We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ana a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ana thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I’ve always been a creative person and ever since I was a child, I’ve created art. This has continued throughout my whole life and in high school I even participated in art competitions. I’ve taken classes and painted and dabbled in photography for fun throughout most of my adult life. However, I was never able to pursue it full-time until I retired three years ago from the corporate world. I knew that when I finally retired, I was going to pursue a new career as a professional artist — but I didn’t know what type of medium I wanted to work in.

While employed full-time in the tech industry, I occasionally found time to explore various types and styles of art online. One day, I stumbled upon a video showcasing fluid art, and I was instantly captivated. This sparked a journey of researching fluid art, watching numerous videos from talented fluid artists, and exploring the diverse techniques available. It became clear to me that this was the artistic path I wanted to follow. In that moment, I realized I was destined to be a fluid artist.

I come from a family of photographers. My great aunts, who were my grandfather’s sisters, were well-known portrait photographers back in Cuba, where I was born. After they emigrated to Miami, Florida, post-Cuban revolution, they got their studio back up and running. They specialized in taking black and white photographs, which they then hand-tinted to create beautiful portraits.

Ana, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My business name is Saint Cross Art and I create original fluid art paintings for sale. I sell my paintings on my website, through art galleries in Denver, CO and Santa Fe, NM and I also take custom orders for specific works that allow me to tailor each piece to my client’s preferred colors, aesthetic, and space.

I hope that when someone views my art that they’ll derive joy from it. I love that people can uncover distinct elements within my paintings, often noticing shapes I didn’t even see. When someone hangs one my pieces in their home, I hope it continues to surprise and engage them encouraging viewers to explore unique shapes, patterns, and forms, making every interpretation personal and ongoing. That’s why I sign my art only on the back, that way, they can be hung in any orientation that the viewer desires.

My primary medium is called “fluid art”. Fluid art, also known as flow art or acrylic paint pouring, is an abstract painting technique that uses fluid mediums such as free-flowing acrylic paints and iridescent mica powdered pigments. To enhance the interaction and movement of colors, I incorporate various additives such as Floetrol, varnishes, and un-tinted paint bases. I manipulate the paint by using techniques such as blowing, tilting, swiping, and spinning to create the cool effects, including marbleized cells and intricate structures.

One of my favorite quotes is “The Painting has a life of its own. I try to let it come through” by Jackson Pollock and that’s because I’m passionate about fluid art because each piece offers the viewer a unique perspective as they perceive different shapes and patterns, as well as how the process balances my influence and control with the paint’s own unpredictable behaviors and revelations. No paintbrushes are used, just my hands and the interplay of the artistic ingredients plus the energy imbued from my physical actions.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to master fluid art as a serious medium and elevate it to the level of fine art. Many fluid artists create fluid art as a craft, and the pieces are usually quite small. That’s because the type of fluid art I specialize in, the Shelee Art Bloom Technique, originally developed in Australia, doesn’t necessarily lend itself well to large, art gallery-quality paintings due to the materials and physical level of effort required to produce this type of art. However, I’m striving to perfect this technique and deliver it in museum-worthy art form.

When I decided to pursue fluid art as my medium, I was completely new to this art form. So, I had to undergo extensive training to be able to create this style of artwork. Although it looks easy – it’s anything but. There are so many factors that play a part in creating a successful fluid art painting, including paint consistency—each color must match in thickness—and the specific formulas for mixing pouring mediums and cell activators. Understanding paint opacities is crucial for layering them correctly to achieve the desired look or effect, along with a solid grasp of color theory.

Additionally, mastering the technique of “blowing” is essential for effectively dispersing the cell activator over the base paints while developing an eye for composition amidst the spinning and tilting process. Even the weather can influence the final outcome; for example, in Colorado’s dry climate, fluid paints can thicken rapidly, posing a challenge. After countless hours of practice and many scraped paintings, I’m still learning as much as possible about my chosen medium and mastering my craft.

How did you build your audience on social media?

The process of creating fluid art is both entertaining and captivating to observe. My journey into this medium began by watching videos from other fluid artists, which truly hooked me. As a result, one of my first steps was to establish a YouTube channel where I document my creative process and share it with viewers. This approach allows me to direct interested parties—such as galleries and potential buyers—to my site, and when someone purchases a painting, they can also witness how their piece was crafted. Currently, I have 67 videos uploaded, featuring both long and short formats, and I’ve garnered over a thousand subscribers.

Although these videos are not designed as instructional content, I often receive questions and comments from aspiring fluid artists. Recently, I initiated a series where I invite someone from my circle who has no prior experience in fluid art to join me in my studio for a collaborative painting session, allowing them to keep the artwork they create. I’ve completed one session so far, and it has proven to be both enjoyable and fulfilling.

In addition to YouTube, I actively engage with my audience on Facebook, which remains a valuable platform for showcasing my art, as well as on Instagram. Occasionally, I also share posts on my personal Facebook page. I utilize Stories and Reels to enhance my interaction with followers; Reels, in particular, are an excellent medium for sharing my story and showcasing photos of my paintings and new creations. To deepen my knowledge and engagement within the fluid art community, I participate in six or seven fluid art groups on Facebook, where I contribute regularly.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.saintcrossart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saintcrossart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saintcrossart/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@saintcrossart

Image Credits

Photography By: Eric Hagemann, ©Solsticephoto LLC