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

Ariana, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

Well, I have always have had this ability since I was a young child and did not give much thought to its potential for my own personal growth. I just kept sketching and painting. I naturally became better. I never thought I would be an artist professionally. As far as what I could do to speed up the learning process you say? I think having focus and clarity to realize that this is your calling would have helped greatly! I believe understanding that being an artist also means being an entrepreneur. Having the strength to also acquire the skills that come with that role as well is vital in this industry. The demands of everyday life can get in the way. Not to mention, very few will sincerely respect you in the beginning which can be discouraging when you are still learning.

Ariana, 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?

I was born on the east coast in the US, raised in Mallorca, Spain. This craft has always encouraged me to come out of hiding. Even during grade school I had multiple teachers submitting my work without my knowledge to different competitions and exams. To my surprise I would win, and yet I continued to ignore the signs. Looking back, I’m grateful for what they did. It wasn’t until one of my brother’s agents who noticed my artistic abilities and quickly started putting me in touch with people when I moved from Spain to Los Angeles a few years ago. Once covid hit, it became clear to me that I was limiting my own abilities and needed to take my talents more seriously. The next thing I know, I had clients inquiring for commissioned portraits, originals, murals, and logos. Among other consultant work to help bring their visions to life, with a contemporary flare for their own businesses.

I think something that sets me apart is how I combine different elements that are not entirely obvious at first thought, yet it creates interest and style which is something I feel that my clients are attracted to, for it also invokes feeling in them as well. People see the care in the detail and the choices I make, that is evolving yet consistent throughout my body of work.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

For those who are not creative dominant, I think it’s important to understand that we do not think in a linear way. We think in spirals and bends off the beaten path. Along the way we collect gems and traumas alike to integrate into a display of discovery for you. This in turn has a butterfly effect on the viewer. It is the goal of the artist that you may use this spark to incorporate these internal discoveries into your own work, dreams, and desires. If this can happen continuously, well to me it is a profound sign of success in a community.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me personally, it is watching people’s reaction when they view my work. The light that comes to their eyes. I can see the wheels moving in their minds, the connections that are being made within themselves and whomever is experiencing it with them. I can feel what they are feeling.

Contact Info:

• Website: arianavictoria.com
• Instagram: _arianavictoria_
• Facebook: Ariana Victoria
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits
Sam Kong (dancer, songwriter) [email protected] IG: @heysamk Willie Jr Warren (actor, screenwriter) [email protected] IG: @itswilliejameswarrenjr