Artists

The Tucson Gallery Asked Each Artist The Same Questions To Get To Know Them Better

Where did you grow up? 

I grew up in Tucson Arizona! 

Tell us about your family 

None of my family is originally from Arizona , my mom and dad met in North Carolina while my mom was in college becoming a veterinary technician and my dad joined the Air Force and worked on A-10’s, the military moved my parents out to Davis monthan in the mid 90’s after my dad was deployed in Desert storm. I was born here in Tucson in 1998 and my younger brother was born in 2003. 

My step dad was a veterinarian who graduated from Michigan state university and moved to Tucson Arizona in the early 2000’s to escape the cold and continue with his other career of being a pilot. 

My brother is a car mechanic who gets roped into helping me with my art projects quite often. I have him help with my big projects. He is the muscle behind my crazy ideas and he maintains my car so I can go to craft fairs! 

And My fiancé Alberto, he is a first generation American. He has been super supportive through my journey of being an artist and loves telling everyone about what project I’m working on next. Alberto is the man who helps me set up for all my craft fairs by loading/unloading my tables and tents. He also helps come up with some fun ideas for designs! 

Do you have pets, if yes, tell us about them ?

Of course! With my mom and step dad both being in the animal care field I always had animals at home. I grew up with cats , dogs , guinea pigs , rats , mice , leopard geckos and

chameleons all of them being rescues that ended up coming home with them from the clinics. I currently have 4 cats: Theodorious , Nuri , Mango tango and Gray goose, 2 Dobermans: Hershie and Dresden , 2 Guinea pigs: Otis and Zeus and a chameleon named Kiwi! I love them all much more than words! 

When did you know that you would be an artist ?

Ever since I was a kid! Art called my name and with how much of my time I spent doing Art I just knew I would go places with it 

What is your favorite media to work with? 

I love acrylic paint on canvas, I grew up painting on cheap canvases so it really brings me back to my roots to paint on canvas! I also really like digital art, It’s great for when I travel, I can just pack my iPad in my backpack and never miss a beat when I dream up a great idea for a piece! 

What do you do when you’re not doing your art? 

You can always catch me with a cat in my lap and a dog on my side! I love to watch informational videos and crime shows while snuggled up with the fur babies.

The Tucson Gallery Asked Each Artist The Same Questions To Get To Know Them Better

Where did you grow up?

I was born in a tiny farming town called Lukavec, in the former Czechoslovakia, where I lived until age 14. Looking back, I have the best childhood memories: riding bikes around the whole town with my friends, swinging so high that the poles lifted out of the ground, catching fireflies, and picking up flowers and plants to dry for winter. My mom spent so much time with my brother and I outdoors. Our garden was full of berries. We would run through open fields all day and pick edible mushrooms in the forest. During the long and cold winters, we would paint, create dry flower arrangements, and create tiny folks from chestnuts. It was pure magic. Since my family still lives back in the Czech Republic; I travel back as I’m able with my kids to show them the same experience.

Tell us about your family

My dad, Pavel, is a talented blacksmith and worked at our town farm for years. I remember visiting his shop while he was crafting. The rough iron, the fire, and his skills were fascinating to me as a little girl. I’ve always appreciated metal and glass artists. My mom, Helena, worked at the local wood factory and later became a chef at my brother’s fine dining restaurant. She taught me how to make typical Czech dumplings or baked kolacky, a fine pastry with jams. My parents are still married after 52 years and living at the same house I grew up in.

I have one older brother named Paul. He has always loved architecture and futuristic art. Twenty years ago, he lost his best friend to a drug overdose and decided to take a stand. He created a unique drug-prevention project, Revolution Train, which is an interactive, educational experience for children between 12-17 that involves all the human senses. With this specially- equipped train, this educational program has touched over a million kids in four different countries. He is my hero.

I married the love of my life fifteen years ago. Mariano was born in Mexico City and is a successful architect. I always joke that we have a Czech-Mex family now, with three beautiful daughters Erica, Alexandra, and Angelika.

Do you have pets, if yes, tell us about them

Yes, we have several pets. Our two dogs are Lucky and Dexter. Lucky is a 14-year-old poodle mix who we rescued. We knew once we saw him, he would be well loved by our family. We added an additional member to our family, Dexter, a Yorkie Terrier puppy to keep Lucky company and keep him moving. The two of them are always with us on family vacation or our girls’ practices. Additionally, we have chickens: Betty, Lottie, Gram Cracker, Cheese and Cake, who are generous enough to spare some eggs for us. In our backyard, we have a lovely pond with large beautiful koi fish, which has inspired me for a few of my paintings. Our last pet is Otis, is an 8 year old desert tortoise who enjoys cruising our backyard.

