Jean-Michel Basquiat
"We are excited to present the first installment of Cre8tiveNC Magazine and host our inaugural exhibition at Triangle Wine Company in Cary, NC. Our goal is to create a platform that highlights both rising stars and local favorites among artists in the Carolinas. We are grateful for your support as we embark on this journey to grow and build a space that will inspire, encourage, and promote some of the most talented artists on the planet."
MariaTavarez
Maria Tavarez was born in Santiago, Dominican Republic. Grew up as an only child of both parents in the South Bronx and attended Monroe College for her undergraduate in Hospitality Management. After moving to North Carolina in 2015, she pursued her MA in Health Administration from Saint Joseph’s University.
Maria Tavarez is a self-taught abstract expressionist artist, drawing inspiration from renowned figures such as Georgia O'Keeffe, Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, and Paul Cézanne. She has refined her technique and skills through workshops with Eric McRay at Raleigh's C-MAC and Peter Marin at the Diamante Cultural Center. Maria's preferred mediums are acrylic, spray paint, coarse texture paints, and charcoal.
Maria is the business manager for The Resume Fix and serves on the planning committee of two nonprofit organizations, Griot and Grey Owl the Black Southern Writers Conference and Art for All-NC. She has contributed to the recent group exhibition, “The Weight On My Shoulders” mental health exhibition at the Southeast Regional Library in Garner and the Oberlin Library in Raleigh, NC. Maria is currently completing a fellowship with Diamante Arts & Cultural Center in Raleigh, NC and will complete the fellowship with a group exhibition in November of this year.
As the Lead Outreach Liaison for Art for All-NC, Maria focuses on making art accessible to all communities regardless of their means. Her artwork centers on mental health awareness, utilizing cubistic, impressionist, and expressionist styles to convey powerful messages Her work has been exhibited at prestigious venues such as the Maria V. Howard Art Center’s Juried Art Competition 2023, the Art Gallery of Moore County 2023 Fine Arts Festival, VAE Arts Organization Raleigh, Casa Azul of Greensboro’s Latitudes of Afro Latinx Art 2023, Diamante Arts and Cultural Center, and Drinking Gourd Gallery
My work is deeply rooted in the journey of selfdiscovery Through my art, I aim to unpack and translate the complex emotions, feelings, and traumas that have often gone unresolved. Each piece serves as a cathartic exploration, allowing me to confront and express the depths of my inner experiences My goal is to create a visual language that not only communicates my personal struggles but also resonates with and inspires others to reflect on their own emotional landscapes Through abstract forms and vibrant compositions, I seek to transform hidden pain into visible beauty, inviting viewers to join me on a path of healing and understanding.
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Dig deep into Your Why: Reflect on your current situation and what led to it
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Forgive yourself first and foremost for decisions made at the time you made them
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Be unconventional with how you seek help, try something new. Find resources that you personally have never used before: books, podcasts, counselors, friends, or family.
"The Art of Self-Therapy" by Nick Trenton: Don't Be Fooled by Everyth
Break the cycle of not talking. Talk about your feelings as opposed to the problem. For example, Money. "I feel stressed, anxious and sad about not being able to participate in an upcoming event because I can't afford it". In this statement, I have expressed my feelings not just the problem. This is an ongoing process for me, expressing my feelings has never been easy. By writing it, I am reiterating what I am still working on in hopes of helping you do the same
A quote from a group discussion on art, “The diving inspiration of the arts is the source of reflection touching the heart. We all create on and from our own levels, from different talents and from different abilities”
LM Flowers is visual artist known for her innovative use of acrylic and mixed media to create captivating works that merge primitive and modern art styles creating worlds of alternate realities. Drawing inspiration from the natural elements, the intricacies of life, and the profound themes of love and family, Flowers' art resonates with a wide audience. Her distinctive approach blends raw, elemental forms with contemporary techniques, resulting in pieces that are both timeless and evocative. With a keen eye for color and texture, she captures the essence of her subjects, bringing to life the dynamic interplay between the sacred, the personal and the universal. Her work continues to inspire and engage art enthusiasts, making her a prominent rising figure in the contemporary art scene.
