Our featured artist at the studio: Marisa Aguiar

Makela:   okay why  don't you tell me your name and what you do and anything you want to tell me about your painting. We are so happy to have your paintings featured at our studio.

Marisa: my name is Marisa Aguiar and I started painting a little over a year ago. I always knew that I was supposed to be doing something of the sort I but couldn't figure out what it was. I'm not a "stay in the lines" type of person, so fluid art works very well for me. I'm also slightly color-blind. I can't see certain colors against other colors such as oranges and reds blues and greens, etcetera. I can see color fully when they're by their self. Meaning, I can identify colors by themselves with no problem.

Makela: Where are you originally from? 

Marisa: I'm born and raised in Los Angeles and Culver City 

Makela: oh, you're a local 

Marisa: yes, I'm a local.

Makela: That is great! How do you think fluid art is different from other types of art?

Marisa: Fluid art has so many different avenues. You can use acrylics with mixed media, there is alcohol inks with resin and so many more ways to express what's in your mind.

Makela: do you have any favorite colors?

Marisa: I really enjoy working with teal, gold, magenta and greens and yellows. I love working with all colors. Some just blend better than others.

Makela: really? tell me a little bit more about that.

Marisa: Sometimes finding a paint that comes out and pops can be difficult. Some paints are heavier than others so when you layer your paints you want to make sure you layer them so you don't lose a color in your painting. The heavier paints, as they fall to the bottom of the canvas can help create the cells that you see in some of my paintings. It really depends on how you are going to pour the paint. The lighter colors can disappear if not layered correctly in the cup.

Makela: would you walk me through your process of your painting?

Marisa: Sure. I start off by choosing the size canvas I want to paint on. Then I stare at a blank canvas for a while and decide what colors I want to use. My next step is to start mixing paint and figuring out how much I'm going to need for the size canvas I'm using. Mixing the paint is very time consuming and is probably what takes the longest in creating these paintings. Once all the paint is mixed, I let it set anywhere from a couple hours to overnight. If I'm doing a large canvas I generally let it sit overnight to get all the air out of the paint. Next, I clean my canvas and get it ready. The next step is mixing the paint into the cup you're going to be pouring from. There are a couple different ways to pour the paint it all depends on how you get it out of your cup. Once all the paint is on the canvas I start to manipulate the paint to cover the canvas in the way I would like it to come out. I usually wait about two weeks to a month depending on the size of the painting before I do the finishing touches with the lacquering. Once the painting is lacquered it then sits for another couple weeks to dry completely.

Makela: can you tell me some of the challenges that you have? You say that you are color-blind, are there any other challenges that you have?

Marisa: yes, I have psoriatic arthritis which is why I don't paint inside the lines. My hands don't close all the way most of the time and they can be pretty shaky. All I have to do is pick up the canvas and manipulate the paint.

Makela: that's great, and tell me when did you start doing this kind of painting?

Marisa: I started doing this just over a year ago.

Makela: That's it huh? Well you've been very very productive.

Marisa: yes when I first started I was pumping out several paintings a week. By doing this, It gave me the experience in learning how paints react when layering them. Then I started to challenge myself by using larger canvases. I also started trying different techniques. I still do it, you can never stop learning. If I get an idea, then I go into the studio and test it out.

Makela: Tell me,  why did you pick our studio to display your art?, because we love it. We love having it there. We need to let people know that they are for sale and that they can take them home.

Marisa: Yes! Originally you approached my wife and asked her if I would be interested in displaying my art in your studio. You and I met over at the studio and I thought what a beautiful space it would be to work with. It's such a nice wide open area. The space was just too good to pass up. It has worked out well since you enjoy them being up. 

Makela: yes, so much

Marisa: anytime someone tells you they love your paintings, it feels really good to hear.

Makela: I have to say, that the studio was beautiful, it was clean but your paintings added movement, added life as if it were alive.

Makela: I love the big powerful one behind the desk. It really addresses the feelings of Tango.

Marisa: oh really,  how awesome

Makela: and I like the fact that you have different sizes too because you can make collages.

Marisa: oh yeah, we can do anywhere from a 3in by 3in to a 3-foot by 3-foot. I could do even larger if I had the space. I can be commissioned at any time to do any size. I'm always open to different color combinations and love when somebody request something in particular.

Makela: it's great,  it's great! So tell me a little bit about the Mar Vista Art Walk.

Marisa: it's an event that goes on four times a year along Venice Boulevard between Inglewood Boulevard and Beethoven. There are many vendors vendors, musicians and some of the businesses are open as well during it. They usually go from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on a Thursday evening and then they do one in November that is on a Saturday and goes all day long. I've shown and sold my artwork there a couple times. A lot of local artists are there as well.

Makela: are you going to be doing another one soon?

Marisa: I have applied to be in the March Art Walk so hopefully I will be hear back from them soon. You have to apply and they choose the vendors that they're going to allow to be there.

Makela: is there anything you want to say to people about your art?

Marisa: I just want to say thank you for appreciating it and just being interested. I look forward to meeting more people and explaining the process or possibly even being commissioned by someone.

Makela: That's great!