Tatiana Suarez – Sea Gal

Back for her second RUN, Miami artist Tatiana Suarez has given us a beautiful 11 x 14 – 6-Color Hand Embellished Screenprint “Sea Gal” Check out Tatiana’s first RUN in our 1xRUN Archives.  Her charming style is distinctive — first, the trademark eyes that draw the viewer into a beautiful and surreal world. Suarez takes full advantage of the oil paint’s ability to create creamy, soft images on canvas. Rich with symbols that stem from her Brazilian and El Salvadorian heritage, subjects appear as if they are under water, frozen in lovely stillness. The doe-eyed figures look childlike, but also exude sexual overtones, ornamented with plants, insects and other unsettling accompaniments. Beauty is presented concurrently with exotic — even creepy — creatures to create enchanted narratives. Read on for more on Tatiana Suarez and her latest RUN “Sea Gal” as she talks about past influences, shows off her workspace and more!

1xRun Thru Interview

Tatiana Suarez – Sea Gal

1xRun: Let’s talk a bit about Sea Gal, what was this drawn with or created originally?

Tatiana Suarez:  The original was drawn out, inked, and scanned. Then the colors were added with photoshop. Then they were silkscreened and each individual piece will be hand embellished using gouache and watercolor.

1xRun: Is the original still for sale?

Tatiana Suarez:  Nope. She’s trapped in my sketchbook. ;)          1xRun: When was this drawn/created?

Tatiana Suarez:   November 2011.

1xRun:  Is there anything immediate you would like to highlight?

Tatiana Suarez:   This is my first silk-screened piece.

1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution of Sea Gal came about.

Tatiana Suarez:   My approach to this piece was different. My paintings are usually very refined and crisp. This was more of a process piece. It’s simplified and playful like the girls in my murals. This girl was originally a sketch for a painting. I was feeling nostalgic about Miami’s beaches and sunsets.

1xRun: How long did the piece take?

Tatiana Suarez:   A couple of weeks.

1xRun: What is unique about Sea Gal?

Tatiana Suarez:   It’s my first silkscreen and this edition will have hand embellishments to add some depth to the piece. There also will be some different colors added to the strands of her hair and eyes.

1xRun: Why should people buy this Run?

Tatiana Suarez:  Because it’s a cool one. ;)

1xRun: Describe Sea Gal in one gut reaction word.

Tatiana Suarez:   salty.

1xRun: When did you first start making art?

Tatiana Suarez:   I’ve been drawing and painting since I was a kid.

1xRun: What was your first piece?

Tatiana Suarez:   I don’t have any memory of what my first piece was, but I do remember painting my dog a lot.   1xRun: What artists inspired you early on?

Tatiana Suarez:   My dad was a big inspiration growing up. Salvador Dali, Disney movies in general. I remember writing a report on Bill Peet in the 6th grade. Tim Burton is also responsible for most of my earlier stuff.

1xRun: What artists inspire you now?

Tatiana Suarez:   This question’s always a tough one, there’s so many to list. James Jean, Joao Ruas, Chet Zar, Glenn Barr, Chris Sanders, Mark Ryden, Tara McPherson and Kris Lewis are just a few that get me going now.

1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what? If not then what is your environment like when you work?

Tatiana Suarez: When working from home, I actually prefer to have the TV on. I get various ideas for pieces from movies (I also speak in movie quotes because of this, ha.)  Now that I’m in my studio, I work with music playing. I listen to a big ol’ mess of stuff.

1xRun: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why?

Tatiana Suarez: Another tough one. I would love to get down on a mural with with Miss Van, and create a painting with Audrey Kawasaki. Both are very inspirational and beautiful, it would be an honor & a dream of mine.

 

1xRun: If you could collaborate with any deceased artists who would it be and why?

Tatiana Suarez: Alphonse Mucha would be cool, his ladies are a big inspiration.

1xRun: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it?

Tatiana Suarez: A Johnny Robles piece. Yep, it’s sitting loverly in my living room.

1xRun: What was the last piece of art that you bought?

Tatiana Suarez: A Colin Christian sculpture. It’s one of his test pieces, so it’s uncompleted, cracked, and crude. I’m in love with it.

1xRun: What else do you have currently in the works?

Tatiana Suarez: I’ll be participating in some group shows and hopefully working on a couple of murals before Basel time. I’ll be spending the majority of the time working on personal stuff. Also, my online shop will be updated with some goodies and smaller, more affordable pieces.

1xRun: Anything else you would like to add?

Tatiana Suarez: Stay tuned!

1xRun: Where can people find you on the internette?

Tatiana Suarez: Website  – Facebook – Twitter – Tumblr – more Tumblr – Instagram – @tatunga

-1xRun