Nuria Maria — ART PRESENCE

Which 3 words best describe how you would like your art to be perceived?

FRESH / ATMOSPHERIC / MOMENTUM

What creative challenge have you faced and overcome that has transformed your art practice?

Completely going for what I want to do, and not compromising.
More specifically in painting: Going more abstract.
Focusing completely on colors, forms, composition and structure completely changed my way of working.
Especially working on the structure of the paint opened my eyes in a way.
I can also imagine working more figuratively one day again. I think it will be interesting to take the things I’ve learned from the abstract paintings into figurative works.

With which intentions do you infuse your art making?

I like to compare my works with the way I make music: it is a moment where I want to take you to. I think about what exactly that moment is, and reflect that in the way the figures move in the painting; what direction they take, what interactions they have, and finding colors that best reflect the feeling. For me atmosphere is the very most important.

What tools do you use as part of the preliminary process?

Colors around me, memories, random moments that stick in my mind, walking in nature, sometimes I use ideas from dreams I had of paintings. These for me are the preliminary stages.

I am a very impatient painter. If I want to start I have to start right away. If I want to try something else in the painting and that would mean I’ll have to erase a lot of it, I will not have a second doubt.
That doesn’t mean it goes quickly to finish a work. Ironically it can take very long because of this way of working. I never sketch or do pre-work. Just buying the wood and paint. I am too impatient even to refresh the water or wash the brushes.

How do you deal with doubts and fears?

In the way I work, the only the way I work, the only way it works for me is if I do exactly what I want.
This makes my work stronger. Fears about people not liking my work or doubts about if a work will be well received.. they do not get you anywhere.

It doesn’t mean I never have those thoughts, I just know very well not to listen to them. And if I have doubts about a work myself, I go on until it is where I want it to be. This can drive me mad, but more and more I think the struggle is also a guilty pleasure.

Do you specifically schedule time for your art practice?

When I have deadlines it is just non-stop and I think I must be a pain in the ass for the people around me. If I don’t have deadlines it is very different every day. I must say I really enjoy that freedom, even when it means it can be extremely stressful as well.

How do you usually start a session? Any habits or rituals?

Coffee, music on, windows open, start. I hardly ever take breaks during the painting. I do take long breaks in between busy periods. I need them to freshen my mind.

Where do you draw your color inspiration from?

From everywhere really! Working on color is what I enjoy the most and one of the most dominant things on my mind everyday, everywhere. I am obsessed really. But can never decide from the start what colors a painting will be, it changes a lot during the process.