Meet Adriana Michima | Visual Artist and Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adriana Michima and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adriana, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I feel as though risks are very important and highly undervalued/ over feared. Fear is the main reason most people choose to play it safe. Fear of leaving the comfort zone. The thing is, it is only once we leave that comfort zone we can finally grow, learn, and lean toward new directions. While being creative is not always a decision, pursuing it as a career is absolutely a decision. I definitely feel like my initial decision to become a professional artist was a big risk financially. Not only did most of my family have more corporate minded jobs and look down upon that, I myself knew it would not be easy. Once I began meeting more and more creative entrepreneurs, I became aware of more opportunities, skills, events, and other avenues to sell art. It became less frightening gradually. As for life, being a creative often involves a lot of solo traveling and hiking which would be an additional risk in some eyes. I do not regret taking these risk because I have had the opportunity to gain a lot of great life experiences that I would not have otherwise if I had been stuck behind a desk.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art depicts often dark, mysterious landscapes which encompass ominous and often vulnerable figures. These concepts illustrate life, death, and struggle which are then presented in a manner which is seen as both macabre and beautiful. My concepts are more personal and some stem from my own struggles with depression and childhood abandonment. However, my imagery often finds its way to connect with viewers on their own personal levels. The most unusual comment I have I received about my work is that my use of the color red has been said to change the way color-blind individuals see red.

I would say the accomplishment I am most proud of was the release of my Into the Void book series in 2020. I was definitely afraid I was not going to be able to make the funding happen to get there. Thanks to crowdfunding and support after months and months of designing the pages, I was finally able to make them come to life.

I have learned along the way many things. That life and money as an artist can be rather inconsistent and challenging at times. I have learned we can get burnt out easily if we are not continuously growing or trying new things.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Denver is constantly changing, especially during the Pandemic. Some of my favorite city hang out spots are: Spectra Art Space, TRVE Brew, Black Sky Brewery, Mutiny Cafe, Izakaya Sushi, the Denver Art Museum, Meow Wolf (I haven’t even been able to go myself yet) I would absolutely want to take them up into the mountains. Maybe to RMNP or Mt Evans, perhaps down to Garden of the Gods or Paint Mines.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Wow. I could put so many people on this list! I definitely look up to my painting instructor from RMCAD, Irene Delka McCray. She was very insightful and supportive of her students and also a very talented and successful painter. I would also say the majority of people in the Denver Art scene and the small businesses that showcased work. Mad Tatters(Brandan Styles and Ellie Rusinova) also deserve a mention!

PersonalAdrianaMichima_

Website: www.adrianamichima.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrianamichima/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adriana.michima/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWuuwj2IHDJ9U-b_t9iAnQg/featured

Image Credits
Red hooded model: Joe Salmans, Black hooded model: Vadim, Book right page: Kira Floofie