1. Your work blends raw, elemental forms with contemporary techniques. Can you describe how you developed this unique style and what inspires the juxtaposition of these elements? I'm influenced by earlier artist like Jacob Lawrence, who had a primitive raw artstyle, and I include a minimalist abstract element to it.
2. Color and texture play significant roles in your pieces. How do you approach the balance between these two aspects, and how do they help convey the essence of your subjects? Color is very important, it is an emotion and carries a lot of symbology....same with texture.
3. You explore the dynamic interplay between the sacred, the personal, and the universal in your art. How do you decide which aspects of these themes to emphasize in a given piece? Really it's all intertwined, and I will often sit silently with my piece and ask if it is finished.
4. What are some of the raw, elemental forms you feel most connected to, and how do they appear repeatedly in your work? blues, undrawn hands, disconnected limbs, and afro puffs because I'm a fan of Afro Samurai, subliminal messages, overt messages...they are all reoccurring working within themes.
5. Your work evokes both timelessness and modernity. How do you navigate the balance between creating pieces that feel rooted in tradition while also pushing contemporary boundaries? That's a good question, I feel it's intuitive.
6 When engaging with your art, viewers might connect with different layers of meaning How do you envision your audience responding to the sacred and universal elements in your work? I think it will be a myriad of emotion, sadness, anger and connection
7. Are there specific techniques or materials that you feel allow you to better capture the essence of your subjects? What role does experimentation play in your process? Yes very much so, reading and researching helps me a lot And as it pertains to experimentation, I think it's ok if its something you desire to practice
8 Your art is both evocative and deeply introspective How do you know when a piece fully communicates the emotional or spiritual depth you aim to express?
I don't always know, but there have been times when my own work created unexpected work in me
9 As a rising figure in the contemporary art scene, how do you see your work evolving in the future? Are there new themes or techniques you’re excited to explore? I see my work being well seen, and discussed...I do want to explore installation and robotic art sculptures And some AR/VR world experiences,
10 What do you hope viewers take away from their experience with your art, particularly regarding the themes of personal and universal connections? Primarily I hope viewers feel more connected to themselves and others, to acknowledge each other's humanity CONTINUED
The Drinking Gourd Gallery artist collective is united by a common passion to create compelling artwork that enriches lives and sparks meaningful conversations.
Visit Drinkg Gourds Upcoming Exhibition on OCTOBER 12TH, 2024
1 Your work is known for its eastern natureinspired art style. Can you talk about how elements of nature influence your surreal and abstract designs?
My favorite element is electricity, which is why I focus so much on colors blue, yellow, aquamarine, and even hot pink It is the most energetic and passionate element that is heavily associated with dragons, felines, and canines. Samurais as well. All of that is what I use in order to illustrate and paint my pieces as accurately as the source material I am borrowing ideas from I want people to understand the symbols and the lore behind my work, even if it is sometimes simple.
3. You aim to make art that resonates emotionally with people without sacrificing your own ideas. How do you find the balance between expressing your personal vision and connecting with your audience?
Simply through going from city and city and learning from both friends and mentors. This year I have been to Durham, Chapel Hill, and Greensboro a lot. They were all cities I never went to until the end of 2023, so when I started going, I noticed how friendly the environment was and how each city differed from Raleigh. I pay attention to the murals on the buildings in those cities. I talk heavily with the artists there and learn so much from them, and how other people use their experiences in order to create expressive work that does not compromise their vision. It’s really fun to experience
navigate creating work for both environments, and do you find that each informs or contrasts with the other?
So, my favorite artist ever is Ken Sugimori, the art director of Game Freak and an artist who’s worked on Pokémon. I have always loved studying his old designs that he did for the original 151 pocket monsters. The colors and the line work are what I paid attention to in order to get used to being able to create a style that can work on both a canvas while also being a really nice design to put on some clothing.
