We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marisa DeMaria. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marisa below.

Marisa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I wrestled for years discerning if art was meant to be private in my life, something just for my eyes only. About a year ago, a friend and I had a combined art show at a local coffee shop, Solstice Roasters. We had coffee, wine, artist conversation, and sold our work. It was a life changing experience for me because I saw how many people came in and didn’t identify as artists, collectors, creatives, or enthusiast. But, after spending time with our work and talking about it, they told us things like “Wow, I think I can relate to this art now.” It was beneficial for all of us, we bonded and spent time nurturing our senses over art. In our fast paced world, that is needed. It taught me how important it is to bridge that gap between viewer and art, especially with abstract art, and how beautiful that transition can be. It was my first time taking my art public, and the most gentle but reassuring nudge to “keep going”.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I paint to challenge people to dig into that elementary understanding of what they see. Wherever their gaze drives them around my work, they will be pushed to consider the principles of art along the way. In the fast paced world we are endlessly immersed in, art is a timeless tool to ground people. No work is random, as even the most unexpected brushstroke is determined by intricacies of that moment that are dictated by the hand of that artist, whether they know it or not. Just as each piece is uniquely engineered by who thinks it into existence, each experience with the artwork is utterly original. I aim to provide that genuine experience by allowing the space to slowly and closely observe the very basic aspects of color, line, shape, and texture that form the fabric of the world around us. While art can simply be enjoyable and refreshing to see, it can also prepare us to patiently understand the countless images we encounter and process in our rapid and ever moving world. I very recently made the step to pursue art full time, and I am so excited to dedicate space to creating things for myself and my community.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

“Slow Looking” by Shari Tishman. This book really stopped me in my tracks and convinced me to slow down when creating, viewing, or sharing art. There is so much benefit to taking our time in our day in age. We want well rounded people in our society, and learning how to live and enjoy art will deepen our experience as humans. I’m truly convinced that everyone can enjoy the fruit of artists in one way or another, and it’s been a goal of mine to make that connection with art more accessible to everyone.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Everyone’s experience with a work of art is determined by a variety of factors and is completely original. However, we’ve built a culture around art, galleries, and exhibits that you have to have a certain level of knowledge, or particular status, to experience art. It is truly rewarding for me when someone who does not deem themselves qualified to interact with art can get something out of time with my work. It is beautiful to me when something so intimate and personal to me can mean something different but equally important to someone else. Art is a magnificent language, and I embrace the ambiguity of my paintings for that very reason.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.marisademaria.com
• Instagram: @arisamae.de