Ink, Drawing, and Nature’s Patterns: An Interview with Marissa Arellano, Texas State University Studio Art Major
How did you make the decision to become an artist? Or was it a feeling that led you into art?
I don’t think I ever made the decision to become an artist. I think it just sort of happened when I was younger, in elementary school. I would draw a lot and then when I got into middle school and high school, I started exploring different forms of art like writing or choir. I always liked to do some type of art on the side, whether it would be a collage. Just drawing in general, but after I graduated high school, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do or what I wanted to major in. I sort of thought back and remembered that I did really enjoy drawing. I just decided to get my associate’s degree in art. While I was getting my associate’s degree in art at the Community College, I took a drawing class and I realized, like, how much I missed drawing. So, when I transferred here, I decided to just major in drawing, and
Marissa Arellano, Balance, Ink on Paper, 2023 I have been an artist since then.
That’s super fun! How would you classify your style or what elements have shaped your style?
I don’t know if there’s a specific word for it. I do a lot of pen and ink drawings. That’s what I’m focusing on for my thesis and there are just a lot of white, black, and white pen and ink drawings about nature, the human figure. I would say that a lot of it is very focused on the small details. I looked specifically at nature to find those details. I notice that there are a lot of patterns in nature whether it be patterned on a seashell, or for example scales on a snake. I sort of just look to those things as influences.
Very, very nice! How about your favorite artist or movement artist and movement?
I don’t know if I have a favorite artist, to be honest. I look at different artists for inspiration on Instagram. I have saved a section of my favorite art that I found there. It’s just a bunch of different ones, all working in different mediums. As far as the movement, it’s kind of a similar thing. When I was going to a Community College, whenever I was taking that drawing class, one of our assignments was to do an automatic drawing. I didn’t know what that was at first, but the professor explained it as drawing something on the paper and not really like thinking about it. I think it derived from the surrealist movement. Going along with that idea of unlocking the subconscious and just letting your mind wander. I remember making this sort of abstract pattern. It’s very different from the stuff that I do now because this was four years ago. I just really enjoyed that freeing technique and how inspirational it was to create a pattern out of nowhere. I still look at that technique today.
Whenever I’m stuck on a part of my drawing or something, I look at that technique again and try to come up with something on the page to create a pattern.
So kind of liberating.
Marissa Arellano, Confusion, Marker, 2019
Does your artwork have any purpose or are you seeking? To convey an idea. Or do you create art artwork for just like? Arts for art’s sake.
Yeah, I would say that. I don’t really have a specific idea that I’m trying to convey or anything. I create art for art. But people read into it in different ways. I have people that look at my art. They’ll see ideas of pollution, or a commentary on pollution and environmentalism.
So I would say it’s probably more of the balance between nature and man made stuff. I don’t really like to go out of my way to make that very apparent in my art. I just draw what I enjoy drawing and like people sort of like reading different things into it.
So your work is almost a little bit open to different perspectives. How do you feel about that, let’s say? For example, about pollution.
I enjoy when people read different things into my art just because they point out stuff that I didn’t even realize was there. If people want to like, see that in my art it’s understandable. I can see where they are coming from, so it’s OK with me.
I think some artists have a very set mind on what they want to convey, but it’s really nice that you allow that flexibility of perception. Now, when you begin your art process, what crosses your mind? How do you prepare to begin an artwork or do you already have a concept that you want to create? Or a certain pattern that you want to draw?
For each drawing I really don’t have a specific plan. For example, the one I’m starting now, I’m looking at like my past couple of pieces of drawings. I look to those for inspiration. One thing I like to do in my drawings is to connect them through subject matter or the material that I’m using like the pen and ink. Then, I see how I can convey that in my new drawing, but from a different perspective. If I could make the pattern different but keep it similar to the original like idea that I had for it.
And what does fine art mean to you? Or when somebody says like, oh, fine art?
I think like fine art, like, just like throughout, like centuries. It’s just been a response to whatever came before it. SoI guess I view it like that now. I never really look at my art and think that it’s fine art. I made it personal. It doesn’t really fit in with fine art. Fine art, though, has become so open to different styles. Anything can fit into it. So, it’s a response to what came before it.
What are some limiting beliefs or feelings that you might have towards your artwork?
I’ve been talking about this in my thesis class about my drawings. They see that the concept of time is a very prominent element in my pieces, whether it be through like the subject matters because I like to do a lot of cell-like structures,microscopic structures, and fossils. So, I also feel that it is commenting on time. I use time as a medium in a way, because the drawing that I sent you took about like 80 hours. It may be discouraging when I realize that I spent an hour in a small section. Another artist might be able to do more work in 80 hours, while I dedicated plenty of time to a small section.
I guess it is limiting to spend so much time on one section of a drawing at a time. It is also rewarding in a way, because I have a finished product of something that I want. So I guess the time pays off.
Super interesting! Yeah, I understand how that could feel. I think sometimes it’s very important to see the quality over the quantity, because maybe an artist produced quite a vast amount of works in a short period of time, but maybe the quality is not there, you know? It does really reflect in artwork. For example, by observing your artwork. I can tell that you really pay close attention to detail and you have a very specific idea as far as the forms, and the shading. Now, from a market perspective, how would you value your art?
So is this about how you price it or like it? What is it exactly?
It is about pricing and personal value; the balance of both.
I don’t really know how to answer this question because I’ve never sold any art yet. I’m saving to do that until after I graduate. In my practice and portfolio class, we recently did an assignment where we were practicing pricing our work and that drawing that I was talking about turned out to be$1500. I understand it, because I did spend a lot of time. I also find it hard to believe that anybody would buy it. That’s my commentary on the value. Personally, I value it outside of money. It means a lot to me because I spent a lot of time on it.
In what places would you prefer your art to be displayed?
I’d be happy with having opportunities to display it anywhere. It would be interesting to see it at an aquarium or somewhere in a historical or scientific place.
So hmm, that’s super interesting. Well, from my little bit of experience that I have in kind of like as an art consultant or gallerist is that people such as scientists and doctors do like to invest in artwork. So that’s something important to know especially for your type of art. That there really is a market out there for. What are your thoughts on art collectors or art dealers?
I don’t really know much about what collectors or art dealers do. Could you explain?
Yes. Collectors are usually people that search for artworks to collect as an investment. Usually art dealers are the ones that deal with the artists. Like the middleman between the collector, a gallery, or a specific client.
I’ll probably have to do more research to fully have an idea. I honestly just learned about these terms recently in My Portfolio class.
- Well, I think that leaves us to a conclusion. Thank you so much for taking the time for the interview. It was such a pleasure to meet you.
Thank you! Likewise!