When did you know that you would be an artist

I was in the middle of my freshman year of high school when the Berlin Wall fell. Under the communist party, I was not able to choose my area of study since my parents were not in the party. I became an accounting and secretary major, but this was far away from my personality.

Just a year later, at 16 years old, I was protesting our lack of freedom under the communist regime with the rest of my classmates. In November 1989, the country opened to the world and we were able to travel freely to other countries. I left for the United States by myself two years later. By 25, I knew I wanted to pursue Interior Design and enrolled full time at the University of Arizona, Pima Community College, and later Northern Arizona University. I knew I wanted to change people’s lives through color and design and this was an important step for me to fulfill that. However, I can’t recall a time when I knew I would be an artist. I think I became one through exploring the foundation in creativity already there. I was fortunate to be raised by parents who guided me through natural forms of art without money. They raised me to appreciate little things easily spotted in nature, supported me with art supplies, and encouraged my dreams.

What is your favorite media to work with?

Oil paint is just my absolute favorite! I love blending it, its texture, and even the smell. You place it on your pallet and can mix the perfect color. It also has longevity so even if you don’t finish the same day, you could just cover it and come back a week later to find the covered paint ready to paint again. I started out with water pencils, acrylic, and oil paint. Canvases are not only things I painted on, I love to retouch and give new life to old recycled furniture or make murals for kid’s nursery. Even exterior paint color is fun for murals, especially for plain children’s playground.

What do you do when you’re not doing your art?

When I’m not painting, I am probably busy with my family or work. Even I love to get lost myself in the hands-on painting I still use daily a digital media as well. Photoshop, Illustrator, AutoCAD and Sketch up program’s skills help me to demonstrate & visualize layout, scale and finish options to clients in a physical space. The final illustration of the rooms or homes are almost as real as it gets. It truly helps clients to see how their future house will look like.

Almost 8 years ago we decided to build a little free library dedicated to our girl’s. Since than Alex’s LFL distributed over 80,000 free books to local community and we organized many Events, our most famous was Annual Santa’s Letters, Halloween parade books instead of candies, Valentine’s fundraiser for rescue dogs. It become well love part of our neighborhood and by now it’s well established so I rarely have to ask for more book donations.

I am passionate about causes that touch my heart or family. We always try to volunteer and give back to our community, from neighborhood involvement, sex trafficking victims, animal shelter or my last effort with Sewing Masks for Tucson donating over 50,000 masks to our community.

But my best free time is always with my love ones. Both my daughters love art projects, gardening, baking, piano or ukuleles or play softball, which keeps us pretty busy during the week. If there is any free time left, with my husband and I enjoy golfing, RV camping in Arizona beautiful parks and meeting up with our friends. Family and friends’ bond is important to me and cherish every minute of it.

The Tucson Gallery Asked Each Artist The Same Questions To Get To Know Them Better

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in and near Tucson. My family lived in Catalina just N of Tucson and I remember the long drives into town as a small child. The desert was much more prominent then because much of Oro Valley was not developed. The first traffic light on Oracle Road was at Tangerine Road and I don’t think there was another one until Magee. It made for a much speedier commute. 

Tell us about your family

My husband is a local as well. He and I have been married for 12 years and have three beautiful kids. We met out with friends and have not looked back since. We have an assortment of pets which are our family too! Chickens, Koi, turtles, and a new puppy named Sue. We are excited for him to be our travel buddy. The kids love playing with him and we love watching them make memories. 

When did you know that you would be an artist?

I have been an artist of some sort since I was a small child. My mother was artistic and always dabbling in various projects and would curate new artistic experiences for my brother and me. My Grandfather was an animator and had a large influence on my desire to create. He would look over my sketchbooks in my adolescence and critique my wandering drawings. I remember feeling both totally judged and motivated at the same time when he would search through the pages of doodles.

What is your favorite media to work with?

I always knew I wanted to work with metal but was not sure how to go about it. In college I started playing with steel, aluminum, and bronze. I dabbled in lost wax casting and welding and stumbled upon the processes I am currently exploring. I am interested in creating movement and fluid lines in my work using a rigid and rough material, like steel. It is intriguing to me to recreate intricate biological designs, like insects and birds, with a material that is challenging to manipulate. The outcome captures the subjects in an abstracted way that reimagines their designs.

What do you do when you’re not doing the voodoo that you do (Tom’s way of asking)? Or, what do you do when you’re not doing your art?

When I am not making art, I am teaching art. I have been a high school art teacher in TUSD for the past seven years and love teaching young artists how to find their voice as we explore contemporary art practices in an open studio setting.

