Welcoming Vanesa Gonzalez to "Home of The Creatives" presented by Bree Moore Productions.
Studio: Bree Moore Productions @breemooreproductions
Artist: Vanesa Gonzalez @surtzy
Photographer: Nick Weaver @southpawmedia
Creative Director: Bree Moore @thebreemoore
Tell us about your ART…
I am a poet, model / actress, photographer, painter, singer, aerialist, and dancer. When I write poems, I am usually recounting a memory or a feeling. When I model, my passion genres are artistic nude, boudoir, and fashion. When I photograph, I shoot with the intention of making the observer feel as though they are the subject. When I paint, I utilize acrylic or oil paint on canvas. When I sing, I often practice with a soft piano in the background. When I practice aerials, I love to give into the spinning trance. When I dance, I dance to release or gain energy. I dance because it serves as an act of rebellion. We live in a world where we are expected to stand up right (or sit) while our bodies make very little movements unless the purpose is to transport it but to me, it feels like it is meant for so much more. Bodies can jump, pivot, backbend, skip, sprint, shake, or flow. This is something that I often try to remind myself and everyone around me.
What is your “WHY”?
Somewhere along the way I came upon the epiphany that everyone has a story to tell with an all encompassing unique perspective. We all come from various places, inherit distinctive aspirations, traumas, and fascinations. I also realized that if I do not begin to tell my story the way I feel it and see it, who will? Will it expire? Will someone else who may find it relatable feel alone out there if I never release it into the world? That, and I aim to bring the concepts I dream of into the tangible world.
What is your favorite aspect of being an artist?
There is so much freedom that comes with being an artist. Artists are entitled to blue periods, euphoric periods and sporadic periods. I can go out into a park and dance around; I can go sketch under a moonlight and my emotions are free to roam. I honestly have no idea how I would cope with my existence if I could not question it through poetry or sing about it.
How do you get in the zone to create?
The zone that I need to create depends on the purpose of my project. For collaborative pieces, where other souls are contributing their own inspirations, I just dive in and bounce off of the vibes. I am very free-flowing and flexible. For personal projects, as an introvert, I must be entirely alone. I often feel as though I am a vessel that pulls from my genetic memories, my ancestors’ presence and a bit of other things here and there. I have attempted to work on personal projects in the presence of others and over time, I have discovered that it is nearly impossible for me to be around someone and not channel their energy into my piece.
What is the aspect you hate the most about your journey?
As mentioned earlier, we are all unique and that is partially why I create. What I didn’t mention is that it felt incredibly lonely to be me before I began creating things that *I* wanted to create. I was born into the art world and began creating as early as I can remember but they weren’t my ideas. I saw things in my daydreams that I’d never seen in museums or stories and the urge to let them out began to grow but for a large portion of my life, I felt fearful of rejection and that prevented me from being able to move forward. With fear, I stayed safe and comfortable where in another life, this is where I might have stayed. I wanted to meet others like me, who reached the same levels and mixtures of emotions as me, who felt the same symphonies as I did or saw the same color combinations as I did. Eventually, these wants became stronger than my fears. I do hate that part of the journey but at the same time, I wouldn’t be here without it because it allowed me to forge my own artistic identity.
What is the most valuable HARD LESSON you’ve learned on your journey?
I wouldn't say that I am at all close to overcoming this obstacle yet, but I have been battling between being true to myself over the algorithm. I’m trying to learn to push past the want for likes and views and to remain true to myself by creating what I want to create. I don’t want to give in to the mainstream ideals of what I should be posting for the masses if it means that I must compromise who I am as an artist. Presently, I am being faced with one of the hardest lessons in my journey and it is that I must decipher between the two, Should I create art to honor life as we know it and as it truly is? Or... Should I create art to honor and please the people around me and what I believe they may want to see?
Do you have a “ritual” or “habits” before creating?
Coffee.
How do you pull inspiration from others?
When I look around and see the way people utilize the tools and world around us, I am inspired. Sometimes, I’ll see a current trend and want to switch things up a bit or I’ll see a model pose in a certain way and it will unlock something within me that allows me to envision many other poses. Sometimes I’ll see a particular bird and it will inspire me to want to style my hair or outfit in a different way. Other times, I’ll skim through tutorial videos on how to use photoshop or how to do certain dance moves or where to discover wonderful photoshoot locations. Inspiration is everywhere.
Why do you love to create?
I love creating because there is no roof. The possibilities are INFINITE.
How important is creativity to the world?
Creativity is important to the world because not only is it our collective stories and culture, but it is a life force.
What is your ultimate goal for your ART?
I share my art because I want it to reach anyone who can find themselves within it. As a latent goal, I dream that those who I've inspired will someday find their way back to me for us to create an extraordinary collaborative piece. That would be a utopia for me.
Thank you all for visiting, "Home of the Creatives" presented by Bree Moore Productions. "You do not have to leave but you have to get out of here." Until next time... No More Po' Shit!
