Welcome to AllArtWorks Featured Artist Series!
1. What other profession is similar to being an artist and why?
To me, being an artist means being creative, working with your hands, and sparking a response in others. I achieve this through painting and drawing but there are so many other professions
that I think can accomplish the same thing. For instance, fabricators, welders, bakers, chefs, interior designers, and teachers are a few that I think offer outlets for creativity, provide
opportunities to work with your hands, and can spark emotional response from people.
2. What’s the nicest thing you can remember someone said about your work, or an individual piece?
The nicest thing ever said, or at least what I have taken to be a great compliment, was when someone saw one of my paintings and wasn’t able to differentiate it from a video still. My husband was showing friends of his picture a particular painting of mine, a bird in a wheat field against a setting sky. A friend stared at it for some time before asking when the bird was going to fly away or do something. Apparently, he thought it was a hunting video of some type. I took it as being very flattering that he didn’t realize it was a painting and not a real video.
3. What’s one thing you’d like everyone to know about you as an artist?
I love being creative, painting and drawing, but I never had the opportunity to seek any formal training. I started drawing as a child and it was my first job at 16, working at an art supply store,
that stirred my interest in painting. Self-critical, like most artists are, I only painted as a hobby and didn’t show my work often. Eventually I took a long sabbatical while I had a family and grew
and matured myself. I found myself missing that creative outlet and zen I had while painting. I made it a point to begin painting again. What I found when I began pursuing art again was that
the very things I thought held me back are what shape me instead. I find that time I spent growing and maturing personally has made me a better artist, more open, confident, and
outgoing.
4. What was the last piece of art that you saw that blew you away?
I actually have two answers to this question. I often review the AllArtworks Online gallery. I enjoy looking through the platform that is supporting me and fellow artists. While perusing, I came across “Rendezvous”, by Gail Wilkes. This was a piece that captivated me, the more I stared at it the more I loved it. I could get lost in it and imagine myself there, sitting amongst the
trees. My other answer is my probably biased ‘mom’ answer. My 10-year-old son proudly showed me a sketch he did of a hand. I was blown away by watching him concentrate and get lost in his own artwork and by how proudly he should off the result of his hard work.
5. What’s something you haven’t done but you want to do in art/painting?
This is simple enough but watercolor! I paint with oils and acrylics because there is just something in the smoothness of their texture and the abilities to blend that I find very pleasing. Laying down the base of a painting and watching the colors come together is relaxing to me. However, I love watercolor paintings. They are beautiful to look at! I just don’t get that same feeling of joy when using watercolors but I would still love to actually complete a few pieces in watercolor.
These 2 artists are both strikingly talented and in such contrast of one another. I admire Delacroix’s use of color. His art brings with it a strong emotion that pulls you in. Personally, though I prefer Ingres' style. His use of line/form and contrast to bring his work to life and are incredibly appealing to me.
*The reason we ask about Delacroix and Ingres is because they were contemporaries with wildly different styles!
