We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ali DEERAN a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ali, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
Fostering creativity is a journey that I hold close to my heart. It begins with an insatiable curiosity, a deep-seated yearning to explore the uncharted realms within my imagination. This curiosity is the ember that ignites my creative fire, compelling me to ask questions and propelling me forward in a relentless pursuit of answers. Equally vital is the courage to step beyond the comfort of the known, where the familiar gives way to the vast unknown. It’s in this space that I’ve discovered new experiences and calculated risks as profound catalysts for innovation, and it stirs a passion deep within me.
Creative practice is my sanctuary, a sacred part of my life. Devoting dedicated time to creative pursuits, whether it’s writing, painting, or any artistic expression, allows me to refine my skills and nurture my creative spirit. I’ve deliberately woven an environment that nurtures my inspiration. I surround myself with sources of inspiration, be it books, art, nature, or individuals who breathe life into my creative thinking, and I’ve felt this profoundly enhance my creative journey.
Collaboration is not just a tool but an emotional connection. Engaging with others, sharing our ideas, and cultivating synergy have led to astonishing, innovative perspectives, and it fills me with a sense of shared purpose. Embracing failure as a valuable learning experience is a personal revelation. Each setback, though painful at times, holds within it a lesson and a chance for remarkable personal growth that I’ve come to cherish deeply.
Maintaining a creative journal is like pouring my heart onto pages. It captures my thoughts, ideas, and observations, preserving the essence of my soul for future reflection and inspiration. Sometimes, stepping back, allowing ideas to simmer gently in the background, unveils new insights when I return with a renewed perspective, and it’s a process that touches my very core.
Learning from the work of creative luminaries I admire is like connecting with kindred spirits. I strive to grasp their techniques and approaches, absorbing their wisdom into the fabric of my own creative journey. Finally, the practice of mindfulness, the art of being intensely present in the moment, is a profound source of solace. It allows me to tap into my inner wellspring of creativity, a wellspring that runs deep with emotion, and to channel my thoughts with heartfelt authenticity.
These principles, meticulously woven into the tapestry of my daily existence, create an emotional journey of creativity that empowers me to unlock the boundless potential of my imagination and cultivate a life brimming with the most authentic, soul-stirring innovation and inspiration.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m an abstract visual and tattoo artist based in the heart of Los Angeles. My love for art has been a burning passion since my earliest memories, and deep down, I’m an unapologetic dreamer. My journey through the world of art has been an odyssey of self-discovery. During my university days, I immersed myself in the study of abstract art, pouring my heart and soul into countless surreal creations like Suminagashi. The works of Vasili Kandinski and Jackson Pollock swept me away, leaving an indelible mark on my artistic soul.
The realm of plastic arts opened up a Pandora’s box of mediums for me – from sculpture and ceramics to acrylics, oils, serigraphy, and carving. With each stroke of a brush and every sculpted form, my artistic vision expanded.
But fate had a unique canvas in store for me – the human skin. That’s where I found my true calling – tattoo artistry. In that defining moment, I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that this was my destiny. My fascination with human anatomy led me to explore the world of body modification, deepening my connection to the art form.
My journey took me across Europe as a guest artist, collaborating with social media influencers and brands. Each stroke of ink on skin became a piece of my heart, a testament to my dedication.
I’m a relentless soul, driven by self-discipline and an unquenchable thirst for self-discovery. The more I create, the more I feel alive. I push my boundaries, time and time again, to unearth the uncharted territories within myself. Life as an artist has never failed to astonish me in this regard.
In 2020, I made a life-changing decision to move to the United States. For a year now, I’ve poured my artistic essence into the ink at Fleur Noir Ink Tattoo Studio in Los Angeles. And I’ve refused to let go of my grand-scale Suminagashi art; it’s my lifeline. Conversations with prestigious galleries are in progress, as I dream of unveiling my soul on canvas for the world to see.
