Getting There: Adriana Uhlman

In our blog series, “Getting There,” we ask professionals and experts what it takes to be successful and what kinds of advice they can offer. And, as we believe the concepts of curiosity, creativity and communications are vital to contributing to the success of any endeavor, we are also interested in knowing which they have utilized most often and how.

Adriana Uhlman
Winter Garden, Florida

We are featuring another artist in our "Getting There" series. Adriana Uhlman is a multi-discipline artist and educator and explains the importance of art in our daily lives.

What got you interested in art and photography ?

My interest in photography began when I was about 12 years old. I asked my parents for a camera for Christmas and fell in love with photography.  I found myself always wanting to take photographs and my body of work evolved from that point forward.  As I got older, I began to explore alternative processes in the studio and darkroom. 

Why did you decide to start teaching in the visual arts?

Working with children always seemed very natural and came organically to me. Merging that concept with teaching art seemed like a natural progression. Children seem to be busier and preoccupied these days and might not take the time to create something with their hands.  The opportunity that I have to reach them and help them to accomplish making something themselves is an important part of my life and, hopefully, their lives.

How do you use the concepts of curiosity, creativity and communication?

When I see an image or object that interests me, I might photograph it and research the process. The concept of curiosity keeps it in my mind and if it is something that I keep thinking about, then I might take it a step further. The concept of creativity comes from many different places for me. I try to be creative in my artwork and in my daily life. When I get an idea I like to be able to work on it and come back to it at another time. This process helps my creativity because I can be inspired by my events during a "regular" day and that will reflect in my work. The concept of communication is a focal point of my artwork.  I am often trying to communicate something in my artwork and at times it can be clearer in some artwork than others. 

What advice can you give to someone who might be interested in art professionally?

The advice that I would give to someone who might be interested in art professionally would be to practice at it every day.  If someone wants to be good at something, they need to work on it every day.  They should know their craft and the facets of it.  Specializing in a medium is fine but the artist needs to be well rounded and know something about most mediums.  This will help them to be prepared if a situation arises and they need to step out of their comfort zone.