I’m a Tulsa Kid: Adriana Diaz
Adriana Diaz is a Carver Middle School sixth grader. She spends each Monday and Wednesday afternoon at Tulsa Girls Art School Project (TGAS). Adriana, along with 17 other girls in TGAS’s advanced program, are taught by professional artists at a real life, working art studio located in the Kendall Whittier neighborhood. Founded in 2007 by Tulsa artist Matt Moffett, TGAS’s mission is to empower underserved girls through visual arts training. Adriana and her fellow students learn entrepreneurship by selling their paintings at area art shows. Funds from the sales are divided between the student artists and TGAS. Students may use their portion of the sales proceeds to purchase personal art supplies for home use, pay competition fees or gallery entry fees or buy college savings bonds for their future studies.
Q: Are any of your family members artists?
A: There are no other artists in my family, but we have always loved art. Sometimes we view art in museums.
Q: When did you realize you enjoyed art as an activity or hobby?
A: I realized I first started to like art three years ago when I joined TGAS. I started to draw and I liked it, but I never really sat down and drew something.
Q: You have to be selected to join TGAS. Did the interview process make you nervous?
A: The interviewing process didn’t make me nervous because I was confident I would get in.
Q: What is your time commitment with TGAS? When do you attend classes and are their other activities you do with TGAS?
A: I attend art school from 4:30-6:30 on Mondays and Wednesdays, and sometimes Saturdays. We take lots of trips with TGAS. Last summer we went to Kansas City and saw The Art Institute and Nelson Atkins Museum, super fun!
Q: What style of painting do you enjoy and do you have a favorite artist or mentor?
A: I like abstract art, and Mr. Matt (TGAS Director Matt Moffett) is my mentor because he is always pushing me for my best artwork.
Q: How has being an artist and the discipline of creating art affected your schoolwork?
A: It has taught me to work hard and don’t give up, you can always make it better.
Q: Have you sold your artwork at the TGAS art shows? If so, was it hard to part with something you created?
A: I have done a very large painting that I have sold at a restaurant, KEO, and I am glad someone else can enjoy it. I know I can always create new art to sell so it’s not hard to part with other pieces I make.
