Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariel Cohen.
Hi Ariel, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Well, the short and cliché answer is that I’ve been an artist my whole life. As far back as I can remember, paper, crayons, pencils, legos… you name it. I was creating. But the longer story is much more complicated. From my teenage years as an aspiring pop-punk musician to my college years studying communication, psychology, and journalism- I stepped away from the fine art medium and into other areas that spoke to me on a creative level. It wasn’t until about six years ago, when a friend invited me to his painting workshop, that I truly stepped back into my identity as a practicing artist.
After spending about one year in the workshop, I realized this was something I needed more of in my life. I started putting together my own home studio (shoutout to my amazing wife, Mary, for supporting my use of the kitchen space as a makeshift studio every week during that time!). And as the home studio process evolved, so did my hunger to showcase my work and share it with the world. I started applying to art shows, learning the lingo and general do’s and don’ts of the art world. I asked LOTS of questions. And as time went on and my efforts paid off, I was invited to participate in various group art shows. I found my voice as an artist and psychotherapist (psychotherapy is my day job and the other professional passion in my life). I forged new friendships with fellow artists both online and offline. And I’m proud that today my art studio has moved to its very own dedicated space in the converted office at our new home.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it hasn’t always been a smooth road. Art, like life, is full of ups and downs. In fact, I’ve recently found myself moving out of a slump of sorts, where I just didn’t feel creative and I wasn’t getting many opportunities to showcase my work. That lasted about six months, but I took it as an opportunity to look within, ask myself the truly important questions (ex. Why am I doing this? Who am I doing this for? Is this brining joy and fulfillment into my life?), and put myself to task at reconnecting with my motivation and authenticity. I try to see struggle as an opportunity for growth. Easier said than done! But I do find that the sentiment helps me weather more difficult moments and eventually learn from them.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an expressionist artist, meaning I aim to present the world(s) in my art from a purely subjective perspective. Since mine is the only perspective I always have access to, I oftentimes pull from my experiences in life to help develop specific themes in my work. This orientation to my art process has an undeniable connection to my world as a practicing psychotherapist, where I help people work through their own subjective experiences and the struggles, growth, and learning that comes from those experiences. While I am not an art therapist, my work has a clear therapeutic impact on my life, and I hope it helps others with their own experiences in life too. Art is such a great medium to communicate concepts that resonate with our collective consciousness; I love when people see my art through their own lens and hopefully walk away with some sort of helpful interpretation that benefits them in their life.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Authenticity matters most to me. If I am being true to myself, everything else falls into place. Love, work, play, relationships- we are the common denominator in all of these aspects of our lives. So if I take care of myself, and if I am true to my vision and my hopes/dreams/goals, I have noticed that I feel better and my life circumstances seem to improve. I can’t explain it much better than that, but I hope it makes sense to some of the people who are reading.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.arielcohenart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arielcohen_art
