10 Questions with Tyra Chantel

Looking at her artwork, Tyra thinks of her life experiences. She felt disconnected as a result of her thoughts and emotions often being overlooked by the world around her. Growing up, listening to music was the only time she felt understood. She felt connected to musicians’ powerful lyrics that portrayed their raw emotions about their lives. When she first started creating art, it was only something she would do for fun. In no time, she realized she found a place to make sense of herself. She figured out how to make the visuals she would see in her head when listening to song lyrics. Tyra has always loved the scribble technique, and it felt easy to do. It felt authentic and unfabricated; it felt natural. She could express emotions through her hand, adding more pressure when the emotions felt intense, lessening the pressure when the goal was to be gentle and delicate. Long, arbitrary marks when she was excited or angered; short, well-thought-out lines when feeling calm or stoic. Tyra was able to channel energy, convey thoughts through pictures, and bring people into her world. She could finally be understood all through the scribbles of a pen, inspired by song lyrics that moved her that day. This is why she creates: to inspire others with her art and to create something that makes them feel connected to the world.

baartanddesign.com | @tyra_chantel

INTERVIEW

First of all, how did you first get started in art, and what drew you to this career path?

I’ve been drawing since I was a child, my mother could tell you stories of me picking up pens and pencils to create masterpieces everywhere I went. What drew me to this career path was realizing I found something I was good at and loved so much. 

What was it like to become a published illustrator, and how has that experience influenced your career?

Becoming published was beyond exciting. I felt like I was no longer an amateur artist and could start competing with the big dogs. It gave me so much confidence to start dabbling into larger projects. 

Let’s talk about your work. Can you describe your typical creative process, from the initial idea to the finished piece?

My creative process is fun and simple. I usually have a song I connect with a life experience and/or emotion. From there I plan how I want to depict it visually. As I’m creating the piece, I’ll usually hyper-fixate on the song or artist, replaying it over and over until the piece is finished. 

What is your preferred medium? And what do you like to experiment with?

I’m a simple girl. I love a black felt tip pen on a Bristol board. I’m going to contradict my first sentence - I love to experiment with painting furniture. I like a little artistic interior design. 

What life experiences and song lyrics have inspired your work the most?

Breakups - both relational & friendships - can fuel some good artwork out of me! 

How do you use your art to express your thoughts on political issues and personal experiences?

I use my feelings. When I go to make a piece, I’m usually motivated by whatever emotion is heaviest- love, anger, vulnerability, strength. Any life event can trigger this for me. 

What motivates you to inspire others to create art, and how do you hope to achieve this through your work?

When I first started creating art, it was merely an outlet for me. As I found how helpful it was to help me process my thoughts and emotions, I realized how powerful of a tool it was. From there, I wanted people to recognize how important having an outlet to express yourself was- whether it is art or another medium that moves them. I hope by me simply continuing to express myself the next person will find the strength to do the same. 

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as an artist, and what have been the most rewarding moments?

The biggest challenge I’ve faced was finding my voice as an artist. Starting out, I had the opinions of others in the back of my head when I created. I was more concerned about whether the audience was going to like the artwork rather than developing my voice. The most rewarding moments have been when I’ve pushed myself to create past what my perceived limitations were. 

Are there any upcoming projects or themes you’re excited to explore in your art?

Yes, I’m excited to further explore connecting music and stagnant imagery. It’s been a fun journey so far. 

And lastly, what is your biggest goal for 2024? 

I have three: I want to get my artwork in a museum, sell one (or more) of my artworks to a museum, and paint a mural. 

Artist’s Talk

Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.