We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ariana Perez-Acuna a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ariana, appreciate you joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

Ever since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to make art for a living, and my parents knew that as well. I remember the plethora of sketchbooks they would purchase for me to fill out from the moment I could pick up a pencil and start scribbling. I even recall them bringing pencils or pens with them whenever we ended up in a restaurant with those paper sheets over the tables just so I could draw on them. There was never a moment where I did not draw. They also signed me up for art classes and even summer camp art programs so I could learn even more about other art styles and techniques, and I could never thank them enough for that. I am very thankful for my parents for their constant support for my artistic journey. I am thankful that they never pressured me into pursuing any other career or hobby. From the very beginning up to now, they have always cheered me on with every piece of artwork I made, and their continued encouragement and love is what keeps me going.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Ariana, but everyone calls me Ari, and I am a 2D character designer. Before I got myself into this position, I should start from the very beginning. I’ve been making art ever since I was a kid, and it has always been a passion of mine and dream to be a well known artist. I started taking art seriously about seven years ago. By seriously, it meant learning more about the human figure, anatomy, poses, angles, color theory, and much more. I created a profile on social media to display my artwork and share it with others on that platform. I started by uploading photos of my traditional art including school projects, personal designs, and much more. For my 21st birthday, I was gifted my very own digital drawing pad, a Wacom Cintiq specifically. This marked a drastic change in my art as I began to do more art digitally than traditionally. As my love for digital art grew, so did my skills and experimentation. Today, I am a digital artist focusing on character design. I work in programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and Procreate to create all of my artwork. Within my artwork I create highly fashionable women with the goal of bringing to light society’s views on women when it comes to fashion and expression. No matter your shape, size, or race, you are allowed to wear whatever you want, just as long as you love the way you look.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The fact that I can look at a blank sheet of paper or canvas or screen and bring my thoughts and imagination to life is beautiful. I love being able to draw my favorite fictional characters or even celebrities I admire. I can even create original characters and give them their unique backstories and personalities. Being able to bring my creations to life is the most rewarding part of being an artist. Anything I want to design or create, I just need to pick up my pencil – or digital pen – and start drawing.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Perfection. It’s something most artists struggle with. The thing is, there’s no such thing as perfection yet we all strive for it. Sometimes I never share artwork just because to me it’s not exactly right. This then leads me to getting stuck and eventually ending in an art block. Aside from this also comes imposter syndrome. When I’m scrolling through social media, I happen to find other people’s artwork that is simply out of this world, and then I realize this person is younger than me and the self doubt kicks in. “Should I have started earlier?” “Am I cut out for this?” “Their work is ten times better than mine!” All of these thoughts pile up in me, and it’s hard not to think like this. However, I’m learning everyday to not compare myself to others, to not be so hard on myself, to stop trying to reach “perfection”. I am doing my best to be better than I was yesterday. If I compare my art from the beginning of this year versus now, the improvement is beyond noticeable and I am proud of myself for never giving up.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ariperezacuna.myportfolio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ariperez.art/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariperezacuna/