Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Brana.
Hi Maria, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have loved to draw and paint from as far back as I can remember. As a little girl, I always drew with graphite and pencil colors to create vivid pictures. My high school art teacher thought I had a natural talent and encouraged me.
She would often give me individual assignments to allow me to challenge myself. I explored different mediums to find what I liked best. I gravitated towards watercolor, but did a bit of acrylic, charcoal, chalk, and pastel. I don’t remember painting much after high school. I would do occasional projects for people, designing wedding invitations, doing unique art pieces for event programs in the local community and often did wedding calligraphy certificates for the local churches. My desire to paint again came after I attended a women’s church retreat at Hume Lake Christian Camps and Retreats in California.
One of the optional sessions was a watercolor class where I chose to paint a small wildflower project. After showing it to my husband, he encouraged me to take watercolor classes at the local art center in Davis, California, where we lived. The teacher’s name was Spring Warren. She took me back to the basics, and I learned so much from her. During one of her classes, I painted a red onion. I realized with that project that I had found my passion for painting. I wanted to become a watercolor artist, painting fruits and vegetables in a botanical style. My next project was a green Bartlett pear. I painted it in different stages as I ate it, and the project is still one of my favorites today. My next teacher was Mary McCaffery, also from Davis, California.
She helped me to refine my style. Teaching me to use graphite pencil for several flower designs before doing the color so I could understand the value and depth of the plants. I wasn’t a patient student at first, desperate to get to the colored paintings, but grateful for her appreciation once I had completed both versions. Mary offered me an opportunity for individual lessons, allowing me to pick my projects, and most of my current designs were painted as her student. I will be forever grateful for her encouragement and teaching skills.
My art expressed my love for nature’s flowers and my desire to enjoy fruits and vegetables as God has made them. While I am a culinary arts fan, I deeply appreciate each food as it is presented in nature. Simple, clean, full of myriad flavors, sensations and nutrients that we can sometimes overwhelm with over-complicated recipes. Many of the fruits and vegetables in my collection have been grown right in the gardens of my friends and family. I am passionate about nutrition and healthy food choices. Many of my designs were chosen to reflect that.
As my collection of designs began to build, my daughter Megan encouraged me to participate in a local nursery’s garden artist festival. People seemed to like my work but often mentioned that they didn’t have room on their walls for prints. We explored functional ways for people to enjoy my art. As a team, we began to put my designs on tiles, glass cutting boards, coffee mugs, coasters, and more. We began using local farmers’ markets and festivals to see if there was a market for our products. People liked my work and were excited to have practical options for enjoying my art in their homes. With my husband as a member of our team, we participated in as many farmers’ markets and festivals as possible.
My husband Michael and I now live in Cleveland, Georgia. I was nervous about starting the art business again here. There are so many talented artists in the north Georgia area where we live. I have just completed my first year of festivals. My husband and I did 28 weekends of festivals/events in 2023. I am excited to share that my work has been well received here in Georgia.
I am looking forward to meeting more artists as we share our art.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting an art business can be very challenging. It takes a lot of determination and willingness to fail along the way. There are so many talented artists out there. I believe God gave us all an inherent talent to be creative. For many, that is squelched along the path of life, and many never live to see their potential. The first hurdle is whether people like your work as much as family and friends. After all, they will support you because they care, but does that mean you have a talent others will appreciate and want to have in their homes?
Then, it was to find a functional product that people could see the value in purchasing. The next hurdle is to find a way to get in front of the consumer. There are many art festivals to choose from; all require a lot of physical work to set up. My husband often laughs and says, “Could you have chosen lighter products.” We are consistently one of the last artists to pack up after a festival, second to the ones who do pottery. Another pathway is finding retail locations where I can sell my work. It can be hard for a business owner to take a chance wholesaling a product from an unknown artist. If they are willing to do a consignment option, the artist must maintain the inventory. You need to be mindful of demographics to know which portions of your inventory will appeal to those who frequent each unique retailer.
There are the top 10 percent that everyone loves. Hummingbirds, Owls, Sunflowers, lemons, etc., then there are the other ones, like a single olive, that someone with a Mediterranean heritage has to have. What do you do when you have over 70 designs and people ask you to paint their favorite all the time?
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I enjoy hiking in my spare time and many of my designs are directly influenced by these hikes in nature. I love recreating plants and wildlife in my work. I am forever fascinated with the unique individuality of every flower and creature God has created. From the beautiful expression of color to the tiniest detail of every petal, seed, and unique role every creature plays in nature. My heart and soul are full when I consider the endless array of God’s creations yet available for me to paint.
Each design has an inspirational story that goes with it.
For example, the Hummingbirds story reads: A few weeks before my baby was born, I noticed a hummingbird had made a nest in the tree outside my dining room window. We waited patiently together for our babies to arrive. My admiration and love for that tiny bird grew as the little hummers grew. I can’t begin to express the happiness and joy that hummingbirds have brought to my life. Who could doubt the hand of God as creator when thinking of the delicate design of the hummingbird?
The Thistle and Bee: I have loved thistles for as long as I can remember. Although defined as a flower and a weed, I choose to see the beauty despite the visible pointy prickles of the plant. Milk thistle is well known for its medicinal properties. I decided to add an approaching bee to this variety. I wanted to capture the story of how the rich nectar of the plant provides storehouses of honey for bee colonies over challenging winters.
All of my art begins as an original watercolor painting. Then, they are scanned and digitized to use the image in creating gift items such as cards, glass cutting boards, coasters, stainless steel mugs, framed art, cards, keychains, and more.
My work can be found in several retail locations in northeast Georgia. A list of those and an ever updating list of festivals I will be attending can be found on my website.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the COVID-19 crisis?
That people are resilient and have found ways to prioritize their family life above all else.
So many changed how they conduct business, educate their children and exchange goods. It’s all for the better. Everyone’s time on earth is limited, so the more we spend it with those we love, participating in activities of our choice, the better.
Pricing:
- Cards are $5 each or 4 for $18
- Prints start at $20
- Glass cutting boards/trivets/serving trays start at $29
- Stainless steel mugs start at $25
- Key chains with a pocket for carrying small things $5
Contact Info:
- Website: https://naturalartpassions.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naturalartpassions
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NaturalArtPassions/
