Meet Mari Carmen Fernandez | Artist, designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mari Carmen Fernandez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mari, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I think risk is necessary in life. It has the power to move you forward or backwards, and it’s this movement that allows you to overcome your greatest fears, regroup and lift yourself up, and push yourself to your highest potential. My life, as well as my art, has been fraught with risk, but it has greatly defined me and strengthened me as a person and as an artist.
There have been 3 transcendental risks that I have taken in my life and they define who I am. They were worth taking.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I was born in Cuba, surrounded by bright colored landscapes, clear aquamarine waters, raw nature and exotic fauna. I left my country of birth 46 years ago with empty pockets and a saddened heart and emigrated to the US, a land offering opportunity and hope with every breath I took. One of my biggest challenges was risking leaving a “safe and solid” job in the banking industry and following my dream of painting. This lead me to open my own firm, specializing in painted murals, faux finishes and specialty plasters. I established myself and thrived in a generally male-dominated industry, and upon my retirement, my company was well-known for our work ethic, professionalism, and knowledge. These three vital principles are what I took with me when I retired and focused primarily on my artwork. My artwork is infused with vibrant colors, rich textures, and I also incorporate semi precious stones to enhance the paintings with their energetic properties. The combination of all these things are what make my art stand out. It speaks to people. It causes deep feelings. I think this is what art should do.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Given my Cuban roots, I would primarily focus the visit on highlighting all the accomplishments that Cubans have made to this wonderful city. I would begin a typical day with a Cuban breakfast of Cafe con Leche and Cuban toast at Versailles Restaurant on 8th St. Then, we would move on to spend the day in the Little Havana section of Miami, starting on 17th Ave. There, we would visit various art galleries showcasing Cuban and Latin American art. We would also stop by a Cuban Cigar store where we would watch a demonstration on the art of cigar making. A visit to Little Havana would not be complete without a stop at Domino Park where, before Covid, you would find clusters of Cuban gentlemen playing dominoes while reminiscing about the old Cuba. We would have dinner at the famous Ball & Chain restaurant listening to a live band filling the air with the sounds of Salsa and Merengue and we would dance the night away.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to shoutout my daughter, Marilyn Brookes, who has always supported and encouraged me. I’d also like to shoutout one of my dearest friend, a fellow artist, Hildin Pomares, who has always been a pillar of strength and support for my art.

Website: www.artbymaricarmen.com www.marisartstudio.com

Instagram: @artbymaricarmen @marisartstudio

Linkedin: Mari Carmen Fernandez

Facebook: marisartstudio