Christine Cianciosi

Christine Cianciosi | Artist Collage

Your work combines graphic design, photography, and writing. How do these different practices influence each other in your creative process?

All three practices: graphic design, photography, and writing, are interconnected in my creative process. Photography helps me stay present and aware of the world around me, noticing light, color, and symbolism in everyday moments. Writing allows me to reflect on these experiences and translate creative thoughts and spiritual insights into meaningful concepts. Then, graphic design becomes the visual vessel to bring it all together, whether it is a logo, a digital painting, or a layout. Each discipline feeds the other, allowing me to capture both the seen and unseen, and turn inspiration into something artful and expressive.

Nature appears to be a recurring theme in your artworks. What draws you to capturing trees, skies, and birds in such expressive ways?

Nature is one of my deepest sources of inspiration. Trees, skies, and birds carry symbolic meaning in my work because trees represent life, growth, and the connection between the earthly and the divine. In Sunlight’s Flight the birds act as a spiritual messenger, encouraging one to rise above challenges and view life from a higher perspective. These elements appear in my art because they bring me into the present moment while also pointing toward something greater. Through them, I express how we can feel connected to this world while remaining open to the vast, limitless sky above.

Christine Cianciosi | Rainbow To The Sky | 2018

You mention that spiritual studies and metaphysics inspire your art. Could you share an example of how these practices have directly influenced a specific piece?

A good example would be my pieces Rainbow to the Sky and Tiles in the Sky. Both are based on the same original photograph, yet I digitally enhanced and painted one and then added a tile effect on the other. Thus, creating two unique perspectives. This approach reflects metaphysical principles: how perception shifts as we evolve, and how familiar images can take on new meaning as our awareness deepens. These works visually express the idea that transformation is not just possible but constant, depending on how present and open we are.

The textures in your digital artworks feel almost painterly, as if they merge photography with painting. How do you achieve this effect, and what does it mean to you?

I love blending photography with digital painting in Photoshop because it allows me to create something that feels both real and imagined. I start with a photo, then use digital tools to paint and enhance the colors and vibrancy. I also use other filters in Photoshop to create a new perspective of the photo. This process allows me to infuse emotion, texture, and layers of meaning into the piece. It represents how life itself is layered; how there is always more than what we initially see. To me, it is about transformation and taking a captured moment and elevating it into a visual meditation.

Christine Cianciosi | Sunlight’S Flight | 2015

In your artist statement, you mention the importance of meaning and connection. What role do you hope your audience plays when viewing your work?

I hope my work invites the viewer to pause, to truly see, feel, and connect with what is in front of them, and within them. Whether it sparks peace, curiosity, or inspiration, I want the experience of viewing my art to feel like a moment of presence and reflection. My intention is not just to present an image, but to evoke something deeper, perhaps even inspiring others to create, notice beauty in their own lives, or reconnect with their inner world. I see my audience as co-creators in this shared moment of connection.

How do you balance commissioned graphic design projects with personal, more experimental work?

Balancing the two can be challenging, as time is always the key, but I try to approach both with presence and purpose. Commissioned work offers structure and the opportunity to collaborate, grow, and share my gifts with others. Personal projects, on the other hand, give me full creative freedom to explore my ideas and spiritual insights. I carve out time for them when I feel inspired and called to create.

Christine Cianciosi | Tiles In The Sky | 2022

You describe creativity as a way of exploring the outer and inner worlds. Do you find that one inspires the other more strongly?

They influence each other, but I would say inner exploration is often the starting point. When I am connected to my inner world through spiritual study, mindfulness, or simply being present, I see the outer world differently. That is when I notice the light hitting a tree just right or a bird appearing at the perfect moment. The outer world then becomes a mirror or a metaphor for what is happening internally. So, while both are essential, it is my inner world that often tunes my ‘antenna’ and makes me receptive to the beauty around me, and I love it. Enjoy this day my friend and go make some art!