Lupe Fiasco is another person I have looked up to. He is both an artist and a musician. Lupe even painted the album cover for his 2015 album, Tetsuo and Youth, one of my favorites from when I was a teenager. That cover is something I always thought would be
In your Voyage Raleigh article, you describe your work as a response to suffocation and oppression, particularly in relation to George Floyd and your own experience as 'the American Other.' Can you share how these themes shaped the emotional core of your work?
The need to work through and explore suffocation as an act and an idea specifically guides the methods I implement in my work. I might have an idea/concept that I want to communicate, I’ll lay it out on the canvas then cover it up with layers of media. The minutiae that goes into an individual does not come into consideration on a transactional basis- your mundane hi, bye, how are you doing. Depending where we find ourselves we might have to suffocate portions of ourselves. With my work I explore texture and topography - think “from sea to shining sea” what is our personal landscape? I am always getting to the core, sometimes getting to the core translates to covering up the core, the lack of acknowledgment or failure to realize something does not mean that something isn’t there.
The concept of treating the canvas as skin is powerful. How did this idea come to you, and how does it evolve as you work through each piece in THE AMERICAN OTHER collection?
The idea of treating the canvas as skin came from observation, canvases are porous like skin, why don’t I use the canvas as a stand in for skin, suffocate it with paint and extract a narrative out of it, making the canvas a representation of the American Other. The idea of skin and treatment of the canvas as such has developed in a few ways. Since beginning AMERICAN OTHER a COLLECTION of 50 in 2021, I have started four other seriesFATHERLAND (2023 ), CHILDREN UNDER THE LOST SUN (2024 ), NEW WAVE SAVAGES (2024 ) & LEATHER (2024 ) For AMERICAN OTHER I wanted to suffocate the canvas with paint, this would communicate the experience I realize on a daily basis as an other In my more recent work skin comes into play through the working and exploration of texture.
Mixed media allows for diverse forms of expression. What materials do you find yourself drawn to when conveying the feeling of suffocation or constraint, and how do they enhance the message in your art?
I want to use materials I haven’t before, I want my work to be expansive and inclusive, it is the same want I have for America, for our society. What I use and how I implement materials and techniques within my work have to mirror the ideas and experiences I am trying to communicate. Lately I’ve been working with turmeric, milk, southern rain water, torch, brillo pads- things that communicate wear and heritage.
The COVID era brought a sense of isolation and confinement, which you incorporated into your work through the use of leftover paint from home renovations. How has this resourcefulness influenced the direction of your creative process now?
Material and messaging are tied directly. I want to do more with less, and I want to do less with more, putting my self against the rope forces me to reconsider creativity.
Your collection began in the summer of 2021, a period marked by global unrest and personal reflection. With life going back to "normal", how has societal climate shaped the urgency and tone of your work?
I think our overall condition has evolved to be more strained and desperate, I always operate with urgency, some of this urgency comes from my need to communicate and address
conditions and ideas that I believe are important for us to be aware of, I think awareness can pave the road for a want of understanding
$1,500
HOPEINMETALLICBLUE[LEATHER#35] FROMLEATHER
BEGUN:8-18-245:27pm 36inw[9144cm]x48inh[12192cm] MIXEDMEDIA: BLACKSUMIINK SPRAYPAINT-VARIOUSTYPES/TEXTURES
•FromLEATHER~2024Inquiries? DM OR EMAIL:americanother@hvbr.org
$1,675 o.94AIRCRUCIAL1SPS#1930x40from AmericanOtherCollectionof50OILPASTEL, CERAMIC&MOONPAINT,INLAYSPS-> SELFPORTRAITSERIES
$3200
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BEGUN:5-30-243:07am COMPLETED:5-31-245:05am 36inw[914cm]x48inh[1219cm] MIXEDMEDIAonCANVAS: OILPASTEL DYEBASEDDRAWINGINK SPRAYPAINT CERAMICPAINT TEMPERA PERMANENTMARKERREFILL CHAR(TORCH
This collage beautifully captures a moment from an outdoor painting activity led by Maria Tavarez, who has a passion for fostering creativity in young minds Set in the heart of North Raleigh, NC, a group of local children can be seen collaborating on large canvases, their faces lit with focus and excitement as they apply bold strokes of green, blue, and other vibrant colors Under Maria’s guidance, these young artists are encouraged to explore their imaginations, while learning the value of teamwork and self-expression The natural neighborhood backdrop enhances the sense of community and joy, making this scene not just about painting, but about nurturing creativity in a supportive, shared space. Maria’s mentorship and love for the arts shines through, creating an environment where every child feels empowered to discover and develop their artistic skills.
