Hi We recently connected with Maria Brunner Ventura and have shared our conversation below.
Maria, appreciate you joining us today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?
Yes, my work could be misunderstood because the process begins with what many might consider to be a throw-away image, mistakes or accidental shutter clicks appearing on the camera roll. Oftentimes, there are digitized forms that either remind me of something, attract me with shapes and colors, or invite me to play. And, there are digitized forms that appear from my own deliberate movements with a light source while managing the camera settings.
There’s a bit of scene interpretation happening on my part, simultaneously while intuiting and moving with the camera. These artworks are not a result from planning but from seeing and non-attachment (mostly) to the outcome. The resulting images are demonstrative of what I like to see; they are unexpected visual gifts awaiting further investigation and design.
My works are co-creations with the light of the sun, movement and pixels (fire, air, earth). Creating them and looking at them bring me deep satisfaction–and, that is the personal insight–to work authentically and intuitively—and towards your own sense of nectar. Finally, I feel the deep sense of accomplishment while looking at something that came from a collaboration with destiny.
Maria, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I embraced photography through my love for the stories told through rock music, music videos, concerts and cinema. These sensoried experiences are important to my growth and energy–and for creativity.
I offer an invitation to release, to be present, and to trust in the energy of the collaborative creative process, a process that might feel like a visual echo of emotion or a memory—and the experience of working with the energy of it all. Each piece I create is part of a conversation between light, movement, and intuition. Prints of the work may be ordered online and I’m available for local portrait sessions.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
I have a few memories from my teens, when I first felt interest in the art form–photographing my sister with a box fan turned towards, her creating more movement for clothes and hair, setting her up with the sunlight pouring through the window blinds and seeing the stripes of light on her face, and even asking her to jump so to catch her in mid air. It was a rush of creating a scene and she was game!
During that time, I wish I would have focused more energy on practicing/shooting/honoring my ideas vs, reading about it, focusing on my then-perceived limitations, or having concerns over wasting film. It’s those hundreds of hours of woodshedding that result in finding my unique voice as an artist. Resource wise, I would have prioritized the management of my files from the very beginning, creating folders, employing rating systems, face ID, and back ups.
Our home in Altadena succumbed to the fires and with it, thousands of images earmarked for future projects gone, reminding me that time is also a resource, if a project idea comes to mind–jump on it! Or, at least make as many notes possible and prioritize its completion. Ideas are universal, if I don’t follow them, someone else will do it.
Ultimately, our own determination as well as the unending passage of time, are both valuable, and often ignored resources.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect is hearing someone tell me that they appreciate my work and have it displayed at their home. And, it’s even more rewarding when I hear that the images invite a specific emotion or feeling. It’s the ultimate validation-and a humble teaching, and I doubt that that feeling will ever become old.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mbvimaginative.com
- Instagram: @brunnerventuraphoto
Image Credits
All Artwork by Maria Brunner Ventura