Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariana Cardenas.
Ariana, before we jump into specific questions about your art, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started around 2016. I was 25 years old and working as a barista at downtown Tj. At that time my dad and brothers were launching a business making costumed-made props and cosplay suits using many different materials including leather. I was not making a lot of money as a Barista, so I decided to get partially involved in the family business helping my dad make simple superhero leather masks. He taught me the very basics on how to cut and shape it to simple forms. After a year of doing this and getting very good at it, I wanted to try something more challenging, so I tried making a cat woman mask that took me a month or two to finish, but I did it, so I was very proud and surprised to discover that I had talent.
Has it been a smooth road?
Since it has been only four years that I started most of my projects have been a learning experience, every time I have tried to take the material bend to a different level and that always takes me more time than the expected. Many times I have needed to stop working on a piece for weeks or even months because I just get blocked. These times I have rest from it and let the inspiration or new ideas flow back and get me working again. When this happens, it’s hard to know the total hours of work that I put in a piece and I tend to undervalue my work and creative process.
We’d love to hear more about your art.
I am a leather artist and I focus on making unique and custom made masks and headpieces. I like using a wet molding technique that allows me to shape and hand form leather. Every piece involves a lot of time, love and patience. With the scrap leftover pieces of leather, I make beautiful leather jewelry, mainly earrings.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Tijuana it’s a very wild and enchanting place. The perfect mixture of the colorful Mexican culture under the influence of an avant-garde neighbor like San Diego brings together a unique community of artist and creators that capture the attention of both sides of the border, reminding us that the fusion and exchange of different cultures can melt into an innovative new generation of hearts that are able to express freely.
Mexico is still a developing country that undervalues and ignores the importance of art as a human need. Art is often hard to afford to the regular citizen, and it also makes it a challenge for the artist to find the client who knows and understands the work of a handcrafted piece.
Pricing:
- Earrings $25
- Half face mask $150
- Full mask/headpiece $250+
Contact Info:
- Phone: +52 1 664 7764078
- Email: alter.cara@gmail.com
- Instagram: Alter.cara
Image Credit:
Diego Santos
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