We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kátia Moraes. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kátia below.
Kátia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I definitely got inspired watching Italian singer Rita Pavone performing on Brazilian TV when I was a child. I also love observing my mom singing and listening to the radio while doing her house chores. But singer Elis Regina was my first inspiration.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Kátia Moraes and I was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. My mom, Rosa, a Portuguese naturalized Brazilian, made sure my sister and I were exposed to different kinds of Art since early age: piano, craft, dance, reading. I believe I carry a curious eye about all around me because of that. I worked as an actress/singer for many years before I moved to California where I continued performing, writing lyrics, poetry, short stories and dubbing. In 2010, my band of 14 years ended, and after moving to a new home close to a national park, visual art took fly. How? I simply allowed myself to finish a drawing every night, and after a few months I exhibited more than 80 pieces as part of my new live show. I’m happy to say I didn’t criticize my new adventure and followed my intuition. All arts complement each other and are make what I am. Colorful, musical, naive, primitive, wisdom and soulful are few words that my customers used to define what I create. Brazilian Heart Art is still a new adventure. First I sold a set of cards with images and quotes of my music lyrics. After the pandemic I found two companies online: one in India to transfer my images pillows and in canvases. Then another in North Carolina to make “all over print” t-shirts, dresses, sneakers, bags, etc. I still want to find a more environmentally conscious one so all products can be recyclable.
I’m happy to say I’m honored to had been invited to participate in three exhibits here in SoCal this year: Afro Latinx at La Vida Es Un Festival in August, Art Pavilion at Central Ave Jazz Festival IN September (a festival where I had performed with my band before), and Black Brown Beige at Watts Towers ART Gallery from September thru January, 2024.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Ah, good question. I grew up at a time in Brasil when art classes (craft, music, dance) were part of the basic curriculum of a child. To me, any society should offer the opportunity to expand human being’s ways of expression. Reading, dancing, drawing, painting, sewing, playing an instrument, singing, writing, (and knowing how to organize your finances too!) are all important aspects that create a healthy society.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Now, this is a challenging issue. Promoting my own art requires courage to accept that I need money to pay my bills. That’s why planning your financial life is important, and I wished I had had this education in my early life. My audience is linked to my musical life as a singer and actress.
I’m learning to ‘naturally” deal with social media like the new generation. I like many facets of it but i don’t want to set notifications for the apps. Those noises and vibrations make me crazy. I love quiet time to meditate, walk in nature, dance, read, write. These things are of extreme importance to expand my creativity flow. I think people glued to their cellular have the tendency to become anti-social, and my art has a vibrant energy that stimulates being aware of different cultures. I have to admit that I can not control the way the business and the world goes. The only thing I can do is to make sure my intentions are good, honest, and real. Posting about my art for sale is a big challenge. I’m a better artist than saleswoman. I keep posting on my primary facebook page, created @brazilianheartart at instagram, and opened extra pages for my visual art and poetry on my website (did I tell you a book publishing company in São Paulo wants to release my book?) I’m also learning how to recognize scams, and to understand that some people have interest in buying my art, but sometimes change their mind when there’s no automated buying page. I like to be the “middle person” in my own biz. The communication between me and the buyer teaches me to understand the biz. I’m learning. Many friends are paying for other people to promote for them, or paying websites to make the process easier and faster. Maybe one day.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.katiamoraes.com/brazilian-heart-shop-visual-art
- Instagram: @brazilianheartart
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/10154333008631167
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiamoraes
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGB94F6EzLAJpE6KI_CP9bA
- Other: My primary page on instagram is Brazilianheartmusickatiamoraes I don’t know why but soem of these pages do not have my name on the link.
Image Credits
Kátia Moraes