Interview: Ariana Bauer, photography

A few weeks ago we had spotlighted the inspiring work of photographer/digital artist Ariana Bauer. We were lucky enough to get an interview with her and find out more about her creative style.

1 ) Tell us about yourself:

I am a Lebanese American digital artist and photographer.  I love to capture beauty in the world around me, and have been interested in just about every form of art since childhood.  I have worked in many medias, from textiles to painting to collage, but the world of photography and digital art are my specialties.

2 ) Tell us a bit about your artwork:

My artwork is a combination of digital painting techniques and photographic media.  I use many different images in a completed piece. I let the core image drive the inspiration and direction of my pieces.  In the photographic elements, I love to shoot all different kinds of subject matter and work in many locations.  I have a huge library of thousands of images that serve as a core for my work.  No matter what my subject matter, I focus on bringing out the natural beauty in my subject though age.  I find aging an image allows the subject to truly shine. I also love to experiment by trying different combinations of images, no matter how strange or chaotic.  Sometimes the chaotic element makes it to the finished work and adds a bit of the unexpected to an image.

3 ) What are your tools of the trade, including hardware and software:

I shoot with a Nikon D300 and a selection of lenses. My preferred lenses are my Nikkor 17-55mm, my Nikkor 50mm , and my Lensbaby.

I have a large selection of studio lighting equipment, nearly all Alien Bees mono lights. I am in love with my latest acquisition, the 86″ parabolic umbrella (you can find a review of the device on my blog). It just creates the most amazing light. I prefer to use simple lighting techniques with two, maybe three lights at a time.

I like to edit my work in the midst of the chaos of my living room on my Lenovo Y530. It is durable and has taken a few hits with ease (my 19 month old threw a hard sippy cup at it and dented the case). It is speedy and has a great monitor.

For software, there a few programs I could not live without.  Adobe Photoshop CS4 is where I do all of my editing.  I use Noiseware Professional for noise reduction and skin smoothing and Alien Skin BlowUp to literally blow up my images for print.  I also love the filters from Photokit, especially the creative sharpener brushes.

4 ) How long have you been an artist and what, if any, hurdles did you have to overcome in the process?

I have been creating digital art for around 10 years and have been very serious about my photography for the past 5 years. I started with 3D animation, moved to graphic design, and eventually into a mix of the medias with photography.

I think the biggest hurdle in my art has been finding the right audience.  Digital art is a very new field and people are not always sure how to respond.  Is it a photo? Is it a painting? My art falls between the lines in a place that is hard to categorize. My work also tends to feel “old” or “vintage” and doesn’t seem to have a home amongst the typical newer photographic works on the gallery walls.

5 ) Where do you find your creativity and inspiration?

I find creative inspiration everywhere around me.  My biggest inspiration are my two boys (3 and 19 months). I adore watching them discover the world.  I am in awe of how they notice the smallest details on the tiniest flower. The world around them is so new and free.  I long to create in a way that is as free as they are.

I am also incredibly inspired by the early days of photography.  I love the freedom the early photographers had, the pioneer spirit.  I think they were then what digital artists are now.

6 ) Who are your favorite artists and why?

This is a very hard question because I have too many to list here.  As far as photography is concerned I am always in awe of Annie Leibovitz. I started reading Voque as a child and have been collecting her images from the magazine pages for many years.

My mother has always been a fantasy artwork collector.  I grew up with Boris Vallejo calendars filling the walls.  This has been a big influence on how I work with models.  I strive to create a fantasy world like the ones in the calendars.

Traditional fine art is also another source of inspiration.  I adore Monet for his amazing brush strokes.  I am obsessed with texture.  I love to go to the St. Louis Art Museum and inspect paintings for the texture and feeling.

7 ) Which piece of your art stands out as a favorite and why?

My favorite piece is a very simple seascape image, called “Forever”.  The image was taken in San Francisco, CA.  The day was especially cool and the surfers were not going in the water, they were just sitting and watching the waves. It was maybe 5 PM, so the sun was on its way down, showing in from the right side.  The sea was just so perfect and seems to go on forever.  I am in love with ocean and wish that I could live by it. For me, this image is where I could be forever.

8 ) Tell us about your artistic process from creation to completion:

An image for me starts one of two ways, random inspiration or avid research.  If I have an idea that can be worked out in the studio, I will build a set and hire models when needed to create the core image, though most often I am just walking along and I snap away.  Often times, those are the images that stay with me and move into the next step in the creative process.

After choosing a core image that speaks to me, I start to play.  I edit out anything that is obviously out of place, such as basic color and skin retouching.  Then I let the image do some work.  I layer multiple images together to texturize, age, antique, and change the color of the image.  The hardest part is knowing when to stop.  An image may take me one hour to one week to complete.  I know the work is usually done when everything I add I don’t like.

9 ) If you could have your art displayed anywhere, where would it be and why?

Okay, another hard one! I would love to see my art at the Bellagio Fine Art Gallery in Las Vegas.  The Bellagio is known for being a place for luxury and I would love to have my work in a place aimed at people who buy work because they adore it.

I would also love to see one of my images at the St. Louis Art Museum, mostly because I grew up going to this museum and it would be amazing to have a piece in a place where everyone I know could go see it.

10 ) If you could escape into any one fantasy world what would it be an why?

My fantasy has always been to live as an artist in Paris.  Walking the city with no where to go and taking pictures.  The city is just so romantic and classic.  Paris is a very special city in my heart and my dreams.  I will live there, one day.

11 ) Tell us about any upcoming projects you have planned:

I have a few upcoming projects.  One that has me very excited is a line of jewelry featuring my fine art images.  I am also working on two series, one new and one expanding.  I am working on expanding my Pink Explorations series with pin-up inspired fantasy pieces.  I am also working on a collection pieces I call “Cracked”.  This series will explore combining images with the concept of items that are cracked apart.  There is one piece done already and many more to come.

12 ) Where can people find you, website etc?

My website is http://www.arianabauer.com
You can also find my artwork for sale at http://arianabauer.etsy.com and locally in St. Louis at Mist Spa.

13 ) Anything else you want people to know about you?

I currently have work on exhibit at the Flax Gallery in St. Louis, MO and will be featured at the Soulard Art Market in St. Louis, MO on November 14-15, 2009.

Thank you Ariana for your time!