"Stepping out of her comfort zone is her greatest fear, but it's a challenge she knows is essential for growth."
As an experienced pastry chef, what inspired you to transition from cake decorating to exhibiting your work in a gallery setting?
My journey started with art, and it was that passion that led me to pastry. For me, cake decorating has always been a form of artistic expression creating something beautiful that also tastes good. Transitioning to a gallery setting felt like a natural evolution. I wanted to explore my artistic vision in a different medium and share it in a way that emphasizes the visual and conceptual aspects of my work.
I’m excited about the possibility of showcasing my creativity without the constraints of edible materials. This new direction allows me to delve deeper into themes and techniques that I’ve always wanted to explore, and I’m eager to see how my background in pastry influences my visual art. It’s about embracing the full spectrum of my artistic identity and sharing that journey with others.
Cre8tiveNC is your first art exhibition—what drew you to this event, and how are you feeling about showcasing your work in a new format?
I was drawn to this event because it is an opportunity to share my work with others and connect over our shared appreciation for art. It’s a vulnerable feeling to showcase my creations in front of others, but I see it as a chance to step outside my comfort zone and grow as an artist. While nervous, I’m also excited about the conversations and connections that can emerge from this experience. It’s a moment to celebrate creativity. I’m looking forward to seeing how people respond to my work.
How does the process of creating edible art, like cakes, compare to working on more traditional art forms, and do you find any overlap in your creative approach?
Creating edible art, like cakes, shares many similarities with traditional art forms, even though the materials and outcomes differ Both require a foundation in design principles like composition, color theory, and texture play crucial roles In both realms, there's an element of storytelling; whether it’s a cake reflecting a theme or a painting conveying an emotion, the intent is to evoke a response
The overlap in creative approach is significant Both require experimentation, as an artist I often need to try new techniques or ingredients There’s also the importance of precision and attention to detail, whether piping frosting or applying brushstrokes
Ultimately, edible and traditional art is about expressing creativity and bringing joy, albeit with different mediums The satisfaction of creating something beautiful that can be enjoyed is what I enjoy most
What excites you the most about participating in your first exhibition, and how do yohope your work will be received by the art community?
As an introvert, I find participating in my first exhibition both thrilling and nervewracking. What excites me the most is the opportunity to share my work with others and to connect with fellow artists and art enthusiasts. It feels like a chance to step outside my comfort zone while still engaging with something I’m passionate about.
I hope my work will be received with openness and curiosity. I’ve poured a lot of thought and emotion into it, and I would love for viewers to resonate with my perspective. I’m eager to hear their interpretations and engage in conversations, even if they’re brief. Ultimately, it’s about sharing my vision and contributing to the community, and I’m really looking forward to that experience!
Looking ahead, how do you see your artistic journey evolving? Do you envision continuing to blend your culinary expertise with your visual art, or are there new creative directions you’d like to explore?
Looking ahead, I see my artistic journey evolving in some exciting ways While I’ve loved blending culinary arts with visual art, I’m eager to explore new mediums and techniques that allow for more experimentation I want to dive into traditional painting and perhaps incorporate mixed media to express my ideas in fresh ways
I believe this shift will open up new avenues for creativity, enabling me to explore concepts and emotions that I haven’t fully captured yet While I’ll always appreciate my culinary background, I’m excited about the possibility of focusing more on painting and discovering how that can reshape my artistic voice It feels like a thrilling new chapter!
