Ariel Vivanco: Finding a Sense of Home in the Ordinary & Mundane

*DETRÁS*. Oil, oil pastel & pastel on masonite. 2022.

*우상 (WOOSANG).* Oil, oil pastel & house paint on masonite. 2021

*DERECHA*. Oil, oil pastel & pastel on masonite. 2022.

*EN LA COCINA*. Oil, oil pastel & acrylic house paint on masonite. 2021.

Website: arielvivanco.com / instagram: @frijolfeliz

Ariel Vivanco is a Hispanic-American artist who currently lives and works in Lexington, SC. By focusing on the ordinary & mundane, Vivanco has found a sense of “home” from her work when she couldn’t find it elsewhere. Ultimately, this has allowed her work to progress into a place of discovery of the self.

How did your creative journey begin?

According to my parents, I was always drawing as a kid. I even have pictures of me sitting at an easel with a pensive look on my face dating back to Pre-K. I am a lot younger than my older siblings, so I was quite spoiled growing up. Once they saw I had an interest in art, they would always buy me art supplies be it sketchbooks, pencils, watercolors — you name it. I think that unwavering support from my family growing up allowed me to seriously begin and pursue a future in the arts.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Most of my inspiration stems from the (not so) ordinary, mundane world, and the people — and pets — whom I hold most dear in my life. Other inspiration comes from tinkering around in my studio or browsing social media and websites of artists that I follow.

How has your work shifted and evolved over time?

I felt that I really found my artistic voice in college. Like many others, it was my first time living alone, so my work evolved to have that energy of “freedom” and “independence.” My craft throughout the years had focused heavily on realism. But, between school and work and friends, I encountered a lot of refreshingly new experiences that influenced and inspired my work beyond that standard. I loosened up quite a bit and started playing with shape and color as well as other forms of art making such as sculpture, digital media, and performance. Nowadays, I sort of blend a little bit of everything into my creative practice. It can be a bit overwhelming at times, but I truly enjoy it.

During my time in college, my views had also really shifted as different realities hit me all at once. For instance, being half-Mexican and living in South Texas for most of my life, I was lucky to have never really thought too much about being a “person of color.” It was not until I moved to Cincinnati, Ohio for school that it dawned on me when I was asked the infamous, “So where are you from?” to which my response of, “Texas,” was not a sufficient enough answer. Experiences such as that, compounded with the onslaught of socio-economic problems the area in which I resided faced (drugs, homelessness, gentrification, etc.), became strongholds in my work that spurred me to create conceptually more meaningful works.

What does a typical day in the studio look like for you, and how has your art practice grown or changed?

As of right now, a typical day in the studio begins with a piping hot cup of coffee. Lately, I have been working on a series of drawings on paper titled, “on grounds of coffee,” in which the background of each is stained with the leftover coffee grounds remaining from that day’s brew. As I wait for the stains to dry, I enjoy my coffee, organize my workspace, and prep the next round of stains for tomorrow since one filter can only (comfortably) stain two sheets of paper. Unable to focus on one thing for long, I usually have multiple projects going on at once. Depending on my mood, I might continue an in-progress painting, work on a collage, edit some digital work, or update my website. Though I admit, there are some days when I simply do nothing at all and I think those days are just as important.

Over the years, I think my art practice has become more streamlined, if that makes sense. I do not like to extensively plan out works — something I have been guilty of since college — as outlines and sketches have always felt too restrictive. Instead, I opt for having a routine to get me in the groove of things. While working, I try not to let “mistakes” deter me, and instead figure out how to incorporate them into the piece. For this reason, not having a set plan gives me a better sense of freedom and, in many ways, more control.

The most important part about my artistic process though is simply showing up. It’s something one of my painting professors said in passing, but I never once forgot. It made me feel better about those times when all I did was show up to the studio — because at least I showed up. And that is always the first step to anything.

Which experiences have impacted your work as an artist?

My parents’ jobs had us moving around a lot. Three elementary schools, three middle schools, and (finally) one high school — the only constants I really had in my life for awhile were my family and my dog. Then for college, I decided to move up North (a 24 hour drive from home) and live on my own. During that time, my parents’ jobs continued to have them move around, resulting in me visiting a new “home” almost every year during the holidays. Shortly after graduating, I took things a step further and spent the following two years as an English as a Second Language instructor in Seoul, South Korea. I think that continuously having no definite place to really call, “home” has resulted in me building one within my work. A focus on the ordinary, mundane world has in many ways filled that space, but has also progressed into a discovery of the self. Even now, I don’t have a place that really feels like “home” to me. I guess I’m still trying to find it.

How has social media impacted your art career?

Social media is both a blessing and a curse. It is great for exposure, but I recall at one point getting more caught up in creating reels, shorts, and carousels for my social media that too much time had been taken away from my work. That, or I would find myself planning my work around the set social media posting times I scheduled for myself, resulting in work I felt was lacking. I have had to take a break more than once to refresh. I know social media is important for us artists in today’s world, and I have found several inspirational and helpful resources through it (Visionary Art Collective being one of them), but I am not willing to sacrifice my mental health and work quality for that. I am still trying to find the right balance. For now, as long as I maintain my personal website, I’m satisfied.

What are your future goals and aspirations?

I hope to one day own and operate my own gallery that supports the next generation of artists and creatives. Through artist talks, workshops, and seminars, I want the gallery to be a safe space that educates and inspires creativity for all ages. Given my interest in the environmental impact we humans have on the planet (the art world included), I also plan to incorporate art-based community education focusing on sustainability. Falling in line with this, I plan to dedicate a space within the gallery for a second-hand art supply shop in which creatives can donate and purchase used art supplies. Of course, continuing to develop my own art practice is included in my goals as well.

Guest UserJanuary 19, 2023