We were lucky to catch up with Ariana recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ariana, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I’ve been a photographer for 17 years and I started exhibiting my photos simultaneously in my country and in different parts of the world.
Two years ago, I felt a calling to explore or add other tools to my work, and I wanted to paint them, which represented a risk for me because it was something I had never done before.

What seemed impossible in my mind began to happen organically and spontaneously after several months of self-doubt.
I started with markers on canvas using small photos I had taken, and I gradually became more confident, using larger photos.
My technique is painting in the form of lines and abstract shapes on printed canvas.

It turned out that not only did the lines and colors flow from my hands as if I had always done it, but I also realized that I liked and enjoyed the final result of the painting even more than the photograph.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

Originally a photographer by profession, I live in a continuous development of multiple visual disciplines.
As a Director of Photography for cinema, I developed exquisite taste and a versatile, intuitive visual dynamic with a futuristic and overwhelming vision that adapts to any style of visual creation.
My style led me to develop as a Creative Director for multiple visual and audiovisual projects with plastic art and cinema always as a standard.
My initial training in Photography and Film always led me to tell stories with light and darkness, developing a strong link with scriptwriting and creative writing.
“Many times my images begin with a story that occurs to me, if you covered my eyes I would still write poetry, I would still write with light”
With more than a decade of profession, today I fully dedicate myself to visual art. Below I leave some of my samples and calls.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I am inspired by visual trends such as pop art and street art.
I am interested in post-pop, new wave, post-punk culture and their aesthetics and artistic vision.
In the series that I send attached, I propose a human reconstruction through colors and textures, taking from these currents and making them my own.
I think of an opening to a new paradigm about beauty, about the look.
I propose to change our skin, to put on another one, I propose an awakening from the pineal gland, from the center of our brain.
Even if it is with 4 legs and an escape position in the middle or without a head, without feet, I think about the beauty that resides in that segmentation, in each part of these almost extraterrestrial characters.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The aspect I like most about being creative is that there’s always a different way to approach each of my ideas.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://arianagiovanakis.com
• Instagram: @arianagiovanak

Image Credits

Ariana Giovanakis