We recently connected with Renata Aryanti and have shared our conversation below.

Renata , appreciate you joining us today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

It was my very first art show in my local art center during a holiday event. Given the lack of formal art training, I was full of imposter syndrome. All I did up to this point was watching a lot of instructional videos, reading books, and doing many experiments myself. I remember a couple came to see my work. They browsed my prints, and the guy looked at one of them, asking if the original painting was still available. I showed them the original, and they said they’ll take a moment to look around the place. Sometime later, they returned and told me they’d take both the print and the original. It was one of several sales I made that day to people I didn’t know previously, which was very validating.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My art celebrates color and movement, transporting us to a place where we feel beauty. Born and raised in Indonesia, I came to the US to study engineering and later pursued a career in technology. Primarily self-taught, I started painting in college as a hobby.

Following a decade of a fulfilling tech career, I began to pursue my art passion professionally during the pandemic. Creating art is my solace, and I want to inspire others with those feelings of hope, calm, and joy. I paint mixed media on canvas and use my paintings to design scarves, jewelry, home decor items, and other products people can use day-to-day. I create various products from my art as I believe in making my artwork accessible to as many people as possible.

I paint intuitively, allowing me to connect with and explore my emotions deeply. Also a mom and pianist, my work is inspired by my kids, nature, and music. I love experimenting with different media and techniques. I believe in a continuous learning journey and growth as an artist and in all aspects of life.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I started creating art as my solace and my goal to inspire others with those feelings of hope, calm, and joy through my work. By sharing my journey, I also want to share that artmaking is learnable, hoping to inspire others to explore their artistic inner self and start their own creative journey. I believe that our world is better where more people can express their inner voice into beautiful artwork.

Growing up, I didn’t consider myself talented in visual art, so I never explored it. In the past few years, I’ve adopted a new mindset that most things are learnable if we put our minds and spend the time and energy learning them. These days there are so many convenient resources for us to learn, from free library books and online videos to various workshops and classes everywhere. The biggest challenge was to pick a few and stick with them. It’s been very motivating to see how much I’m learning, how much fun I have creating art, and how my work brings hope and joy to others.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

While my previous career in technology primarily shaped my overall entrepreneurial and management philosophy, the following books influenced my mindset most as I started pursuing my creative passion professionally: Lisa Congdon’s “Art Inc,” Austin Kleon’s “Steal Like an Artist” and “Show Your Work,” as well as Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Big Magic.”

I learned through these books about treating my creative work seriously, building habits of daily creative practice, and the importance of learning and connecting with other artists. Congdon’s book, in particular, also offered many practical insights and resources as I pursued my creative passion from a mere hobby into a real profession.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.vegaria-art.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/vegaria.art
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/vegaria.art

Image Credits
Brian K Creative