Meet Brianna Ortiz | Artist

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

Hi Brianna, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Trying to balance a fulltime job in the corporate world and making time to paint can be difficult. Prior to my current job position I had more time to participate in art shows, paint and create content for social media. Now, the scale has become unbalanced the more I grew in my job and art is now part time where I find myself painting only once or twice a week. I understand that in life there will be many changes and I am proud of my growth but, financial stability is important right now so having to slow down on producing artwork is the best decision for me at this time. Regardless of how busy things may get, I will always find the time to paint even if its only on the days I am off of work because I know that my current balance is only temporary and art will eventually be the forefront again.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Just like art, us as humans are always evolving and growing. I’ve seen a lot of growth in my painting skills since I first started 8 years ago clueless with just a 12″x 16″ canvas and 1 flat brush living at my grandmas house. I use to be terrified and unsure when it came to painting faces but over time I have learned to blend, scale and use color theory properly. Portraits were a challenge back in the day and can still definitely have its difficulties but, the challenges now lie with picking the next muse to paint. Do I paint someone famous? An athlete? a random person on google images? Despite the frustrations of figuring out who I plan on painting next, I am much more confident in my skills to paint eyes, nose, lips and hair but I still have more room to grow. Practice makes perfect!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The good thing about visiting the area where I currently live is the proximity to the lake. Living next to Lake Ray Hubbard provides my guests and I the opportunity to get outside, get active and overall enjoy nature. I am always up for going on a walk, visiting a park to BBQ, fish, rent a kayak or staying in and walking over to my large onsite infinity pool with pool side cabanas. Visiting the city of Dallas would also be a great option to add to any itinerary. Klyde Warren park, Reunion Tower, DMA and many more places are great attractions if you are wanting an inner city experience. Speaking of inner city, if you are hungry and craving good Mexican food I always suggest visiting Tagueria La Ventana located on Mckinney Ave. It is the best location with good music and good vibes and walking distance to Victory Park and the AAC for those who enjoy sporting events or musical performances.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to give a shoutout to Camp Fire First Texas in Fort Worth, Texas. I have participated in their annual An Artists’ Christmas gala and art auction for 6 years which has been such an amazing experience and atmosphere. Their mission is to create a community where every child has access to the learning opportunities they need to succeed and thrive. Since 1985, the event has raised nearly $6 million to support Camp Fire’s programs and services. Being a part of this organization and community has been an honor over the years and I will continue to donate my artwork to raise funds to help children in need.

Website: https://www.breescanvas.com

Instagram: breescanvas