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

Hi Tania, thanks for joining us today. 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.

I feel that choosing the path as a creative is a risk all on it’s on but in 2018 I decided to take a hiatus from my regular job as a nurse to focus on my art and home business. I had become restless at my job. I find that the career is not family friendly. Constantly sacrificing time with my children and felt a calling to do the thing I’ve always wanted to do.

This decision was not taken lightly. It took discipline on my part, financially to be able to sustain my family and I.

Now unfortunately, with COVID, I had to return to the workforce. But taking that time forced me to grow as an artist and as an entrepreneur. It allowed me to grow my confidence in my craft and motivates me because I KNOW that this is the route and lifestyle that I want to lead in order for my mind to be at peace and to be able to spend the time with my children. It is what currently motivates me to keep going.

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

I am a Puerto Rican visual artist, artisan and surface designer. I must say that it is important for me to categorize myself as Puerto Rican when I am speaking of my work because it is the main focus of my artwork and my goal is to be able to bring culture into the lives and homes of the Puerto Rican diaspora but with a modern twist.

Now, you can see my patriotic side in my wooden crafts displaying the flag of Puerto Rico but when you see my art pieces or my patterns, I like to include bits and pieces of our history and culture in a more simplistic and aesthetic way. Creating patterns with our indigenous symbols, maybe a modern motif of a Puerto Rican scenery or an abstract rendition of a cultural item. I combine these with colors that would compliment the modern home or everyday items of various tastes.

It is actually very interesting to see the reaction when I use color palettes that it is not traditional and it always surprises me when it is accepted well. But this is the fun of it because it lets me know that people do like variety. They do want to own pieces that are infused with culture but still express their individual personalities.

This coming year, I am actually very excited to be able to push those boundaries further, but also be able to bring people along with me on my journey in a variety of ways. I am currently making my art more accessible via downloadable files, expanding the types of items they can obtain for either their homes, office, etc… But I also that people would join me behind the scenes either via my blog or my YouTube channel.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

In my personal view, I feel that there are individuals and/or organization among society that treat being a “true” artist or creative as a private club. Something that seems unattainable almost. And art is the furthest thing from that. It is meant to be all inclusive and provide us the escape that we all need from our every day lives. If we look at it this way, then maybe there would be more artists and creatives that would be less fearful to pursue their dreams and aspirations in the creative world.

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

For me the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is both the freedom and the grounding effect that it has in my life. The act of creating, itself is meditative and explorative. You can push boundaries or work on trial and errors and that process is freeing. But at the same time if you wish to create for a LIVING you also have to be disciplined and focused enough to steer that creative process into something lucrative and fruitful.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.art-y-son.com
• Instagram: @art_y_son
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@Art_y_sonConTania
• Other: https://withkoji.com/@ArtYSon_ConTania