The personal touch makes her work unique and easily identifiable wherever it is.
Education & early path
Cristiana has always been connected to art, with a degree in Visual Arts and a postgraduate degree in the same subject from the University of the Algarve. Craftsmanship became the way she supported herself while continuing to paint
As she explains, “Portugal is a fantastic and culturally rich country, yet there is little support for artists and traditional crafts.”
Even so, she loves the Algarve and couldn’t see herself living or working anywhere else, even with the seasonal difficulties and limited opportunities.
When she graduated, she began to realise she had chosen one of the most difficult paths and that many challenges lay ahead. She always believed that what was difficult was not impossible and that challenges are part of the process of “maturing.”
“I often say at home, jokingly, that my first love is ART, my second is painting, and I think that tiles were the best vehicle for communicating my passion and dedication to the world.”
Discovering tiles
Even before Cristiana started painting tiles, she had been fascinated by the cobalt-blue tiles that cover many churches in northern Portugal.
“I was always amazed. I had to touch them, see the brushstrokes up close, look for the artist’s signature. I imagined the hard work and hours dedicated to painting something so grand.”
When she came into contact with tiles, she learned about the painting and firing processes and was fascinated by their durability against the elements and the passage of time.
“Just look at the 17th and 18th-century panels that cover the facades of churches, palaces, and stations in Portugal. I saw tiles as a way of perpetuating my work and, to some extent, my personal mark on the world.”
The turning point
She had a happy encounter with traditional Portuguese pottery, where she devoted herself to painting clay pieces.
“I think that moment was the most crucial and the turning point that brought me here. I came into contact with the materials and the mechanism of painting and mass production.”
It was at the pottery where she had her first encounter with tiles, and it was love at first sight.
The first tile
The first tile she painted was a panel of the bridge in Tavira, Algarve. It was a design that was almost automated in her head, as she had already worked on it before in postcard painting.
Confident in the image, yet she still felt fear because she was going to work with materials and techniques she had never used before.
She went for it, let it flow, and did it. The end result (after firing) was fantastic. Directly or indirectly, that moment awakened and motivated her to start another panel right away.
After gaining confidence, she immediately increased the scale. It was huge, and she had to paint it for hours. It was a seabed with dolphins, exotic fish, and corals.
Art Sueste
Art Sueste was born out of a tremendous desire to create. At the time, it didn’t matter where or how — just to do it, to paint, to create. It was a time of great creative energy.
Cristiana painted surfboards and the walls of bars and restaurants. It was also at that time that she began producing various handicrafts and realised that everything she made was marketable.
She felt the need to give this creative moment a name, so Arte Sueste came about. It is deeply rooted in her essence as a person (her love for the sea), in the geographical location where she lives (the Algarve), and in Sueste, which is usually synonymous with warm waters, good waves, and good times (everything that art is or should be).
The process of making a hand-painted tile
She works with pre-glazed tiles, painting directly onto a fine layer of powdered glaze.
As for the design, she does not like sketches but prefers to paint directly on the tile.
Once the painting is finished, the tile is fired at 985º, and that’s when the magic happens. It is in the kiln that the colours melt together, the tile comes to life, and it shines.
Opening the kiln after firing is always a moment of great anticipation and joy for her.
Where can people find or buy her tiles?
Art Sueste’s creations can be found in various stores across the country, but for more personalised work, there is nothing better than contacting her directly.
Her contact details are available on social media: Instagram @artsueste.tiles. She is always available and ready to receive new ideas and projects.
Life in the Algarve
Being from the Algarve, she naturally loves the beaches there, but increasingly enjoys the winter there as well.
“I think we get a bit of everything in terms of scenery and landscapes in this small region. We are blessed with a mild climate and blue skies almost all year round, and in winter, there is nothing like walking or cycling.”
She loves the Algarve from one end to the other, as you can tell, but she has three favourite places: Tavira, for its romanticism and unique beauty; Olhão, her beloved city, where she lives, full of charisma due to its fishing origins, rough and “rustic”, and finally Aljezur, her peaceful retreat, surrounded by the sea, where she can still feel nature in its raw state.
Looking to the future
Looking to the future, Cristiana is planning new ways to organise and exhibit her work.
Feeling the need to be more in touch with the public, she plans to teach people interested in the art of tiles.
“I believe that the best way to show gratitude when you have a gift in a particular craft is by sharing the knowledge you have acquired with other people who have the same taste or desire. Only in this way can we keep alive this cultural art form and identity, which is tile painting.”