Meet Tetiana Riggs

We were lucky to catch up with Tetiana Riggs recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tetiana, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
I am consistently looking for new clients and developing new ideas. I work with children on their creativity with daily crafts. I am an artist who has a notebook near my bad so if an idea sparks in the middle of the night, it’s documented. I surround myself with other artist who give me encouragement and the inspiration to keep painting. As my creativity enhances, with the coming year I foresee a new journey through art.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My whole family were artists. I grew up in constant motion where my father was creating for the next event. My mother, who made posters and murals. Our house always smelled of paint, and crafts were scattered everywhere in an artistic mess. Therefore, there were no problems with choosing a profession for me. I myself am from Ukraine, studied to be an artist in college. Then went to university – and majored in architecture. In 2011, I started a new chapter in my life in the USA. I got married and started a family – I left my profession for the sake of my family – but I always designed . The first “Bambi” mural was made in my son’s room. My mother has always been my inspiration. My parents died in 2014 and I lost my best friend. My life stopped making sense. It took me a while to understand that I have someone for whom I should live. After just looking at my son, I returned to creativity and started tinkering again, but not painting. In 2016, my neighbor advised me to draw dogs for the market. This is how my hobby turned into a small business called “Bright Colors “. In 2022 I opened up to a new journey and within found new friends who support and inspire me. Thanks to a new outlook on life as a single mother I have found my purpose. I found a local gallery “Cool Creek Art Gallery “ located in Bridgeport,TX. This is where you can now find my art and make a custom order that includes murals . I also work for a school where i work with children. As a new year approaches I see my future in art expanding and developing. I am working with new styles and techniques that will sure bring more colorful paintings to my customers..

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
An important phrase is, “Never give up on your dreams”, is how I summarize my determination that continues to build my legacy today. I always tell myself to believe in yourself and never give up. It is a fierce sense of ability that strives my soul. The rejection from people who do not support my vision only fuels my artist soul more. Always improve yourself: look for new ideas, new techniques, go to master classes, don’t give up if something doesn’t work out. The world is full of inspiration, we just have to open our eyes to see it. Keep trying and redesigning what you think may work. Don’t be afraid to start again.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful aspect my mother left was inspiration. She believed in me and my ability to become a wonderful artist who would continue to inspire others through murals. She taught me my vision is my own and to stand strong in the world of colors. As a strong and independent woman owned business owner I strive for success and find myself living up to the legacy my mom left.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Kayla W Jones with Kayla’s Unique Eye, LLC

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