v
What was
you first memorable art experience and how is it relevant to what you are doing
now?
Ø
I like this question but it’s also really
hard. I’ve been drawing a really long
time I guess, since I was a kid. As a
kid I would draw the same things over again.
I had a way I drew dogs and essentially I drew the same dog but one
would be brown, and one would have spots, and other things. I also remember drawing a heron or something,
a bird with one leg up. I don’t know why
but I really liked that. Is an art
experience different than those random things you draw as a kid? That’s what stands out most to me, those two
things I would draw.
v
Who is
your favorite artist and why?
Ø
My favorite artist is Arthur Dove. I found him by chance; for advanced painting
we went to some gallery in D.C. We went
there for the Van Gogh exhibit and that was cool but then I was wandering
around after and I found this one Arthur Dove piece and stared at it for a
really long time. Security changed
shifts while I was standing there. It
was a sunrise in a series, an abstract piece.
I reminded me of a cave. There
were so many things to look at and I could probably go back to it now and find
something new. I think it was fun I
didn’t get exactly what it was so it was bringing my own experiences.
v
What
inspires you? What are some of the
sources, both within art and outside of art that you turn to?
Ø
I guess what inspires me is my own imagination
and the things I think of to keep me entertained on long trips or if before bed
I’ll just think of something. That’s
from within me. Outside of me is the media,
entertainment. I am in love with
animation and cartoons so I have kind of a bias against live action
movies. I really like you can do so much
more in cartoons. You can have all these
uncanny things and it’ll look real in the context you see it in and you’ll
really. Looking back at the Quidditch
scene in the first Harry Potter movie, that particular part isn’t believable to
me anymore. If it’s animated from start
to finish then everything makes sense. I
appreciate animation cause it’s all drawn.
I love drawing. It’s special.
v
What
draws you to the medium and materials you work in? / How does your choice of
medium(s) affect your work and contribute to its meaning?
Ø
I recently just got into watercolor over the
summer and it first it was really frustrating but now I’m totally in love with
it. I really like how light it
feels. I remember my teacher always
saying “your watercolors are so fresh” and I like fresh. I guess I said light, I like things being
light and floating. I think watercolor
really helps enhance that.
v
How is
your art a response to the world you live in?
Ø
It’s kind of like a sanctuary. It’s so peaceful and serene and full of
wonder and amazing things. It’s like a
retreat, especially now. I feel really
freaked out and on edge and kinda neurotic and I’ll tell myself stop it. After I feel like that I have to do something
else and stop thinking about it so I’ll go watch an episode of a show I like
and I’ll feel calm.
v
Is your
work ultimately more about your process or about the final product? Why do you feel that way?
Ø
It’s definitely about the final product. I do like the process but I feel like I don’t
like other people witnessing the process.
Sometimes having studio mates can be nerve-wracking cause I don’t want
them to see it cause it’s not done yet.
I don’t want them to make comments, not until I’m satisfied with it.
v
What
about making art intimidates you?
Ø
What people say.
I feel they’ll say what I do isn’t art.
That was my fear about hearing about my art. It feels weird to have everyone doing things
about feminism and doing things to figure out technique and people taking
portraits to figure out the heart of the person and I’m just doin doodley
doodles.
v
But it’s
a different art.
Why do you make it? You’re making
an illustrated book, is that to try and bring that joy to other people?
Ø
I would like other people to have joy and
sanctuary too and have a physical thing to reaffirm. It’s fun to make art. It’s all three of those things. It feels weird to be the only person doing
that in this group and not see it a lot in the art world, like in
galleries. I definitely recognize it as
art and I’m sure other people will say that it’s art but it’s not in a gallery,
it’s in its own little sphere.
v
But think
about how more accessible that is though.
Ø
Yeah it definitely is and I like that.
v
If you could
have your portrait done by anyone who would it be and why?
Ø
Maybe impressionists like Van Gogh or Mary Cassatt. I like any impressionist. They think about color and I really would
just like to see my face in color color.
The lines are really nice too and I’m sure, or I hope, there’d be a fun
background.
