Meet Viviana Elise Zamorano | fine artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Viviana Elise Zamorano and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Viviana, what’s the end goal, career-wise?
By the end of my career, I would like to have a steady and well-established presence in my art circle. I would like to have grown in the areas of technique and design. I like to experiment with different painting techniques, especially in the watercolor medium. I have always been an avid learner and I don’t think that I will ever feel that there’s not any more to learn. I am always enrolled in art classes, as they are fun and immensely eye-opening. Even the most prolific artists known were in a constant state of learning, changing and experimenting. That is how I also want to progress through my art career. I don’t want to be stuck in any kind of restrictive niche, which should not be too difficult for me, as I naturally tend to be very random as to the subjects and style of my paintings. Unless I’m working on a commission piece, I paint what moves me spiritually and what I happen to find interesting and beautiful at any given moment.

I plan to paint until I’m not able to any longer. Who knows how long that will be, but in the meantime, I want to be very intentional in my productivity. When I leave this world, I would like to have a legacy of pieces that speak from my soul.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is representational, impressionistic and, at times, surreal, depending on the subject. I love to paint wildlife and pet portraits, as well as landscapes and still life paintings. I try to add a touch of sensuality, drama and uniqueness to my art, as well as a hidden message and intrigue in my more surreal pieces. I believe that art should touch people the same way poetry does.

I have discovered that in order to be a well-recognized and prolific artist, there must be enough time, on my part, for focus, productivity, marketing, and everything that is required to be a regular participant in art shows. Carving out the necessary time has always been a challenge for me, as I truly believe that creating art deserves unwavering intention and focus. I have always found it difficult to paint in piecemeals. I need to be in the moment where my thought process is fully active and flowing; the same way a writer needs to be in order to preserve the necessary train of thought for a novel. Over time, I have had to learn to schedule this time in. Without it becoming a ritual in my life, not much gets accomplished. The most important lesson I have learned is to not set my art aside; it has to be a fixture of my daily life. My art studio is situated in the center of my house where it is in constant view.

I have had my work regularly exhibited at Georgia galleries in Roswell, Alpharetta and in Suwanee and I once had a solo exhibition of thirteen pieces at the Coca Cola building in Atlanta (Limitless Possibilities exhibit) several years ago.

I also had a commissioned oil painting to be used as a book cover design for a client in the UK. I was so excited to see it finally published several years later that I immediately bought several copies of the book for my friends and family.  The client was Roger Kent and his book is called, The Flatpack Observer.  It’s quite an interesting and hilarious novel.

I regularly create original works on commission, such as portraits and landscapes and I also sell original works that are exhibited in galleries and on my website. In addition, I also have an online store on my website which offers paper and canvas reproductions of most of my paintings.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I had friends who had never before visited Atlanta, and if money were no object, I would take them to some of my favorite places in and around Atlanta.

First, on Sunday, we would go to a Braves baseball game. There is so much fun to be had at a baseball game. I normally don’t like large crowds, but a baseball game setting is different. There is so much excitement and cheer all around that it’s contagious and heart-warming. Before going in the stadium we would stop for a bite to eat at the amazingly wonderful Antico’s Pizza in Battery Park. My all time favorite selection is the Marguerita D.O.P with sliced tomato, Bufala mozzarella, abundant shreds of basil, garlic and olive oil and a mug of Peroni on draft. The pizza is pure and simple, but truly magical! Every time I eat this pizza, I feel regret that it’s gone so quickly. I have to make a conscious effort to savor it slowly. It’s that amazing!

On Monday, we would take a tour of the breathtaking Botanical Gardens in Atlanta in the late afternoon and dine outdoors at sunset at the Longleaf and enjoy great food and some live music.

On Tuesday, we would attend a show at the famous and exquisite Fox Theater. Hopefully, it would be a musical or a concert, but it would mostly be for the sheer experience of just being in this gorgeous, historical theater with its arabic architecture. Before the show we would go to Ecco for some shared tapas like their delicious Fried Goat Cheese and a cocktail.

On Wednesday, we would head north of the city and take a relaxing motor boat ride through Lake Lanier. We would stop at a local seafood restaurant, like Fish Tales in Flowery Branch where we could sit in the Adirondack chairs and look over the lake from the pier at sunset and have a light dinner with signature Southern-style seafood.

On Thursday, we would go east of Atlanta and hike all around and all the way up to the top of Stone Mountain to experience the vast view of Atlanta in the distance.

On Friday we would go see a concert outdoors at Chastain Park with a picnic style array of appetizers and some wine spread out on a tablecloth. Hopefully, there would be no sign of rain, but a nice cool breeze would be perfect. My two favorite concerts at Chastain Park were Sting and The Gipsy Kings. Both were awesome!

On Saturday, we would come back to Atlanta and enjoy the casual atmosphere of Der Biergarten on Marietta Street. We could enjoy an Oktoberfest beer, some potato pancakes with sour cream and apple sauce and a platter of German cured meats and cheeses and a hearty Goulash soup with some warm apple strudel for dessert. For me, nothing marks the autumn season like Oktoberfest. Could anybody feel unhappy listening to Oktoberfest music? Um… I don’t think so.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My father is also an artist. I was exposed to art at a very early age, and I was always encouraged by him and my mother to keep on painting. My father is almost 90 years old and he still continues to paint every day. There has been no decline whatsoever in his skill and genius; his paintings only get better with time. I strive to have his focus and dedication.

Website: www.vivelisestudio.com

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Twitter: twitter.com/vivelisestudio

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