Mobile Photography & Art – Portrait of an Artist – Seeing Through The Eyes Of Oola Cristina

My name is Cristina aka Oola Cristina. I started taking mobile photos about six years ago after a friend introduced me to Hipstamatic and gave me her old iPhone 3GS. A little over a year ago, I learned how to make a layer mask… I’ve been in creative heaven ever since! I’ve experimented with various kinds of arts and crafts, but I think I have finally found my medium in mobile photography and art.

Being creative is one of the best of gifts! I have within me something that feeds my mind, heart and spirit. It means I get to move through the world with a nice amount of wonder and delight, noticing and finding value in the smallest of things. I think it has made me more mindful, and given me better access to feel, process and express my internal world that results in more balance. Being creative and making art are two of the most satisfying ways to spend time, connect me with others and make positive ripples in the world.

There was never a time in my life where the energy of “making” wasn’t around me, and it’s now a deeply ingrained habit. Making things and being creative was part of the culture in my family. I made my first origami cranes before I could read. I was very lucky to have parents who encouraged me by always giving me things with which I could create. I was in my 20s when I realised that creating was something I absolutely had to do. At that time, making art offered me respite from what was hard in my life. It was cathartic and helped me feel more connected to myself. As I’ve gotten older, it has become more purely a pleasure and is endlessly entertaining. When I’m making art, I’m happier and more peaceful.

Making art has rarely been an intellectual process for me. I get tangled up in my head or blocked when I try to direct what I’m doing too much or communicate something in particular. It’s more about showing up, following what attracts me and letting something be created. The image ends up communicating something but I usually don’t know what it is until I’m done or almost done with a piece.

Portraits and self-portraits are something I very much want to explore more fully. I’ve always thought of my flora and fauna images as portraits, especially the macros. When looking at a thing up close for a while, there is something of its spirit or essence that gets absorbed and relayed, I think. Just like in doing a portrait of a person, the more you look, the more you see, and the more that gets expressed.

I imagine the downs would be looking at the same features over and over – like taking photos of the same flower. I can lose track of a lot of time taking photos of one flower and completely enjoy it, but at some point, I want to look at another flower. That said, the sameness and familiarity likely acts as a powerful creative catalyst to finding something more personal and/or universal with each creation… something more revealing, evocative, humorous, compelling.

I’m pretty proud of the collaboration for this article! I tried some new things and am very happy with the results.

Sometimes it’s a feeling… I just know. Other times, after trying this or that, I can’t see anything else that would add to the piece. Then there are those times when I decide it’s finished because I need it to be finished… I’ve messed with it so long, I’m tired of it and it would be a big relief to stop! 😀

The main thing I need to do in order for creativity and art to happen, is take care of my body. Put good things in it, get enough sleep, and move it enough in between those long periods of sitting, so I can comfortably continue.

Inspirations can come with everything… taking in the world around me; being still and quite; dreams; feeling connected to something, someone, myself; nature; poetry; music; books; TV/movies; looking at a lot of art; new apps.

The iPad Pro and Apple pencil changed my mobile art and photography life! I couldn’t do what I’m doing without them. I also love my Olloclip macro lenses and my scanner. Most used apps at the moment: Hipstamatic, Snapseed, Leonardo, Pixelmator, Stackables, Mextures, DistressedFX and Mixerpiece. I also enjoy the BrainFeverMedia apps quite a bit. I’m in the very early stages of learning iColorama, Procreate and DecoSketch, and am SO looking forward to the time when I can navigate those apps proficiently as I know they will make a huge impact on what I can create!

Relax, be patient, be persistent but don’t try, stay out of your head and play.

If creating brings you pleasure, do it as often as you can. Take (back) your time, follow your intuition and pay attention to what attracts you.

My pleasure, Ile. Thank YOU so very much for this opportunity!

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