Today we’d like to introduce you to Quanaisha Stafford

Quanaisha, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?

As an only child, I spent a lot of time alone, so drawing was my way of creating imaginary stories, characters, and personalities. As the process evolved, it became more of an expression of self. A reflection of my growth with drawing and painting is the growth I sometimes understood and sometimes didn’t. It helped me know how I fit into the world, the world around me, and my identity. It also gave me a way to make sense of my emotions. Something that I’m genuinely grateful for. Like others, art allowed me to express my thoughts and feelings, both consciously and unconsciously; it gave me the space to explore my creativity. It was a way for me to connect with my inner self and others. As a result, it gave me a creative outlet to express myself in unique and meaningful ways. Drawing for years led me to learn how to paint. It is now a staple for me in my creative outlet, and it was a more transformative experience. Painting has been a way for me to express my emotions and thoughts without saying a single word. Through painting, I have discovered a new part of myself that I treasure: my imagination. Today, my art has led me to powerful black femininity juxtaposed against Mother Nature and all of her whims. The majestic and maternal blend of these elements allows me to paint in a manner that feels familial and familiar while my mind absorbs the energy of my surrounding environment.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

Becoming who you are with your art can be challenging as you pursue it. In other words, I want to be a person who loves art so much that I know it is part of who I am. There was a time when I thought I had to separate myself from my art and who I am, and when I did that, it would flourish on its own. What I had to learn was painting, and my art was who I was. That together was one of many layers of myself. I struggled with figuring out who I was and what I wanted to become. I often questioned who would enjoy my art or what kind of audience would gravitate toward me. Still, I realized through those challenges that my art was just there for me, never to judge, but to mirror my self-identity. Through my art, I could truly express who I am, my thoughts, my emotions, and my experiences. It allowed me to connect with others more profoundly, as they could see a piece of themselves reflected in my work. I discovered that embracing my art is an extension of myself.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

I am a painter, and I take pride in creating art that conveys a message that others can relate to and understand. It’s incredibly rewarding for me as an artist when people see my work and feel a connection to it. Through channeling my creative energy and vision, taking risks, and pushing myself to new heights, my art has evolved. Trusting in my work and the creative process has led to the development of my current series, “See Yourself,” which includes both individual pieces and conceptual works. Having confidence has given me the courage to take on more challenging projects, which has been vital for the advancement of my artistic career. Producing pieces that reflect my true potential has allowed me to take pride in what I’ve accomplished, and the true reward for me is being able to impact others through my art. My art has enabled me to reach a wider audience and create more meaningful work. It has also given me the confidence to take risks and experiment more with my art. For these reasons, I am deeply grateful for the opportunities and responsibilities that come with being an artist.

I am reaching the goal of showcasing those hiding sides of ourselves as I strive to create images that express the beauty and love that each and every woman I have ever known has shown. Through my work, it is my mission for women to find solace, to strip away the feelings of isolation that many of us feel, and for a young girl to one day see my work and feel seen.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?

Passion is the most important thing. I believe it is a characteristic trait that is important because no matter what you do or how you feel, passion will keep you up at night, almost like a nagging feeling. Passion helps to form my vision for what I do it for and why I do it. My passion drives my success because I see it for what it could be. I see my art for what it could be, not what it is. So, I practice my skills daily, learning new techniques, creating different pictures, and throughout finding things about myself. But how did I find my passion? It was a journey of self-discovery, trying out different things, and reflecting on what truly made me happy. My passion helps create a vision of who I want to be, and I grow more vital with each painting and each new thing I learn. Passion was not just a characteristic trait; it was the driving force that propelled me to create art that transcended boundaries and touched the soul. And as I continued to paint, my passion blazed brighter with every stroke, illuminating my artistic path.  

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.quatroarts.com
• Instagram: Quatro_banz