Phoenix is brimming with creativity. And every other year, we put the spotlight on 100 of the city's creative forces. Leading up to the release of this year's Best of Phoenix issue, we're profiling 100 more. Welcome to the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives. Up today: 34. Yai Cecream.
Yai Cecream's creative process draws on pop culture.
The Phoenix artist cites Alejandro Jodorowsky and Wes Anderson among her favorite filmmakers and says she often watches Adventure Time while drawing. "I could watch the same episode over and over again and still find new things I like I didn't notice before," she says of the Cartoon Network show, "and it also makes me happy and inspires me in many ways."
See also: Phoenix Artist Jesse Perry: 100 Creatives
The 26-year-old, who was born in Madrid, Spain, is a member of downtown Phoenix's Palabra Art Collective. And upon viewing her work, those kaleidoscopic, precise, and colorful influences she mentions all start to make sense.
"I watch a lot of documentaries about consciousness, art, artists, mind science, psychedelics, sacred geometry, quantum physics and quantum theory, the intricacies of the universe... But I like anything interesting I can find."
Those influences should come in handy as the artist works on her upcoming solo show opening at Palabra on First Friday, October 3.
"All [these] things influence me not only while I create but they are always present in me and in my mind at all times," she says. "Those are the things that make my eyes and my brain get excited so then I can get active with my hands and draw, paint and create in general."
I came to Phoenix with no idea how my life would be. I was too young to understand what this city meant, but I am really happy I made it here because it made me grow in ways I never expected and I became influenced by the surroundings immediately.
I make art because I was born to do so. It's my passion and it's also my safe place. I create when I feel good, and I create when I feel bad. I like to have a sketchbook and pens with me at all times. And if I am not physically creating something, I am always daydreaming about the things I will create when I have the opportunity.
I'm most productive when I don't have to worry about not being a mess the next day. Having a normal job takes a lot of productivity away because if I didn't have a particular time when I have to show up somewhere to do something non creative I would be able to stay up and create with no preoccupations. I also enjoy timelines and pressure, since I feel obligated to create with no distractions and to finish quickly.
My inspiration wall is full of a bunch of everything. Sacred geometry, cartoons, nature, fashion, many other artists, colorful things, happy and fun stuff, animals, symmetry, etc. I am a lover of visual candy if that makes any sense... I enjoy looking at everything and selecting the elements I like the most about it. Life in general inspires me.
I've learned most from being true to myself.
Good work should always provoke something in you, it should resonate in your brain and it should never leave you neutral.
The Phoenix creative scene could use more variety, female presence, collective opportunities for other emerging artists and more love in general.
See the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives:
100. Bill Dambrova 99. Niki Blaker 98. Jeff Slim 97. Beth May 96. Doug Bell 95. Daniel Langhans 94. Nanibaa Beck 93. Nicole Royse 92. Ib Andersen 91. Casandra Hernandez 90. Chris Reed 89. Shelby Maticic 88. Olivia Timmons 87. Courtney Price 86. Travis Mills 85. Catrina Kahler 84. Angel Castro 83. Cole Reed 82. Lisa Albinger 81. Larry Madrigal 80. Julieta Felix 79. Lauren Strohacker 78. Levi Christiansen 77. Thomas Porter 76. Carrie Leigh Hobson 75. Cody Carpenter 74. Jon Jenkins 73. Aurelie Flores 72. Michelle Ponce 71. Devin Fleenor 70. Noelle Martinez 69. Bucky Miller 68. Liliana Gomez 67. Jake Friedman 66. Clarita Lulić 65. Randy Murray 64. Mo Neuharth 63. Jeremy Hamman 62. La Muñeca 61. Kevin Goldman 60. Emily Costello 59. Kerstin Dale 58. Vara Ayanna 57. Nathaniel Lewis 56. Ruben Gonzales 55. Lisa Poje 54. Bobby Zokaites 53. Frances Smith Cohen 52. Julie Rada 51. David Miller 50. Xanthia Walker 49. Kyllan Maney 48. Cary Truelick 47. Constance McBride 46. James D. Porter 45. Allyson Boggess 44. Abigail Lynch 43. Ashley Cooper 42. Jaclyn Roessel 41. Brandon Boetto 40. Melissa Dunmore 39. Gavin Sisson 38. Rossitza Todorova 37. Monica Robles 36. Josh Kirby 35. Jesse Perry
