We were lucky to catch up with Maya Pinz recently and have shared our conversation below.
Maya, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
For me, maintaining creativity is all about balance. I absolutely have to take breaks so that I don’t get burnt out. I usually experience creativity in a cycle. I really need an intake period – watching movies, reading books, going to museums – to get those ideas flowing. Sometimes even speaking with friends or going through a difficult experience can get my creativity going. I usually then create an abundance of work all at once. By time I’ve completed new works, I go through a period of rest. The most frustrating part can be getting back in the studio, which is something I am struggling with now. Even when the ideas and creativity are there, I often need to push myself to actually execute those idea – especially after taking that period of rest.
It really does go in a cycle for me; intake, create, rest.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
For those that don’t know me I am a fine artist, designer, and muralist based in Columbus, Ohio. I primarily work in oil paint – focusing on narrative portraiture. My work often includes symbolism and iconography, as well as the exploration of my personal experiences. The goal of my work is to spark connection between the piece and the viewer. I want to create conversations and self reflection with my work.
In the past two years I have found a deep passion for public art, specifically murals. It’s been really exciting to translate my painting style onto large scale projects and I really look forward to the upcoming mural season. In addition, I really enjoy printmaking. This is more of a hobby and a bit more of a seasonal interest, but I really enjoy the tactile nature of carving, as well as the ability to transfer that image on a variety of materials.
This past year I was able to start renting my first studio space at Blockfort Gallery and Studios in downtown Columbus. Having a space to create has really transformed my practice, and I really encourage people to come by and see what myself and the other tenants are creating at this space. I just graduated from CCAD in December and I am really excited to continue exploring my aspirations in public art and gallery painting – my dream is to own my own gallery space.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
For me the biggest quality I have found value in is patience. I am not a particularly patient person, so it’s not always easy. However, being patient with yourself and others has really be integral to my experience. I have to be patient with myself because there are times where my work just isn’t turning out the way I want, and it’s easy to get impatient and potentially ruin whatever I am working on by rushing in anger. I now know when I need to set something down or take a break. When it comes to collaborating with other artists, you have to be patient as well. You aren’t always going to agree, everyone has a different experience and perspective and its important to acknowledge that in any situation – not just in the arts.
The most important skill I have learned is general art installation. I have been super blessed to work as a gallery assistant at such a young age to understand the ins and outs of gallery install. I’ve learned what this looks like in a variety of settings. It’s given me so much respects for the teams that put together these shows, and it’s made me a better artist by forcing me to learn how to properly install hardware for gallery shows. I’ll never send off a piece without hanging hardware ever again!!! Beyond that, given my aspirations to have my own gallery space, these skills have really benefited me. My biggest advice would be to learn how to frame and hang your work!!!
The most important area of knowledge for me is definitely business. That sounds very vague but I am incredibly grateful that I chose to minor in business while in school. Being an artist can be really scary if you don’t understand basic business tools/practices. I don’t know everything and I am still learning everyday, but I am really glad I took the time to learn the business of art as well as some of the legal ins and outs that apply to art. All of this information is easy to find and good to have!
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
All the folks at Blockfort Gallery in Columbus have absolutely changed my life. I had an incredible painting professor give me a list of galleries to call about possible jobs and internships. Blockfort was on that list and Adam Brouillette, local artist and co-owner of Blockfort, was the only person who got back to me. After meeting him and talking about what my goals were, I started my internship. I definitely experienced a big learning curve. Every time I came to help on a project or work around the gallery, I would feel like I still had so much to learn. I didn’t know nearly as much as I thought I did. I made so many mistakes and I still do. So much of what I know now can be equated to the Blockfort community. Professionalism, project proposal writing, frame building, art installation, client communication, and real world collaboration are just a few of the skills I gained.
Beyond that, the tenants in the building are so talented that I was simultaneously intimidated and mesmerized. Over the almost two years of being a part of this community, I have experienced so much growth in my work. It feels really good to be able to say that I am now a tenant at Blockfort. To be a part of a community like this means so much to me. I am incredibly grateful and blessed to know and work alongside all the other artists at Blockfort. I couldn’t be more grateful for everything Blockfort and Adam has taught me, and all the opportunities provided to me.
You definitely should come check out the artist community at Blockfort if you are in the Columbus area.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mayapinz.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayapinz/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/mayapinz
