Brigitte Cadena
South Texas, USA
Mediums: Acrylic, Watercolor, Charcoal, Pen, Colored pencil, Digital Art and Artistic Photography
Style: The main pattern I see when looking at my work is that regardless of medium I use, I am usually telling a story. I use a mixture of bright colors and I also like to work in Blacks and Whites for my Charcoal, Pen/Pencil work and Photography.
Favorite Quote: “A work of art which did not begin in emotion is not art.” Paul Cezanne
“All Life is ART if you look close enough.” Brigitte Cadena
Favorite Book: I love art books and books about famous Artists. Currently in my collection are books about Monet, Picasso, Georgia O' Keefe, Gustav Klimt, Salvador Dali and many more.
Favorite Movies: I am a huge movie buff, I love all kinds of movies from action, to suspenseful thrillers and comedy and I do like some tear jerkers as well. It keeps my creative juices flowing.
Time Flies Away © Brigitte Cadena - This is a digital piece of artwork that reminds me to make each moment count because when time passes, it flies away.
I am an art love by nature, it is so instilled in me and a huge part of who I am. The art I create focuses in on the human condition. You may find artwork that will express all facets of human emotion regardless of the medium. For most of my artwork there is a story involved regarding human relationships or introspection of one's self.
Tell us about your first experience creating.
Well there are different times for me that I can recall as my first time creating as I love different aspects of art. I wrote poetry and stories as a young girl. I took my first photographs when I was about seventeen years old. In 2008 I started drawing with pencil and charcoal. I really thought I was only capable of drawing stick figures but it came quite naturally to me. In 2010 I started working with acrylics and then watercolors. It seems to me that each experience was a learning curve to lead me to where I am today.
Night and Day © Brigitte Cadena - This was a collaboration between myself and my young daughter. It is an abstract of ideas about the differences between Night and Day, Experience and Innocence, it shows that in life not everything is black and white, there is always the middle greys to think about.
What music do you like to have playing while creating art?
I love music with deep and meaningful lyrics. Some of my favorites are Linkin Park and other pop music. But it has to be about the lyrics for the writer in me. This type of music sets the mood or tone of my project and I can get lost for hours at time when I am creating. I like to use headphones to eliminate any distracting noises. This is where some of my best work was created, when I was lost in the music and the art.
If you have a job besides being an artist, can you tell us about it?
I am very fortunate to work in a field related to my love of artistic expression. I freelance as a portrait photographer. I mostly work with family portraits, newborn photography and some bridal photography.
What are you trying to convey to viewers through your art?
That life is complex and beautiful at the same time. There are many facets in life and I embrace them all. I express them all in my work and my idea is to share the beauty I see in life even those parts that are difficult and painful. For example I could do a painting about a love lost but it can also be about standing on your own and loving yourself. There are always two or more ways to look at something and I want to share the different ways I see life and the human condition and experience.
American Plum, Prunas Americana © Brigitte Cadena - This is a watercolor I created of my favorite tree with the white flowers. This image reminds me of innocence and the coming of spring.
Tell us about your creative process, from the beginning of a typical piece to its completion:
I am like a coffee pot. I sit and brew for sometime on an idea. It plays around in my head or I might start off on it but then I have to take a step back and go work on something else. When I get back to it, something hits me and it's a breeze to finish off. When I am truly inspired, I have to do a sketch or write about it immediately and then let it simmer and then like magic it just starts to flow out of me.
What things inspire you to create art?
Life, Love, Loss, Overcoming, all facets of the human condition, relationships with people, with intangible things. I know you asked things but I will look at the news sometimes or look at something going on around me and it strikes a chord and I have to get working on it right away.
What exhibitions have you had?
I have shown locally in art fairs and shows. Most of my work is available online at Bricadena.com
One Love © Brigitte Cadena - This is a charcoal drawing that reflects how when two people come together they become one in heart, mind and spirit. It's a meshing of two worlds. They stand together as one.
Have you sold any of your artworks?
Yes, I have done commissions on portraits made in Charcoal, Photo art prints at fairs and a few paintings as well.
How do you promote your art on the internet?
I have my blog, I am currently utilizing the tools available with social media sites. I am also connected with Twitter, Pinterest, Google + and I am now working a group called the Artistic Photographer as an administrator that I am hoping to cultivate attention for the group as well as for myself.
Tell us about influences.
The list is quite long. Some of the greatest artists of our time are among my most favorite. Gustav Klimt, Monet for his impressionism, Caravaggio, Picasso, Georgia O' Keefe. Those stand out for me for their particular styles of art.
Please recommend another artist you admire.
There is one local Artist that I admire greatly for his works and his standing in the community. His name is Jimmy Pena.
Defining Moments © Brigitte Cadena - This is an ink drawing of those instances when a person is at the crossroads of a particular situation. A situation where there are only two choices to move forward and it whatever choice that person makes will ultimately define them as a person.
Tell us something interesting in your life.
Well I have prior experience in the social work field working with family dynamics and I spent a good part of my life in Chicago, Il. The work I did in social work I feel has added to my sensitivity of human relations and how people think and feel about life in general.
Do you have an embarrassing moment in your life?
Well If I have to say, I can tell you I was taking a Design class years ago at the local college when I was very new to drawing and this sort of art form. The professor was working with us on perspective. I was not sure I understood what he wanted and kept referring to "the point of perspective" and I did not understand so I kept asking him, "What's the point? What is the point?" This play on words still makes me laugh about that.
If you could live your life over again, would there be anything you would do differently?
There are times in life where when you reflect back and think you could have handled a situation differently that would have a different impact in your life, but I believe everything I have experienced is what brought me to who I am today and for that I have no regrets.
What plans do you have for the future of your art?
It's simple, I want to share my art with others and find those who appreciate what I have to offer. I am just an artist searching for my audience.
Do you have any good advice for emerging artists?
Just get started. Do something today and then tomorrow and keep on going. There is so much that an artist can do to put his/her art in front of others and the sooner you start that faster you will achieve your goal.
Don't hesitate until you think you are ready, just get out there because you will never know who loves your art until you let them see it.
Brigitte Cadena
South Texas, USA
Website: bricadena.com | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | Pinterest
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