Staying Inspired and Finding Your Aesthetic
See the whole conversation via Chelsea Proffitt Photos on YouTube
I sat down to speak with Ariana Carranza about her photography and art. Ariana is a student studying photography at Savannah College of Art and Design. Her work is focused on girlhood and human connection. Growing up in a military household and moving around, Carranza said her work draws inspiration from her childhood and the feeling of nostalgia.
Inspiration
Carranza said her family was never very artistic and creatively based. This meant most of her exposure to art was through media, and she was always drawn to movies and media. Her projects are inspired by either movies from her childhood or songs. Her most recent project was inspired by the Princess Protection Program, a Disney movie starring Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato. There is a scene from the film where they mess around in a dressing room. This project of Ariana’s is set in a dressing room, full of girls having fun and being girls. Another photoshoot, Carranza’s favorite, was inspired by the song “About You” by 1975. This shoot is a very cinematic, thoughtful shoot. She was able to convey the emotions of the hit through this shoot successfully.
Ariana makes an effort to do things to stay inspired and avoid burnout. Going out and experiencing things that aren’t art-related is key to staying inspired but also creating art that is not photography. Most recently she has been turning to collaging. Taking receipts, and other objects from her day-to-day life and throwing them onto a page. She said this is a way to combat her perfectionism by creating something that works better “imperfect”. Branching out to different mediums like videography has been what she's been what she’s inspired to do recently. Take a look at some of her videos, they have a beautiful and nostalgic feel.
Aesthetics
Being a student at SCAD there is a big push to find your aesthetic. As a young growing artist, this is a very daunting task. Carranza said she finally feels like her work is coming together in an aesthetic that looks like her. She focuses on human connection. When it comes to her work she wants people to feel things. She said her music-inspired work is typically her strongest at showcasing that connection because she can feel it so strongly and convey it in a photoshoot. Being able to feel very strongly about her projects allows others to reciprocate that emotion. The “About You” photoshoot is her favorite because it was the first time she was able to see that emotion reciprocated. She also leans into the videography world because she said it is easier to tell a story through video and therefore show those feelings.
Make sure to check out all of Arianas pages and keep a look out for her upcoming projects. To see the full interview watch ChelseaProffittPhotos on YouTube.
