Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Quanaisha Stafford. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Quanaisha, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

The most significant risk I’d ever taken was dropping out of school to pursue my art. I had already received a degree in Interior Design but I wanted to further my education and get a degree in Fine Arts. By the time I got into school for Fine Arts, college had emotionally drained me and unfortunately after a couple semesters completed COVID shut down the world. The stress of what would happen next, attending online classes, and upholding my responsibilities as an Artist and Creative Director was a lot to bear. After thinking hard about my future and doing a lot of reflection, I decided to take the risk of leaving school. My mom was a person who was big on education, so I felt that taking this risk would disappoint her, but after sitting her down and explaining to her my plans for the future she came around to believing and supporting me. At first she didn’t understand but I’d like to think after days of her constantly seeing me paint and participate in art shows that she slowly became one of my number one supporters.  I didn’t want to go through life wondering about the “what if’s” and three years later after taking this risk I can fully say that I am happy about the good/accomplishments that have come from making such a significant decision/risk in my life.

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.

Ever since I was a child, art has always been something for me. My vision and intention with painting is to share much of the same qualities one would find in a mirror: the ability to see oneself. My work observes people through a lens where their beauty is endless, where their quirks are rosy, and where one can find love and self-confidence. The process of creating evolved into more of an expression of self through my paintings. A reflection, if you will, of my continuous evolution, drawing and painting the growth I sometimes did or did not understand. It helped me know how I fit into the world, the world around me, and my identity. It also gave me a way to make sense of my emotions. Something that I’m genuinely grateful for. Like others, Art allowed me to express my thoughts and feelings, both consciously and unconsciously; it gave me the space to explore my creativity. It was a way for me to connect with my inner self and with others. As a result, it gave me a creative outlet to express myself in unique and meaningful ways. Drawing for years led me to learn how to paint. It is now a staple for me in my creative outlet, and it was a more transformative experience. Painting has been a way for me to express my emotions and thoughts without saying a single word. Through painting, I have discovered a new part of myself that I treasure: my imagination.

Today my style of painting is where I create a combination of both black femininity and nature in a whimsical style. The blend of these elements allows me to relate to my art while allowing my mind to flow creatively while utilizing the environment I am surrounded by.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Currently, as I continue to walk on my creative journey, my goal & hope right now is for people to use my art as a reflective mirror. As a woman, we tend to hide certain sides of ourselves. Sides we feel we cannot express comfortably in society, around family, or even friends. It is my hope that through my work, I am reaching the goal of showcasing those hiding sides of ourselves as I strive to create images that express the beauty and love that each and every woman I have ever known has shown. Through my work it is my mission for women to find solace. Through my work it is my mission to strip away the feelings of isolation that many of us feel. Through my work it is my mission for a young girl to one day see my work and feel seen.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Creating a message that others can relate to and understand is what makes being an artist so rewarding. When people see my art and feel a connection, that’s my reward. As a result of channeling my creative energy and vision, taking risks, and pushing myself to new heights, my work has evolved. As a result of trusting in my work and the “process”, I was able to grow and create my current series, “See Yourself,” which is based on single pieces and conceptual pieces. Having confidence has given me the courage to tackle more challenging projects, which has been a consistent valuable hurdle to my artist career. Making pieces that reflect my true potential has allowed me to be proud of what I have accomplished, and my real reward is the people I am able to touch by my art. This has enabled me to reach more people and create more meaningful work. It has also given me the courage to take risks and experiment more with my art. For that reason, I am very thankful for the responsibilities as an artist that has been bestowed upon me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.quatroarts.com/
• Instagram: Quatro_banz

Image Credits
Alex Revina