Marisa Santosa
Marisa Santosa (@Marzland) is a graphic designer and an artist who explores human senses and emotions through her paintings and mark-making. Most of these collections are her loose interpretations based on a particular lyric in a song.
Who are you?
I’m Marisa Santosa, a graphic designer, and artist.
Tell us a bit about your work.
Most of my artwork is my loose visual interpretations based on a particular lyric in a song.
How long have you identified as being an artist?
I started to learn how to paint in 2014 but took it a bit more seriously in 2018. So 2018 it is then, 5 years-ish.
How does where you live affect your artworks?
Everything I consume affects my work. The news, the music, the culture, the weather. Sometimes I have so many opinions about everything but since I’m not good at expressing them with words, I draw/paint them.
Also, since I live in Perth, there’s less distraction than if I live back home (Jakarta) and my time is more structured so I can dedicate time to paint.
How did you come across this medium / your style?
I’ve started with digital illustration back in 2011 but in 2014 I realised that I need to do something with my hand, as in analogue work. That’s when I thought why not try painting? I did a pottery workshop for a few weeks and enjoyed it a lot, but painting was more feasible (I have a small space and am not a fan of cleaning up after pottery).
In 2018 I bought a second-hand iPad pro from a friend, and that changed my life because I started drawing in procreate and then it changed my painting process a bit. I usually paint freestyle but now I usually draw/sketch it up on iPad and then paint it on a canvas.
Best advice for new artists?
Keep trying new things, and don’t give up. Don’t throw out old work, give it time, sometimes you will look at it differently and get new ideas.
Rejection sucks but one-day things will work.
What motivates you to create?
I get a random idea at a random time and feel the need to paint/draw it. I also work full-time as a graphic designer (which I enjoyed thoroughly) but I also need relief after working on a computer 40 hours a week. So painting is like a break from work for me!
Who or what are your biggest influences artistically?
It changes all the time. But usually, I get obsessed with a particular artist and try to find out how they do certain things / make certain colours, etc. and then unconsciously that influences my work.
How have you developed your career?
I’m still developing. But I guess by going into many creative workshops, applying to various art awards / EOIs, and just keep doing what I love to do and committing more to it.
Where do you find inspiration?
I’m heavily inspired by music. I’m quite literal, so when I hear an interesting lyric of a song that I like (I usually repeat them till I get bored LOL), I try to imagine what it looks/feels like, how it makes me feel, and just draw my visual interpretation of it.
When are you at your most creative?
Any time before sunset. My brain can’t work at night because I don’t like cleaning up at night.
How has your style changed over time?
It keeps changing, I guess. Every time I found new tools/ways of doing things, it will change my style a bit.
What do you listen to whilst you create?
I usually listen to a song that I was inspired to (on repeat like there’s no tomorrow). But if/when I get sick of it (which happens) I listen to scam podcasts; I’m obsessed with them!
Tell us about this exhibition?
It’s an exhibition with a good friend of mine, Karima. She is one of my biggest supporters in everything that I do (personally and art-wise). I look up to her and ask her lots of questions about work because she is more experienced than me.
So it feels like a full circle because back in 2015 we talked about working together on something (I think it was a children’s book at that time), and here we are in 2023, doing an exhibition together! Plus, it’s interesting that we are using a sort of similar colour palette but the bodywork itself is sooooo different.