How long have you been creating art?
I think I've been creating for as long as I can remember! I can recall even in kindergarten being so excited about my new fresh box of crayons or getting a watercolor palette as a gift. My mother always very supportive of us creating. Whether it was making crafts, painting, or drawing- art was always a part of my day.
According to your “about” section on Etsy you love working with the different mediums you use, is there a favorite or one you've worked with the longest?
I would have to say that my favorite medium currently is oils. They always scared me until I had a fabulous professor at SHSU (Tracy Viser) that taught me the proper way to use them. What a difference one great teacher makes! I'm nowhere near a "master" but so far it's my favorite medium to use.
Is there a medium you wish you had more practice and/or knowledge about?
I tend to work on my projects very quickly, and I really hate having to plan in detail. I work very spontaneously, so I'd have to say I have the biggest challenge working in watercolor. Leaving the paper white in areas or mapping out little sections for specific colors like a paint by number I just cannot do! Also the transparency is tough because (sometimes) you just can't "paint over it" so I find myself starting over again frequently. I guess practice makes perfect.
Do you have a favorite artist?
I am defiantly inspired by many! I really fell in love with collage after learning about Peter Beard in an art history class, and some of my collage pieces reflect his work. Currently I'd say my favorite "famous" painter is John Currin- the way he distorts his figure's "normalness" really caught my eye. Some other lesser known artists whose work I admire are Winston Chmielinski (Winston.deviantart.com) and Kristina Laurendi Havens (http://www.etsy.com/shop/krystyna81).
Who/what inspires you?
I try to find beauty in my surroundings- nature, colors, patterns. I love doing figurative work so I love people watching and getting to sketch from a live model every now and again. I am constantly snapping pictures of all sorts of things I find to be beautiful and wondering how I can make it into some sort of art.
How would you describe your artistic style?
It's hard for me to really define! This is like one of those papers you are supposed to write before you graduate art school...I
must have missed that class! I'd say I'm extremely influenced by color- I love bright, bold, colors and I love capture that whether through painting, collage, or photography.
Is there another style you haven't attempted yet, or one you wish you had more practice with?
I would have to say I'm continuously trying to improve my realism. I still feel that ultra-realistic paintings and drawings are a huge challenge, but again practice makes perfect! It's also a matter of mastering your use in different mediums and how to make the medium "do what you want it to", and that's something I will always keep working on.
You're also a family woman as a wife and mother, how do you balance your family and your art?
I get a lot of artwork done/listings written/items posted/art photographed/ etc. Done during nap time!! Also at night after everyone is asleep is my best time to work uninterrupted. I'm hoping that soon my daughter will start showing some interest in coloring or finger painting (she's only 15 months) so we can have art time together.
Again in the “about” section on Etsy you mention you're looking into earning a Masters of Fine Arts, where do you see your career going when you earn a masters?
I haven't decided if going back to school would be the best option yet- it's going to be a long while to pay off my first degree! My ideal future plan with my art would be to open a studio in my area and teach adult/ children classes, have free draw nights with a live model, and have fun group wine and painting classes. I really would love to share my knowledge and enthusiasm for art with as many people as possible and make a living through art.