My artistic signature lies in dotwork, a dance of intricate points and abstract liquid lines of Suminagashi. Each dot is a heartbeat, and every line tells a story. Pointillism, with its nuanced blend of light and shadow, is a reflection of my deepest emotions. Suminagashi, steeped in Japanese tradition, marbles richly pigmented ink on water, creating intricate patterns that mirror the complexities of the soul. I use Suminagashi to bring my tattoo designs to life, infusing them with my passion and creativity.
My compositions are a marriage of gothic elements with the beauty of nature – botanics and animals – all woven into the fabric of surrealism. And when I want to add a dash of intrigue, I introduce the ‘negative space’ theme, where the unspoken emotions resonate.
In every stroke, every dot, and every line, you’ll find a piece of my heart. Art is my language, and emotion is my paint. My journey as an artist is a love story, and the canvas of life never ceases to amaze me.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
My journey through art history has been an emotionally charged odyssey. The transition from realism to the intricate world of punctuation art, and then my plunge into the surreal realm, has marked a deeply personal evolution in my artistic journey. Punctuation art felt like a profound step, offering me the chance to break free from rigid order and structure, opening the door to a world of abstract and experimental creations. The memories of how I played with arrangements and colors on the canvas during this period still stir powerful emotions within me.
Surrealism, with its relentless exploration of dreams and the enigmatic depths of the subconscious, allowed me to create art that was not just a visual expression but a journey through the recesses of my soul. It was during this time that I truly discovered the power of art to transcend the boundaries of reality, immersing myself in the extraordinary and the fantastical. This phase was a profound emotional awakening, expanding my creative horizons and pushing me to the very limits of artistic expression.
Finally, embracing the Suminagashi technique as an abstract artist was a deeply emotional turning point in my journey. This Japanese art form, where liquid ink dances upon the water’s surface, creating captivating patterns, became an emotional outlet for me. It allowed my emotions to flow freely, and the fluidity of the inks seemed to mirror the ebb and flow of my innermost feelings, emphasizing the profound and emotional essence of my art.
This transformative journey has brought me to a place where my art is not just a visual representation but an emotional release. Each phase of this journey has left an indelible mark on my soul, enriching my experiences and shaping my artistic style in profound ways. I look forward to continuing this deeply emotional and fulfilling creative path.
For those embarking on the stirring path of their artistic journey, let this advice resonate deeply: Embrace exploration with an open heart, for within it lies the magic of self-discovery. Let your emotions flow freely onto the canvas, for art is a vessel for your soul’s expression. Immerse yourself in the tapestry of art history, drawing inspiration from the profound stories of those who came before. Dedicate yourself to the canvas, refining your skills with unwavering devotion. Seek the wisdom of fellow artists, cherishing the transformative power of their guidance. In the realm of creation, find your unique voice, a symphony of emotions translated into strokes and colors. Be patient, for artistic growth is a journey through time, and be persistent, for greatness is born of resilience. Above all, savor every moment of this emotional odyssey, for within it lies the essence of your artistic soul’s awakening.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
As a visual artist and tattoo artist, I find the prospect of collaboration to be a deeply emotional and exhilarating journey. Partnering with fellow artists fills me with excitement, as we explore our shared passion and embark on creative adventures that stir the very essence of our artistry. Collaborations with galleries and branding experts become profound emotional exchanges, where my art intertwines with their visions, creating something truly moving. These connections with event planners and nonprofits touch my heart, as my art takes on purpose, spreading awareness and making a meaningful impact. Each collaboration is a personal tapestry of emotions, a fusion of artistic energies, and a testament to the transformative power of creativity. I am eager to embrace this emotional world of collaboration, allowing my art to forge deep connections and express the feelings that reside within my soul. Anyone who would like to collaborate with me can reach out via the email address I have shared in this interview. I would love to share the same inspirational and creative path with fellow artists.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.alideeran.art
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/alideeran
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alideeran
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ali-deeran
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/alideeran
Image Credits
Photographer: Doruk Seymen
