Today we’d like to introduce you to Natara Bjaranson
Natara, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
It all started on my 5th birthday, the year I began to make drawings for my future self and to watch my progression as I got older. I’m not sure what motivated me to begin this ritual and continue until my 18th birthday. As a senior in high school, I was always drawing in my free time, but believed I could never foster a successful career as an artist. I even dropped out of an AP Art class in my final year on the first day of the semester. I changed my schedule after feeling intimidated after a close friend told me I wouldn’t like it, it was really hard and really boring.
As I continued on in my academic year, I went to Sonoma State University and when signing up for courses I believed an 8am art class sounded like a good idea. Naturally, as a freshman I left my projects to the last minute and often missed that class. After my freshman year and sudden death of my grandma, I took a leave of absence and enrolled at my local community college. Unfortunately, I also waited too long to sign up for any classes that could be applied towards my General Education. This action ironically led me to my love of painting and to my very first beginners course with Leslie Nemour.
I started painting back in 2015 and was drawn to portraiture and figure painting in memory of those my family I had lost. I soon found that every semester I was signing up for multiple art courses, regardless of the applicable credits and interning under my favorite professor Leslie. I often ended up taking 16-18 units a semester to include General ED and a variety of classes that peaked my interest. During that time I remained undeclared despite spending most of my day in the art building. I was still determined to major in something traditionally profitable until I applied for a transfer and learned I unintentionally attained my first degree from the collection of my courses.
In 2018, I graduated with my associates degree from Mira Costa in Studio Art and in 2020, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University in Painting & Printmaking. Post graduation, I worked as a teaching artist for an organization called Prison Arts Collective, helping to create art based curriculum for those incarcerated during the pandemic. I continue to paint a range of content for myself and custom portraits for others. My love to learn led me to this path and has continued to help me heal.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I grew up with my nuclear family more than disconnected, but with my older brother in Florida, my younger brother in Alaska, my father in Oregon and my mother and myself in California. As a child I experienced an extreme amount of loss and violence that has heavily impacted me and my relationships. I placed a lot of my identity in what I could do for others and how I could be of service to my family and as a result I became a pretty lonely kid. Then into adolescence there was more violence and experiences that left me lacking any self worth and only aided my depression. I was lucky to have the teachers I did and the parents of my friends that kept me from slipping through the cracks. Through this I am inspired by personal experiences of trauma and renewed resilience. My content focuses on critical phases of physical and mental development, while exploring the residual effects of my own and my family’s trauma.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an interdisciplinary San Diego based artist who primarily works in oil paint, printmaking and sculpture. I am inspired through personal experiences of trauma and resilience. My content focuses on critical phases of physical and mental development, while exploring the residual effects of my own and my family’s trauma. I create comparisons to the physical and mental development of those who experience phases of violence to my practice of painting the darkest shadows with shades of violet. I believe that through the use of this color palette, a viewer can feel the strong range of emotions that make the blues of a sad house and the crimson of swollen skin. I base this practice from a poem I wrote in 2017 describing how it feels to be a color during a time filled with conflicting grief and rage. I have come to believe through education and discussion art has the ability to heal and awaken untapped potential. I think what sets me apart is a series of events that lead me to my first painting class, but generally I believe anyone has the capacity to become a great artist. I also believe as children we confidently made art, however as many people age, the value of art is lost or discouraged. Today I am most proud of my educational achievements and grateful that my younger self and current self continue to foster the artist in me.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I do love a good audio book during certain projects, however I do also find myself in rhythm of watching old comfort tv series and early 2000’s animations as of late. And if I’m truly honest nothing has me doing my best work like some heart ache and an emotionally charged playlist.
Pricing:
- Digital prints range from 27-50
- Current Oil Paintings for sale range from 420-1,800
- Custom Commission Paintings start at the base rate of $450-900 (Additional rates apply per subject/figure)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://PhasesofViolet.squarespace.com
- Instagram: Littlems.Seuss
- Facebook: NataraBrieOnna
