Tell us a bit on how you got started
I always had a passion for painting and art but then, when I was in college, I focused more towards graphic design. I realized I could not really do both. It was difficult to graduate in both majors. It would take me forever, so I put art to the side and focused on design. I graduated and worked in advertising for a couple of years and then I realized I was kind of miserable. I was living with my mom at the time so I was able to save enough money to quit and focus on my art. I have been doing that since 2008.
_1397588586.jpg)
Tatiana Suarez painting a mural in Hollywood
Please share some highlights with us
Some highlights of my career have been getting into mural painting. My first mural was in 2009. A lot of my graffiti writer friends were always encouraging me to take my stuff out to the streets and I finally did. I was really nervous. A blank canvas is already intimidating for me so a blank wall was even more so.
What’s the hardest about painting a mural?
To me, the scale and the public. It’s not my favorite thing. I still prefer to paint in the privacy of my studio. You are vulnerable. People see your progress and the mistakes. I get uncomfortable and it is really hard to cover up. It’s stressful because you always have an audience. It’s something you have to get used to. Its different materials. I am still getting comfortable with the spray cans. I am still trying to figure out my technique when it comes to murals.
What do you love most about Miami?
The ocean. That was the one thing I missed when I was gone. I live really far away from the ocean right now but I try to go. It’s therapy; going out there and that’s my back yard and being able to relax and take that all in.
You had moved to New York. Why did you come back?
I was homesick. I did not ever mean to leave Miami permanently. Miami is always home but I wanted to experience living outside of this city for a little bit. The weather was a big factor. The lifestyle in New York was just too difficult.
What was the experience like being in the New York art scene vs. Miami?
I wouldn’t really know because I am a homebody. I wouldn’t get out much. The one thing I did notice was that a lot of the art work I loved and a lot of the artists I am a fan of would exhibit there, where in Miami you only see them during Basel time. It was always cool to attend an opening and meet them.
Tatiana Suarez -Zobbeida
Your work always has a central female figure. Has your work always had that focus?
Yes, for the most part. It has always kind of been women or animal based. In my work, I always try to tie in females with nature. I remember in school I was always fascinated by drawing animals. I would always draw cheetahs and tigers and birds. Then it became women.
Why do you relate women and nature? Was that a conscious decision or did that just happen more randomly?
I guess it was just something that happened but it ties into Mother Nature.
Who inspires the women you paint?
She is someone that kind of just came up. People always ask if it is a self-portrait but they are not meant to be. It does depend on the meaning and what I am going through. Maybe I put something of myself in the work but the figure is not necessarily me but the message or the symbolism is.
What is your favorite medium?
The oil paint.
What features of the oil paint are you drawn to?
I love to blend and render and oil paint is just super creamy. It’s my favorite medium. It allows itself to get smooth and blend and it is forgiving and it smells nice. It reminds me of school.
Tatiana Suarez - Rainforests Of The Sea
Do you have any upcoming exhibitions?
I will be in an exhibition at Known Gallery in Los Angeles. It is going to be a three person show. I don’t have a date yet.
How can people purchase your art?
My website www.tatisuarez.com has a shop and I am working on getting a newsletter set up.
What’s your favorite book?
One of my favorite books I have ever read is “Invisible Monster” by Chuck Palahniuk. I also love “Fight Club.” I am trying to get into the habit of listening to more audio books while I paint. I like to work with movies on in the background. I could listen to music but at some point I get stressed out when the song changes. I like to have TV or a movie as background. It is usually movies I have watched a million times so I don’t get distracted. I can quote movies.
Which ones?
Like “Pulp Fiction” and lately it has been “Shaun of the Dead” a lot.
What’s the best advice your parents ever gave you?
I am super grateful that my parents have supported me and continue to so. My dad used to paint and he never pursued it. They let me follow my dreams. They never pushed me to do something I did not want to do so I guess the advice is to do what I love and continue to do it and be happy doing it.
Tatiana Suarez - Woes 2
Do you have any other news you would like to share?
I am involved in a project at the Marine Stadium in Key Biscayne. It is called Friends of the Miami Marine Stadium. They are doing this project to preserve the stadium and fix it and open it up again for business. The city has been wanting to tear it down. They are getting artists to come down, both local and from all over, and we are painting murals there and documenting it and we will release prints and the benefits will go to the stadium. For more info, check out www.marinestadium.org
