. I moved to NYC five years ago, and I rediscovered myself as an artist when I had just graduated from Architecture School in Brazil. After doing some soul searching and self-development courses, I realized art has always been my passion. So I started to take art lessons, and after a couple of years of developing my artistic voice, then began to sell my work.
In my spare time, I love to read books related to art, business, manifestation, and personal development. I also enjoy taking care of my plants, going on a walk with my dogs and husband, cycling when it’s warm, and skiing in the winter.

I often make time to visit botanical gardens and parks, which is where I gather most of the inspiration for my work. In addition to that, I try to visit as many art shows and openings as I can to expand my perspective of what art is.
People might not know I am Pisces, left-handed, and chocolate is my favorite food.

C+B: How has your relationship with your work changed since you first started creating?

AT: Since I started taking art classes back in 2015 and then making art, I could say that I am now more disciplined with my creative practice, and more aware of what inspires me. I value my time in the studio and do my best to take care of myself. It became clear to me that my energy level and health have a direct effect on the quality of my work.
And also, I value and respect my work more nowadays, because it can make a positive impact on people's lives and homes.

C+B: Share some details about your process for creating.

AT: My studio is in a spare bedroom in the apartment I live in with my husband and our dogs in Brooklyn, NY. Usually, I come to the studio to make art on weekdays, and once I am there, there is a ritual to get things started. I turn on the desk lamp, the cinema box, and the speaker. Sometimes I also light up a candle. Depending on my mood, I listen to Brazilian music, especially songs by Jorge Ben Jor, or instrumental music if I need to focus on something.
After that, I take the brushes, paints, palette and all the other supplies I would need to work with that day.
I also set up a tripod and my phone to document my creative process, which I use to record videos and take photos. Usually, I do some admin work in the morning, and in the afternoon, I paint for two or more hours, depending on the schedule.
Another part of my creative process is gathering inspiration and experimenting with new ideas, mediums, and surfaces. I make sure to include that in my routine, and as I mentioned, I usually go to parks and botanical parks on weekends.

C+B: What is the one accomplishment you most hope to achieve in your creative career?

AT: I have so many dreams for my creative career. But, if I were to pick one, I would say that it is to inspire the younger generation of artists to create no matter the circumstances and the background one might have. And, that it is safe to follow their dreams, regardless of what others might say.

Artists have the power to change the world and impact so many lives, and that can not be wasted.

If my work was a meal it would be:

Imagine having lunch in a new restaurant, and instead of looking at the menu to decide what you are going to eat, you take your plate and walk to a buffet - a food bar with lots of delicious options available. You take a quick look and decide: you are going to put on your plate only food that brings you joy. You focus only on what you like.
You notice the different textures, colors, details, smells, and flavors of what is on your plate. When you are eating it, you feel good. That is the feeling I would like people to feel when in contact with my work.

I would love to be able to share my work with:

I would love to share my work with Tarsila do Amaral, a Brazilian artist, if she were alive. Her work inspires me deeply, the colors, the subjects, and her famous quote: “I want to be the painter of my country.”
Besides that, she also lived abroad, so she would understand what it is to be an immigrant artist living in a foreign country and being proud of her origins.

If I didn’t paint, I would:

I am the kind of artist who loves experimenting with different mediums. With that said, I would love to explore sculpture. During Architecture school, I had to make models to explain and test an idea. So I believe it would be good to bring that 3D knowledge into my artistic practice.

My hope for those viewing my work:

My intention is that people feel a sense of joy and calmness when in contact with my art. I hope it makes them feel uplifted in any way.

Learn more about Clover + Bee Magazine here.