Meet Savanna Solomon | Visual Artist & Creative

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

Hi Savanna, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Funny story…. So, I never even planned to “start a business” with my art. Believe it or not, I never even planned to share it! I was home bored one day & decided go to the dollar store & picked up a poster board & a paint set kit. I went back home, cut the poster board in half & began painting it. The first thing I ever painted was a silhouetted lighthouse scene. Now, it wasn’t the best painting ever but for someone who had never really painted before, I thought it looked pretty good. So, I painted a pineapple next and that one turned out pretty nice too! After that, I decided to try to paint on canvas. I showed my first couple of paintings to friends/family who visited my house and the reaction I got was so unexpected. Each person was “Oouu and Ahhh”-ing at the paintings I made. One friend told me I need to start an instagram to show my work online so that more people can see it/buy it. Before that point I never even considered my self an artist, let alone one who shares/sells their work for the whole entire world to see. After those handful of positive interactions, I thought about it for a while & decided to create an account. Now this by no means was me starting a business, but it was the fist step. Since I took that step I’ve never looked back. I have spent the two years since then painting like crazy, building up my clientele and making my mark on Atlanta with my art. Its something that I love and am truly passionate about now so I am blessed to be able to pursue something that doesn’t feel like work. Today, I do consider SoSav Art my business where I host SoSav paint parties like Paint&Sips, I do customs/commissions, and everyones favorite would be my #FindersKeepersSeries which gives everyone an opportunity to get a piece of my art for FREE! All you have to do is#FindMYCanvas. I love my business & know that this is only the beginning for me and SoSav Art

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a self taught artist. Though I did take about 3 art classes in college, it’s not what I went to school for. I actually got my degree in Film and Media. But I’ve always loved art and sort of just fell into being an artist. If I had to describe my “style” I’d say.. I don’t have one. I just paint what I feel at that point in time. There are two signature thighs you can look for in my work though, that being color and texture. One of my professors told us that all artists are known for something. For example, Basquiat and his crown. So, he told us we should pick something we want to be known for or have associated with our art. I picked color and texture because I am a vibrant person and I want my work to reflect that. I try to make my art as colorful and fun as I am feeling at that moment in time. I am also a very hands on person in general and I love interactive art. So, I try to use texture in my pieces so that in addition to feeling and connecting with the piece visually, you can feel the piece physically. I feel like that brings a whole new level to the art itself by allowing for such upclose and personal exchange. Especially since most of the time, people are encouraged NOT to touch the art! I want the world to know that I am just a regular woman who loves art. Thus, the reason why I wanted to make art that I see myself in and can relate to as a black woman. This is why a lot of my pieces feature black women in a positive and beautiful way. I also love to incorporate outer space into my work. I’m not sure why but I am drawn to the stars and have a cosmic connection with the universe. For me. It’s such an amazing phenomenon and the reason why you see a lot of moons, stars and planets in my work. I also really like to incorporate rubix cubes in my work for many reasons. It’s a really deep metaphor for a lot of things in life, and even life itself. They always add a layer of complexity just like the rubix cube itself was designed to be figured out. I believe this is what sets me apart from other artists. You find things that “normally” wouldn’t go together or combinations you wouldn’t even think of all ending up in this beautiful masterpiece. And that is definitely something I am most proud of. The fact that I have the ability to literally make something out of nothing and touch the lives of many while doing so. That isn’t something that can be taught or learned, it’s in you and you either have that or you don’t. I’m very blessed to have such a unique talent that has taught me so much. One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned as an artist is to keep going. The term starving artist is real. Sometimes as an artist, I hit a wall and feel no inspiration, have no ideas or plans to create anything, at all. But through the past three years of becoming an artist it’s taught me that you must press on. Find inspiration in the little things. Let even the bad moments in your life inspire you to create something beautiful.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my bestfriend came to visit Atlanta for a week, we would do it all! I’m all for a good itinerary honey, we have to maximize each day. I’d definitely take her to a nice brunch spot on her first day out, probably to Milk and Honey or Another broken egg. Those are two of my favorites, and I love a good brunch vibe. Then we would hit Piedmont park for a little stroll to get some fresh air & enjoy the nice day outside. After that, we can hit a movie at Silverspot cinema and then go home and relax for the night. The next day, I’d probably cook breakfast since we went out the day before. I would prepare the whole spread so we have fuel and energy for the action paced day ahead. Omelets, bacon, waffles, orange juice, biscuits, sausage, fruit, the whole nine! After breakfast we’d get dressed and head out to do all the “touristy” things in the A. Like the Civil Rights museum, High Art museum, and MLK historical park. We’d probably grab a quick lunch somewhere in the city. Maybe like slutty vegan or The Vortex and then hit a few more places like the Trap museum or the world of coke . After that long day of being a tourist we’ll go back home and rest up before our night out. On our way out for the night, we’d have to swing by Cookout for a good ole Cookout Tray & then probably head to a lounge since I’m not really a club girl. The rest of the week would be spent the same way, exploring the city’s gems and eating all of its yummy food. A few other places we would go for fun would be Six Flags, the aquarium or the zoo, we’d go to the Beltline and Atlantic station, and we would just HAVE to go skating at Cascade or Sparkles. We’d catch a show at the Fox, explore the battery, shop around at Little Five Points and take some pictures down at Krogg street. Oh, and you can’t forget about Ponce city market, so many cool things to do there, plus the dope views from the rooftop! As for places to eat, I’d take this friend to Waffle House of course, because you can’t come to atl & not have a good Waffle and hash browns. We’d also hit This Is It, Busy Bee Cafe, Chuys, No Mas, Kurrushios, Fox Brothers, Gusto, and Big Dave’s just to name a few. I feel like there is so much to see, eat, & do in Atlanta that I could go on forever about it!

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?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my mom. While it might be cliche but she truly is the best woman alive. She’s supported my art endeavors since the very beginning and has been here ever since. I love her so much and I cannot thank her enough for all she has done for me over the years. Even in the times I had paint all over the place, on the counter, in the sink and all of my canvases in the ever-growing collection tossed the corner was stacked about a mile high, she still supported my artistic dreams. So mom, Thank you, thank you , THANK YOU… I love ya girl! I’d also like to thank someone who has been supporting me since day one! This woman has worked with me, helped me build, given me so many ideas and just overall love. We actually met in highschool so its nice to have known someone for so long and see the growth in not only yourself but them as well. She is genuinely an all around AMAZING individual. That amazing woman is Alicia Bush. Alicia, I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for me and my business thus far. Thank you thank you THANK YOU!

Website: SavannaSolomon.com

Instagram: Instagram.com/SoSavArt

Linkedin: Linkedin.com/in/savanna-solomon-8171ab129/

Twitter: Twitter.com/leolegendd

Youtube: Youtube.com/channel/UCRQoET1f4BzUcMZwYLcbckA

Other: Photography IG: Instagram.com/CinemaSav

Image Credits
All Photo credits go to me, Savanna Solomon. @CinemaSav on Instagram is my official photography page.