And when I am not making or teaching, I love to be outside! I enjoy hiking, running, walking, climbing, camping, you name it. It is really a whole family affair. My love of nature has had a direct influence on my art practice and I am sure it will continue to shape how I begin artistic endeavors for years to come.

Tell us about your family?

I was born into a family of 2^nd generation  Armenians, which means all my grandparents survived the Armenian Genocide  of 1915. We are a family of waves riders literally and metaphorically. We not  only navigated some atrocious circumstances in life but we thoroughly enjoy life too, especially moments in the great outdoors riding ocean waves, & shredding  (skiing) snow-capped mountains. All my grandparents & parents and most  uncles & aunts passed on decades ago. Today my true (extended) family has  expanded globally and so I now consider myself belong to a family of Rainbow  Light Peace Keepers.  

Do you have pets, if yes, tell us about them?

For over 20 years I had the  pleasure of sharing my home with three kitties who all passed on in the past  three years. Betty Diamond, my oldest, came to me from a kitty litter. Mukti (the  Sanskrit word for liberation) and Karuna (the Sanskrit word for compassion), feral  kitten siblings, were running for their lives in West University Neighborhood until I  rescued them but we all know who rescued who. Betty Diamond on the other  hand was a Guru in disguise and our connection was uncanny. All three brought  immense joy into my life and saw me thru the twists and turns & the highs and  lows of life. I adored each of them, and look forward to the next kitty I am  blessed with.  

When did you know that you would be an artist?

I never knew I would be an  artist, I just knew I was a creator from an early age. I was drawing, painting,  linoleum block printing, building with papier-mâché, cardboard, wood, and clay  early in life. Unfortunately, pursuing art beyond High School was not supported  by my dad, although my childhood art teachers recognized my gift and passion,  and did there best to encourage me to apply to art schools. My formal education  & degrees are in Mathematics & Computer Science, and although my training in  ceramics is not considered formal, I have been taught, touched & guided to my  heART by many visible & invisible hands. 

What is your favorite media to work with?

Hands down low fire earthenware  clay is my favorite medium to work with. I absolutely love having my hands in the  clay. Clay not only feels good it is a most friendly and forgiving medium to work  with before the first firing. Low fire clay bodies allow me to achieve the vibrant  colors in my glazes. I also love co-creating with the kiln gods and goddesses  who have a hand in every piece. Letting go is a practice but always so exciting  when it’s time to open my kilns after a glaze firing.  

What do you do when you’re not doing your art?

If I’m not fixing something  around the house or doing office work, I’m enjoying the great outdoors, hiking,  biking, skiing, surfing, diving, or kayaking… either solo or with friends in Tucson,  or out of town guests. This past year I was teaching skiing on Mt Lemmon  because we had three months of snow. I love getting to the Lower Salt River and  Patagonia lake to kayak and swim in the summers. Hiking & biking to waterholes  with waterfalls in Sabino Canyon never gets old, and neither does the ocean and  riding the waves in Encinitas, CA. Diving in Mexico was no comparison to taking  my open water dive certification in the Long Island Sound when I was a teenager.  Art openings, dancing, time in the yard, and time in the kitchen cooking good meals are some other things I do when I’m not creating in the studio.  

Tucson Gallery Asked Each Artist The Same Questions To Get To Know Them Better

Where did you grow up?  

I grew up in the deep South in a subtropical climate where the neighbors all knew each other, and the  river was always running.  

Tell us about your family.  

My family is very supportive of my art. My mom was a teacher, and my dad was in the music business.  When I was younger, even though we lived in the same household, my dad would mail letters to me  written in rebus form, using illustrated pictures in the place of words.  

Do you have pets? If yes, tell us about them.  

We have a dog who loves to sing. He can do lots of tricks like dancing, rolling over, and doing yoga  (downward dog), but his best talent is singing. When I move my arms around like I’m conducting an  orchestra, that really gets him going.  

When did you know that you would be an artist?  

I realized my destiny in 10^th grade when my high school English teacher made me stay after school to  wash all the desks, because I supposed she was envious of my ability to draw masterpieces on desks  with a No. 2 pencil.  

What is your favorite media to work with?  

My favorite medium is acrylics, because I like painting in layers. Shrek would say that my paintings are  like onions.  

What do you do when you’re not doing the voodoo that you do? Or what do you do when you’re not  doing your art?  

I enjoy tandem bicycling with my husband, church activities with my family, and cooking from scratch.  And when the river runs in Tucson, I take pictures – because they last longer. 

Do you have pets, if yes, tell us about them

We have two cute and kinda crazy rescue dogs.  Sandi is 14 years old and was rescued in Vegas.  She and I have walked many miles together over the years!  Supposedly she is pug, beagle and chihuahua.  Romeo is an adorable little 3 year old guy.  We rescued him from PACC who had saved his life and he sticks true to the name they gave him. He is probably chihuahua and minpin. Romeo is a lover and gives amazing hugs.  

