Teresa Mandala

Where do you live: United States, St. Petersburg, FL.
Your education: Bachelor of Fine Arts.
Describe your art in three words: Connecting through nature.
Your discipline: Ceramics, painting (oils, acrylics, watercolors), printmaking, photography, sculpture, drawing, and graphic design
Website | Instagram

Can you tell us about your journey as an artist and what led you to explore multiple mediums?

My journey as an artist began with a deep-seated curiosity and a desire to express myself through various forms of art. Initially, I was drawn to traditional drawing and painting, where I developed a love for color, composition, and storytelling. These early experiences laid the groundwork for my exploration of other mediums.

As I continued to grow as an artist, I was inspired to expand my skill set and explore new materials. Creating in wood allowed me to experience the tactile nature of the material and the satisfaction of crafting three-dimensional forms. This initial fascination with wood was followed by an interest in ceramics, where I enjoyed the challenge of shaping and carving clay, and discovered that this material also allowed me to paint and carve visual stories on them.

Each new medium offered a fresh perspective and challenged me to think differently about form, texture, and design. This curiosity led me to explore metal and glass, where I found new ways to experiment with light, reflection, and structure. Watercolor, acrylic, and oil paints have continued to be integral to my practice, allowing me to express ideas with fluidity and depth.

Ultimately, my journey as an artist is defined by a passion for learning and a willingness to explore the unknown. This has led me to work with multiple mediums, each offering unique possibilities and enriching my creative expression.

Teresa Mandala | AIR | 2023

How does your work in ceramic, wood, metal, glass, watercolor, acrylic, and oil paints influence each other?

Working with various mediums like ceramics, wood, metal, glass, watercolor, acrylic, and oil paints has created a rich tapestry of influences within my artistic practice. Each material has unique properties that inform and inspire my work in others.

Ceramics and wood share a tactile quality that influences how I approach structure and texture. The process of carving and shaping these materials informs my understanding of form, which translates into my work with metals, where I explore sculptural possibilities and intricate details.

My experiences with glass and metal encourage me to think about light, transparency, and reflection, which profoundly influence my painting techniques. When working with watercolor, acrylic, and oil paints, I often incorporate layering and blending techniques inspired by the glazing and surface treatments in ceramics and the reflective qualities of glass.

The interplay between these mediums fosters a dynamic creative process where techniques and ideas cross-pollinate, leading to unexpected solutions and innovations. This integration enriches my work, allowing me to create pieces that are both visually compelling and conceptually rich.

By embracing the distinct qualities of each medium, I am able to push the boundaries of my artistic expression and create a cohesive body of work that reflects the synergy between these diverse materials.

Can you share a particularly memorable experience or project that significantly impacted your artistic development?

A particularly memorable experience that significantly impacted my artistic development was moving from Kansas City to St. Petersburg, FL. Relocating to the east coast after spending my entire life in the Midwest opened up new opportunities and allowed me to reach a wider audience with my work. Shortly after the move, I connected with a gallery in Key West, FL, which began showcasing my work. This exposure was a turning point for me, and the gallery has since sold over 100 pieces of my art, even after relocating to Port Angeles, WA.

In St. Petersburg, my work has been featured in numerous galleries, including the Florida Craft Art Gallery, providing me with an invaluable platform to share my art with diverse audiences. Additionally, I was commissioned to create a piece representing health equity for the Center for Health Equity in St. Petersburg, which now holds a permanent place in their collection. This project was particularly meaningful, as it allowed me to engage with important social issues through my art.

Receiving a grant from the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance and an Emerging Artist grant from Creative Pinellas further accelerated my artistic growth. These opportunities enabled me to create new bodies of work and showcase them in prominent venues, such as the Creative Pinellas main gallery. Each of these experiences has enriched my artistic journey, allowing me to explore new themes, refine my skills, and connect with the community in profound ways.

Teresa Mandala | Guided By Celestial Depths | 2024

Can you tell us more about your experience running a virtual advertising studio alongside being a studio artist?

As an artist who wears many hats, running a virtual advertising studio alongside being a studio artist allows me to share visual stories that evoke a response. My skills in storytelling and visual communication seamlessly translate into both my advertising work and artwork, enabling me to connect with audiences on multiple levels.

I appreciate the variety this dual career path offers. Working on the computer to develop conceptual campaigns provides a nice balance to the hands-on experience of creating art in the studio. This diversity keeps my work dynamic and fulfilling, as it satisfies my need for both strategic thinking and creative expression.

Managing both roles also helps balance my workload. During times when advertising contracts are between projects, I can focus my energy in the art studio, dedicating time to create new pieces. Conversely, when I’m uncertain about how to progress with a particular artwork, I can shift gears and work on the computer, channeling my creativity into advertising projects.

Admittedly, there are times when finding the right balance is challenging. However, this way of working allows me the freedom to choose who I work for and what I create, which is incredibly rewarding. By managing both roles, I can maintain a diverse and flexible practice that keeps me engaged and inspired.

Can you share how nature and personal experiences influence your creative process?

Nature and personal experiences are fundamental to my creative process, serving as a constant source of inspiration and reflection. The natural world, with its vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and dynamic forms, deeply influences my work. Living in St. Petersburg, FL, I am surrounded by lush landscapes, diverse wildlife, and the serene beauty of the coastline, which continually inspire my art. The connection I feel to nature is often reflected in the themes and subjects of my work, such as the intricate details of tree roots or the graceful movement of an animal.

Personal experiences also play a significant role in shaping my art. Each piece I create is a reflection of my journey, emotions, and interactions with the world around me. My work often explores themes of intuition and energy interaction, drawing from moments that have impacted me personally. These experiences provide depth and meaning to my art, allowing me to express complex emotions and ideas in a visual form.

Incorporating elements of nature and my personal narrative into my creative process enables me to create art that resonates with viewers on an emotional level. By sharing my perspective through my work, I aim to evoke a sense of connection and curiosity, inviting others to see the beauty and complexity of the world around us.

Teresa Mandala | Beyond the Path | 2023