We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Diana Contreras a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Diana , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
Earning a living through art has been an exciting and rewarding leap of faith. I quit my job a year ago and it was the best decision that I have ever made. As an artist, I get to use my creativity every day to solve problems and think outside the box. Whether it’s creating murals, commissions, doing live paintings, or collaborating with brands, there is always something new and different to explore. While it’s true that when you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work, being a full time artist does require discipline that becomes a part of your lifestyle. Despite all of the challenges, the joy of making a living doing what I love feels great!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I discovered my passion for art in elementary school and quickly began to excel, winning awards and even earning a scholarship. However, my college experience was different. I struggled to fit in with my professors and felt discouraged for years. I actually stopped painting for a few years. Nevertheless, I went for my masters and got back to painting. I found my confidence again and began painting for myself. I sold my first painting and haven’t creating since. I take pride in my consistent pursuit of excellence and my ability to make a difference through my art. I love donating my work to great causes especially for women and children. I am most proud of taking the leap of faith and starting my own art business and showing my kids the importance of following your dreams. My purpose is to bring joy through my work, I try to approach everything in a positive, bright, light hearted way.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Despite receiving harsh criticism in college about my art, I never gave up on creating art that made me happy. Though I did what was necessary to get a good grade, I continued to make my own art as a form of therapy. After graduation, I struggled to exhibit my work in galleries until I created a 15 ft mural of a beautiful strong latin woman in Wynwood, that changed everything. I had no experience with such a project, but said yes and worked tirelessly for two weeks, experimenting with materials and techniques until the mural was complete. The mural, named “Sofia Rose,” went viral on social media and led to interviews with Huff Post and gallery representation. Despite facing many obstacles, my resilience and determination to keep creating art paid off.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Once upon a time, I used to be scared of messing up in art. Whenever I drew or painted something that I loved, I would hyper-focus on that one part and forget about the rest of the piece. I thought that if I made a mistake, the whole thing would be ruined. But over time, I realized that this mindset was holding me back. I had to unlearn my fear of mistakes and learn to let go. I started to approach my art with a sense of playfulness and freedom, and instead of obsessing over every detail, I allowed myself to make mistakes and learn from them. I discovered that nothing in art is truly precious and everything can be fixed. With this new perspective, I now enjoy the creative process fully and fearlessly.
My newest collection is based off a big risk. I took a finished painting for my “Revision” solo show and cut up and sewed back together to create a soft scupture. It was a nerve-wracking experience, but it worked. The end result was my cocoon piece, a unique work of art that I fell in love with. Inspired by its success, I decided to create an entire collection based on this piece. I feel proud to have taken a chance and turned it into something beautiful. It’s a reminder to never be afraid to take risks and to always trust my instincts.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dianacontreras.com
- Instagram: @didirok
- Facebook: Diana Contreras Art
- Twitter: didirok.eth
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@didirok/about