When did you know that you would be an artist?

I had a lot of energy as a kid.  I played every sport I could, loved the monkey bars and swing sets, but needed down time and that is when I would sit quietly in my parents basement with art projects.  I had amazing art teachers in high school who lead me to believe I was capable to pursue the arts. I was so dedicated and passionate.  That is when I decided to study the arts at the University of Arizona, and then I had my first solo show at age 27 that was super successful.  

What is your favorite media to work with?

I adore mixed media.  I put a great deal of thought into my creations and which papers make the best sense or add the most intriguing element of excitement or surprise. 

What do you do when you’re not doing the voodoo that you do (Tom’s way of asking)? Or, what do you do when you’re not doing your art?

I enjoy hiking and biking.  My husband and I are always looking for new recipes because we love to cook.  I can’t go too long without a trip because I enjoy travel and exploring new places.  I am the president of the Southern Arizona Arts Guild because I am passionate about supporting the arts in Southern Arizona.  Recently, I began meditating and joined a book club.  

Years later I no longer created art with a camera, but with stones from the earth and steel. Although my form of art is different it’s the same narrative that I create because I believe that’s what God created me to do. As I am now a full time artist and have dedicated myself fully to my craft I face the daily challenge of creating art with my heart and mind. So often they’re pitted against each other, but I truly believe that both intellect and imagination are essential in creating good art. 

Living here in Tucson, Arizona with the beautiful support of friends and family and the Tucson Art Gallery I’m pleased to say that although we still live in a broken world and I myself am a broken man, I do my very best in all that I do and strive each day to create genuine, sincere, and authentic art. I love to create, I love to express myself creatively, I love the way art makes me feel; with hope that all that I do is done to the glory of God. 

The Tucson Gallery Asked Each Artist The Same Questions To Get To Know Them Better

Where did you grow up?

Born and raised in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, Naperville specifically until I was 15. My family made a big move to Tucson Arizona where i’ve been since.

Tell us about your family

My wife and I have been married for 3 years and have a beautiful baby boy named Jonah. To start our marriage off we bought an old travel trailer, gutted it, and completely remodeled it. We lived in our little home for a year until my wife got pregnant; she looked me dead in the eyes and said, “I am not having a baby in this camper.” So we said goodbye to the tiny house life. I’d say our freetime is equally split between spending time with friends and family, exploring the outdoors, or eating food.

Do you have pets?

No… but I wish I had a cat.

When did you know that you would be an artist?

I’ve always had an admiration for art as well as artists ever since I was little, but not until my mid twenties did it even cross my mind of being a full time artist. In fact even as I began learning and developing my craft at 21 it never crossed my mind that I would spend the rest of my life creating art. I was 25 working as a server by day and creating art in my free time and suddenly out of nowhere I was laid off. I was at a crossroads where I could find another part time job or take a leap of faith into full time pursuing my art. After much prayer and contemplation I realized this was something I had to do. I’d say at that moment in my life I knew I would spend the rest of my days as an artist. 

What is your favorite media to work with?

My favorite media to work with is stone and steel. It’s exciting to me how steel has such an amazing strength to it yet with the right tools has such malleability. I also have the pleasure of working with the most beautiful stones. There’s always a story with a stone, an adventure of who it was mined by and where it came from. 

What do you do when you’re not creating art?

When i’m not creating art I’m probably spending time with my family. We love going on walks, checking out new restaurants, and going on vacation. Honestly since becoming parents, a fun night out is going to Costco, getting a churro, and then being in bed by 7:30 so we can watch a movie and go to bed early.

Tell us about your family

My older brother and sister and I got along well. Our parents gave us free range in the kitchen, so we experimented a lot and came up with some pretty whacky creations. We loved hosting french toast eating contests when our parents were away.

When did you know that you would be an artist?

I have been drawing as long as I can remember. Our dad was a dentist, and he would bring home supplies for creating molds that used to make chalk. Our driveway was covered with scenery I envisioned. I was always hustling homemade crafts to friends at school in order to make money so I could buy ice cream sandwiches.

What is your favorite media to work with?

While I have experimented with so many types of media, my favorite is still pens and pencils on sketchbook paper. I love the low maintenance aspect and can carry my supplies in my purse so I can create anywhere.

What do you do when you’re not doing your art?

I always start my day doing something outdoors, riding my bike, running, walking or hiking. It helps me feel settled so I can come back home and create. I enjoy experiencing other artists’ creativity, especially street artists, filmmakers and musicians. At home, my husband, son and I love to cook (and eat!) so our kitchen is often a mess with clouds of flour and some form of chocolate.