Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Yanisa Torres . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Yanisa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
The day after my sister signed me up for an art show. I didn’t have much faith in my work. And went with a small collection of paintings. They all sold out that evening. It was the encouragement I needed! After this, I sold a painting for a fundraiser to help a single mother with her cancer treatment. Helping someone in need through art, gave me direction. That is when I knew to pursue art professionally.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Yanisa Torres and I am an artist of many crafts. I was born in Puerto Rico and currently live in Orlando. Always daydreaming, and never too attentive in the moment, I developed a creative mind growing up. Although my creative abilities were applauded, they were never encouraged as a way of income or a professional career I kept creating tho, as a hobby only until one day my sister did something that would change my life forever! She submitted my work to an artist competition, and my piece won! The event was set up and I had to present myself! That night I took my entire collection and sold every single one! It was the encouragement I needed to pursue art! Still, I didn’t have direction. I knew I didn’t want to just paint, and just sell. I desired deeply to make an impact, not just an artistic impression. I wanted to get involved in the community through art, and help others.
I was presented with the need, a fundraiser for a single mother needing to pay her cancer treatments. So with friends and the community, we set up an event and raised well above the expectations. That is when I knew, I had direction, I had purpose! From there I was blessed to be involved with many major Charities like Give Kinds the World, Rethink Homelessness,
and Habitat for Humanity to name a few. The humanitarian achievement through my art is the thing I’m most proud of!
Painting on canvas was never enough outlet for my fingers tho! The day my son challenged me to shape clay putty into a nose was the day I realized I should try sculpting! The very next day I bought some polymer clay and started to teach myself the craft. I got good enough to open an etsy shop and it hit the ground running! I handmake and sell the most realistic tiny food as earrings (because art should be wearable, why not dress the ears), sorts of mushrooms and plants, also as magnets, figurines, and little lamps. Seven years later, the tiny foods have been featured in children’s books and even on Starz network episode!
Art has made my life more livable and afforded me to expand my exploration! With each new medium, each new skill, is all incorporated now to the directed purpose!
I put a lot of effort into the details! This takes time and patience and whole lot of practice! A process made easier by passion indeed!
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
It would be a dream come true to live in a society that invites live art to be created in their workplaces. Where an artist is first sought out as a creative solution to fundraising and charity. Where we all purchase and support handmade artisans and their mom and pop shops instead of the major corporations. Where art class is funded and made affordable as an after school option for latch key kids. We can help artist so much just by sharing their content at the very least Even if you can’t purchase, someone else will and that’s bread and butter to a family like mine.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
It’s generally rewarding for me to create professionally! I am in my element, which is very satisfying, pleasing and profitable. I find it most rewarding when a piece of mine is used for fundraising for a special cause. The feeling of using my art to help others is incomparable to anything else!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tinybitsyart.etsy.com
- Instagram: @tinybitsyart
- Facebook: @tinybitsyart
- Tiktok: @tinybitsyart