Behind the Canvas: Artist Interviews
What drives artists to create? How do they approach their craft, overcome challenges, and find inspiration in an ever-changing world? To explore these questions, we sat down with three remarkable contemporary artists whose work spans different mediums, techniques, and thematic concerns.
Maya Reynolds: Finding Beauty in Chaos
Maya Reynolds is known for her large-scale abstract paintings that feature dynamic brushwork and bold color contrasts. Based in New York City, she has exhibited her work internationally and recently completed a residency at the prestigious Yaddo artists' colony.
Collective Path: How would you describe your artistic approach?
Maya: I'm interested in the tension between control and chaos. My process involves building up many layers of paint, allowing each layer to partially show through the next. I often start with a loose idea or feeling, but I try to remain open to what happens on the canvas. Some of my most successful works have emerged from what initially seemed like mistakes or failures.
Collective Path: What inspires your color choices?
Maya: Color is emotional for me. I'm drawn to unexpected combinations that create a sense of energy or tension. I'm also influenced by my surroundings—the industrial landscapes of Brooklyn, the quality of light at different times of day, even the color of the subway seats. I absorb these visual inputs and they emerge, transformed, in my work.
Collective Path: How has your work evolved over time?
Maya: I started with much more structured, geometric compositions. Over the years, my work has become more gestural and fluid. I've also begun working on a larger scale, which allows for more physical engagement with the painting process. My relationship with color has deepened—I'm more willing to take risks and push boundaries with unexpected combinations.
"Art isn't about reproducing what you see. It's about transforming what you experience."
— Maya Reynolds
Carlos Mendoza: Sculpting Stories in Clay
Carlos Mendoza creates narrative ceramic sculptures that blend traditional techniques with contemporary themes. Born in Mexico City and now based in Los Angeles, his work explores cultural identity, migration, and memory.
Collective Path: How did you begin working with ceramics?
Carlos: I was drawn to clay because of its connection to earth and its presence in so many cultures throughout history. My grandmother was a folk potter in Oaxaca, so I grew up watching her transform raw clay into useful, beautiful objects. Though I initially studied painting in art school, I found myself returning to clay because of its tactile qualities and its ability to occupy physical space in a way that feels both permanent and fragile.
Collective Path: Your work often incorporates narrative elements. Can you talk about that?
Carlos: I'm interested in how objects can tell stories. Each piece I create contains elements of personal and collective history. I often integrate symbols from Mexican folk art and pre-Columbian iconography with references to contemporary urban life. These visual narratives explore what it means to live between cultures, to carry multiple identities simultaneously.
Collective Path: What are the technical challenges in your work?
Carlos: Ceramics is inherently unpredictable. You can plan everything carefully, but once the piece goes into the kiln, so many factors come into play—temperature fluctuations, chemical reactions in the glazes, even the position of the piece in the kiln. I've learned to embrace this uncertainty as part of the process. Some of my most interesting works have emerged from unexpected results in firing.
Amara Johnson: Digital Landscapes of the Mind
Amara Johnson creates immersive digital artworks that blend photography, 3D modeling, and animation. Her virtual environments explore themes of memory, identity, and the relationship between natural and constructed spaces.
Collective Path: How do you approach creating in digital space?
Amara: I think of digital space as just another medium, with its own unique properties and possibilities. My process often begins with documentation of physical spaces—photographs, field recordings, or material samples. I then translate these elements into digital form, manipulating and transforming them to create environments that exist somewhere between reality and imagination. I'm interested in the liminal space where the physical and virtual worlds intersect.
Collective Path: How do you respond to skepticism about digital art?
Amara: I understand the skepticism, but I think it often comes from unfamiliarity. Digital tools require just as much skill, intention, and artistic vision as traditional media. The technology itself doesn't make the art—it's just a tool in service of ideas. That said, I do think digital art raises interesting questions about materiality, reproduction, and ownership that are worth engaging with critically.
Collective Path: What excites you about the future of digital art?
Amara: I'm excited about the potential for more participatory and interactive experiences. Virtual and augmented reality technologies are opening up new possibilities for immersion and embodied engagement with artwork. I'm also interested in how digital art can reach audiences outside traditional art world contexts and create new forms of community and connection.
"Digital tools have expanded what's possible, but the fundamental questions that drive art remain the same: How do we make sense of our experiences? How do we connect with others? How do we envision new possibilities?"
— Amara Johnson
Common Threads
Despite working in different mediums and exploring diverse themes, these three artists share certain commonalities in their approaches to art-making:
- Embracing Uncertainty: All three artists speak about the importance of remaining open to unexpected outcomes and allowing their work to evolve organically.
- Cultural Context: Each artist draws from their personal and cultural background while engaging with broader contemporary issues.
- Process as Discovery: Whether working with paint, clay, or digital tools, these artists view their creative process as a form of exploration and discovery rather than simply executing a predetermined plan.
- Material Dialogue: Each artist describes a deep engagement with their chosen medium, allowing the material properties to influence and guide the development of their work.
The Artist's Journey
These conversations offer a glimpse into the complex and varied practices of contemporary artists. They remind us that behind every artwork is a human being grappling with questions of meaning, identity, and expression—using their chosen medium to explore the world and communicate their unique perspective.
As viewers and appreciators of art, understanding these processes can enrich our experience, helping us to see beyond the finished object to the journey of discovery and creation that brought it into being.
