Today we’d like to introduce you to Tatiana Cast.
Tatiana, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
First, I’d like to thank Mia VogageMIA for the interview and opportunity to share my story.
I’ve always had an artistic inclination; therefore, art has always played an important role in my life.
Artists need support and encouragement to develop their skills and confidence. So, I encourage parents of artistic kids to be supportive. I had the great fortune of growing up with my grandparents and even though they were not artists, they surrounded me with love and encouraged me to learn as many things as I was interested in, allowing me to explore and discover my own potential.
My grandfather loved reading and taught me to be curious and appreciate the magic of books. My grandmother loved nature and taught me to see beauty in simple things such as the colors of the sunset or a flower in bloom. Both were entrepreneurial and hardworking and with their example also taught me to have the courage and discipline to pursue my goals.
When I was a teen, my grandmother passed away after a long battle with cancer. At that moment art became increasingly important to me. Dedicating time to art in various forms became my form of expression and therapy as it helped me transform grief into creative possibilities.
When it was time to go to college, I wanted to pursue an Arts Degree. However, I had limited resources and needed to pay for my own education. Although one can make a good living with art, I was very young and did not feel ready to face the challenges of launching an art career at that moment. So, I pursued a job in a well-known restaurant company in NYC. In there I was given many opportunities and quickly became an Assistant Manager, discovering I had an aptitude for numbers and Business Administration, so I pursued a Degree in Business with focus in Hospitality Management.
After college graduation, I entered the corporate world and worked for various Multinationals. Throughout the years I climbed up the corporate ladder and developed a very successful career. However, the work was all consuming and left me very little time for art or for a life!
Feeling the vacuum, I eventually decided to switch things around and allow myself more time to create. For that to happen I had to make big adjustments in my work and lifestyle, but I knew the sacrifice was going to be worth it.
That sounds simple but change is never easy. I had many ups and downs on my new journey, but I learned to see things with appreciation. Thus, I can honestly say I am grateful for all experiences in my life, including the good ones, the challenging ones and the long investments. For example, I am grateful for all I learned in the years dedicated to my corporate career as the experience gained during those years is the practical knowledge, I now use to manage my art career and enterprises.
Today I work as a professional artist and entrepreneur managing various artistic enterprises.
I represent my own brand “Tatiana Cast” and create many works of art including vibrant and modern paintings that are full of color and happiness. Mainly because that is how I feel when I am at my art studio: Happy!
I also teach art classes for children and adults at my studio in Fort Lauderdale, virtually via my online platform and as a guest teacher and artist nationwide. To me, teaching is an act of love and a way to give back. As mentioned, at a young age I discovered that creative moments can be reassuring, healing and joyful. So, I share that with my students, helping them learn and connect with their own creativity.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Well, life is never smooth, is it? I think that if it was, we would get stagnate and stop learning. Therefore, I think it is important to embrace successes and challenges as both ends of the spectrum help us discover our own potential.
On my personal life, my transition from a corporate career was tricky. When I decided to make the change, it was both: exciting and scary. But I was determined to forge a new path. However, positive results did not happen overnight, on the contrary my decision was simply the first step of a long journey of self-discovery and multiple successes and failures in my art business. However, this ongoing process is a labor of love and it has taught me Gratitude, Patience and Determination.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Tatiana Cast story. Tell us more about the business.
My art is about joy. We live in a world where we are constantly surrounded by negativity. The more I see that the more I want to be a messenger of joy, reminding us that there is beauty and happiness around us if we choose to see it.
When I paint, I connect with happy thoughts and use vivid colors to create stylized images of flowers, hearts, birds, horses, etc. The whimsical imagery I use in my art is easy to associate with. Between the modern touch and cheerful colors, my art transmits joy to the viewer.
In addition to being beautiful to decorate with, my paintings also bring a positive message of love and respect for nature as I tend to upcycle elements to create them. Learn more via – www.tatianacast.com
Lastly, beyond creating my own art, I also teach art classes and I am the founder of “Canvas Fiesta” Which is an art entertainment company dedicated to spreading the joy of creativity via painting classes and painting parties for children and adults in South Florida. To learn more, check out – www.canvasfiesta.com
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Roman philosopher Seneca said “Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity”
I believe in doing the work and being prepared. If anything, art is the confirmation of this principle because managing an art business or becoming a successful artist requires not only creativity but passion, dedication, mastery of the chosen medium and business knowledge.
People tend to think that being creative is enough to “make it” in the arts world, and although that is an important aspect, creativity alone does not make a successful artist. The truth is that creativity without mastery does not produce professional artworks. By default, one can only become an expert of any task by practicing. Practice is a sacrifice because it requires time, dedication and discipline. It sounds like a lot but that is why art must be a labor of love because without passion the journey is unbearable.
In addition to being able to face creative challenges and becoming a master of his/her chosen medium, an artist who wishes to “make it” also needs a tenacious entrepreneurial spirit and extensive business knowledge
I have read that at the beginning of the century and up to the 70s things were different for artists. Many were able to focus on creation because they had agents who took care of the business. However, today art is a different beast and to stay afloat artists must know how to manage the business end of things. Even if an artist can hire a team, as a business owner it is important to know how to manage financial aspects, contracts, logistics, sales, marketing, customer service, etc.
If you ask me what the lucky formula is, I’d say opportunities are the result of a stubborn passion that gives you the stamina to continue learning and working hard with love and dedication.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tatianacast.com
- Email: info@tatianacast.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tatianacast/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tatianacastvisualarts/
Image Credit:
Tatiana Cast
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