Ana Priscila Rodriguez is a Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory member provides some fascinating insights into her practice and experiences as she responds to the questions below:
- How do you maintain your individuality as an artist and avoid being influenced by others in your field?Â
- Tell us about your earliest memories of creating art and when you first realized that you wanted to be an artist.
- How do you balance your personal life with your art career while ensuring a healthy work/life balance?
- How do experimentation and risk-taking play a role in your creative process?
How do you maintain your individuality as an artist and avoid being influenced by others in your field? Â
I regularly take breaks from social media and the online environment. While I find inspiration in seeing what fellow artists are creating, I have learned that constant exposure can sometimes interfere with my own vision. Earlier in my career, it even made me question the value of my work. Today, I feel much more confident in my artistic voice and have learned the importance of “de-influencing” myself from external trends and expectations.
I still love discovering and admiring the work of others, but I focus on appreciating our differences rather than comparing myself to them. My inspiration originates almost exclusively from my own life experiences and emotional landscape. The creative process begins with a feeling, which I then translate into an image through my own visual language.
I often remind myself that no one else can tell my story the way I can. Following someone else’s style or ideas would mean silencing a vision that is uniquely mine. Whether my work is more or less sophisticated, elaborate, or beautiful than someone else’s is ultimately irrelevant. What matters is creating an honest connection between my story and the viewer, while leaving space for them to bring their own interpretation and experience to the work.
Tell us about your earliest memories of creating art and when you first realized that you wanted to be an artist.
From a very early age, I knew that I wanted to devote my life to creating. At the time, I didn’t yet know what form that would take, but I felt a strong certainty that I belonged within an artistic world.
I remember drawing before I could properly write. My drawings were often more detailed than those of other children my age, and I felt an unusual confidence in my ability. I even sold my drawings to neighbors and teachers. Creating was never simply a hobby; it was a necessity. I used to sleep with my colored pencils and sketchbook under my pillow so that I could begin drawing as soon as I woke up. The gifts I treasured most were always art supplies and drawing books.
Looking back, I can see that creativity has been the constant thread throughout my life. Although my artistic journey has taken many forms and unexpected turns, I remain convinced that this is what I was meant to do. I feel deeply grateful to have found a way to dedicate my life to creation and to continue exploring the world through art.
How do you balance your personal life with your art career while ensuring a healthy work/life balance?Â
I am fortunate to have a very supportive partner who understands how important art is in my life and encourages me to pursue it wholeheartedly. Most of the time, I am able to maintain a healthy balance, but there are periods—particularly when preparing for exhibitions or managing multiple projects—when the demands of my artistic practice become all-consuming.
Being an artist involves much more than creating the work itself. There is also administration, promotion, social media, collaborations, and the many practical aspects required to sustain a professional career. During intense periods, I can become deeply immersed in these responsibilities, which is why I have learned the importance of consciously stepping back afterward.
For nearly a decade, I have also lived with chronic pain, which has significantly affected my energy levels and physical capabilities. This experience has taught me to value well-being, rest, and meaningful moments over constant productivity. What works best for me is a rhythm of focused, intensive creative periods followed by time for recovery, reflection, and connection with my home life, my partner, and my cat.
Over the years, I have become less socially active, partly due to these physical limitations, but also because I have learned that depth is often more meaningful than quantity. Having experienced loss in different areas of life, I have come to cherish moments of calm, presence, and genuine connection. These moments not only nourish me personally, but also replenish the creative energy that inspires each new body of work.
How do experimentation and risk-taking play a role in your creative process?
Experimentation and risk-taking have become increasingly important in my creative practice. While I sometimes recognize a tendency to remain within familiar territory, I am constantly looking for ways to challenge myself and push the boundaries of my work.
What I have discovered is that my willingness to take artistic risks is closely connected to how I feel about myself. The more secure I am in my identity and artistic voice, the more freedom I feel to experiment. Risk, for me, is not about shock or provocation; it is about allowing transformation to happen and trusting where it may lead.
In recent years, this has become visible through the growing presence of mixed media and collage in my practice. Introducing these works into public exhibitions felt like an important step beyond my comfort zone, but also a necessary one. I want my work to become increasingly challenging while remaining subtle, poetic, and emotionally accessible.
I am interested in creating work that gently invites viewers into deeper emotional territory rather than confronting them abruptly. If a message is delivered too forcefully, the connection with the viewer can be lost. I prefer a quieter approach—one that slowly builds trust and allows meaning to unfold over time.
I am always seeking transformation, both personally and artistically, but I am drawn to transformations that happen almost imperceptibly. Like a small burn that leaves a lasting mark, I hope my work lingers with the viewer long after the first encounter. It may not demand attention immediately, but its presence remains.
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