Today we’d like to introduce you to Milana Reedus.
Milana, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
There are a handful of artists in my family, so I feel art has always been a part of me. When I was about 3 or 4 I can remember sitting on the floor by myself using a watercolor set my mom got me or when my great grandmother and I would draw a picture together; taking turns drawing parts of a figure on one piece of paper. When I was in high school, art class was treated as a free period for most people while I took it more seriously. It was my favorite class because it allowed me to be creative and do something that I already came naturally. When it was time for me to go to college, it only felt right to be an art major. There were times I was questioned if it was the best choice. But I knew for myself that art was the only thing I was genuinely interested in. I wanted to explore more and gain a deeper knowledge of art that I now have because of what I have learned and experienced in college. As a Fine Arts major, I study drawing, painting, and printmaking. The first time I took a screenprinting class, I immediately fell in love. I felt it was the first time I made a real piece of art.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
The first few prints I did were about women and their uniqueness. I wanted those pieces to be a celebration of their beauty. My color palette of soft pink hues, delicate and bold flowers with confidently posed figures exemplify the qualities of a beautiful and powerful woman. My most recent works are self-portraits that I screen printed. I was inspired by the posed figures and color choices made in the drawings done by artist Egon Schiele. These pieces were an attempt at showing my hand as an artist in each composition. As screenprinting can be very repetitive and to the point, I tried to be more expressive with my mark making and color choices. The medium I used allows for fluidity as well as control. Currently, I do not have a fixed subject for the art that I make. The self-portraits I made were a learning experience for myself as I was trying to let go and see the possibilities of what I could create. Other times I make art based on a specific topic that I feel connected to at that time; such as my pieces about disassociation. With this being said, I do hope that eventually, I get to a place where there is something I can make art about and grow that body of work without feeling as though I have exhausted the subject after a couple of pieces.
Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
I feel very fortunate that I get to learn and create art in Atlanta. There are so many small galleries and organizations to discover and be a part of. It also helps to have another artist share advice on how to be successful from their own experiences in the art world. There are so many resources, but sometimes you have to know the right people, and this can be the downside of the art world. Sometimes it feels as though galleries are overly exclusive when they could be showing a range of artists and styles. Allowing different artists to show their work in various galleries opens doors and even more opportunities for an upcoming artist.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I post images of my art on my Instagram page (art.by.mtg). I also like to include a lot of work in progress videos showing some of my processes. Anytime I am in an art show I will tell people about it and post it to that page as well. I am grateful for all the love and support I have gotten from people who care about me and my art. To support an artist, it is important to buy their art. I appreciate when people give me feedback, buy my art, and come to art shows that I am a part of.
Contact Info:
- Email: milanaelise@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/art.by.mtg/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/art.by.mtg3/
Image Credit:
Personal Photo: Bryan Sanchez
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