Starting your artist career can feel intimidating, challenging, and overwhelming, but my advice is simple: don’t psych yourself out before you even begin. Don’t compare yourself to other artists unless you’re using that comparison as motivation to grow. Remember, there’s an audience for every artist. Start with what you know and what you have, and trust the process.
Paints, brushes, pencils, canvases, paper—depending on your medium (painting, water color, pastel, drawing, sculpture), having high-quality materials is essential for creating professional-level work. However, start with what you have. My personal experience, I started with what I could afford. Let your drive and passion drive you. As you develop your skills, build your network, exhibit etc, you can purchase higher quality materials. Practice with the cheap stuff!!
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A digital or physical collection of your best work to showcase your talent to galleries, clients, or collectors. It's a critical tool for promoting your skills and style. Continue practicing, build your style, and have a unified body of work that is your own.
A dedicated space where you can create freely without interruptions. This could range from a home studio to renting a professional workspace, depending on your needs.
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Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or Pinterest are invaluable for sharing your art, connecting with a community, and marketing your work. Regular updates can build an engaged audience.
Contracts, invoices, and licenses are essential for protecting your work and managing commissions or sales. Learning about intellectual property and copyright laws is also important.
Develop a personal artist brand and use tools like business cards, promotional materials, and newsletters to market your work effectively. A clear, consistent brand helps establish recognition.
Proper storage solutions for your art tools and works-in-progress ensure your materials stay in good condition and help keep your workspace functional.
Join local art communities, collectives, or galleries to build relationships, learn from peers, and find opportunities for collaboration or exhibitions.
Keep learning with resources like online courses, workshops, books, and tutorials to refine your techniques, understand art business strategies, and develop your career further.
As a multifaceted entrepreneur and businesswoman, how do you manage the transition between the world of business and the creative space of art?
"I've found that business and art aren't as separate as they might seem – both require vision, problem-solving, and the courage to take risks My business mindset actually enhances my artistic process, allowing me to approach my creative work with both passion and purpose. The transition feels natural because both spheres nurture different aspects of my creativity "
What inspired you to take the leap and exhibit your work for the first time at Diamante Arts and Cultural Center's Bara Bara exhibition?
"After years of creating art privately, I realized that art's true power lies in its ability to connect and inspire others The Diamante Arts and Cultural Center's inclusive, community-focused approach resonated deeply with me Their Bara Bara exhibition presented the perfect opportunity to share my perspective and contribute to the cultural dialogue in our community "
Has your experience in business influenced the way you approach your art, whether in terms of discipline, strategy, or creativity?
"Absolutely My business background has instilled in me a sense of discipline and strategic thinking that carries over into my artistic practice I approach each piece with both spontaneity and structure – allowing creativity to flow while maintaining a clear vision for the final result This balance has helped me develop a more focused and intentional artistic process."
With your busy schedule, how do you carve out time for your creative process, and how do you stay connected to your artistic passion?
"I've learned to treat my artistic practice as essential rather than optional Just as I schedule important business meetings, I block out dedicated time for creating art Often, I find that my busiest periods actually fuel my creativity – the act of painting becomes a form of meditation and renewal, helping me maintain balance in all aspects of my life "
Looking ahead, how do you plan to integrate your art more fully into your life and career?
Are there any upcoming projects or exhibitions we can look forward to?
"This exhibition marks the beginning of a more public journey with my art Moving forward, I plan to explore the intersection of business and creativity, possibly through collaborative projects that blend both worlds While I'm focusing on this current exhibition, I'm already envisioning future collections that capture the essence of other inspiring locations I've encountered in my travels. Stay tuned for more details!"
C K S O N
Lighthouse
"Island Beacon: Guide the Way"
Acrylic on Canvas 24x36
1. Beach
"Tides of Reflection"
Acrylic on Canvas
30x40