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vandy1) What drives you to create? Also, what inspires you and your work?
*Everything* drives me to create. I am a maker. The world around me inspires me. Nature, technology, other artists, ideas, actions...
2) Were you formally trained in art or self taught? Do you think it has helped you or hindered you?
Both formal and self-taught. Both of my parents are artists, so I sort of had to learn about art or perish. They insisted I take art classes, but also allowed me to freedom to do a lot of experimenting on my own and choose my own path. I think that I have benefitted from all of my art education, both formal and informal. Even the less pleasant bits were learning experiences with valuable lessons.
3) Do you have a ritual, quirk or superstition that influences you and the way you create?
Not really. Though I am sort of a procrastinator binge artist. I will think about things for a while and then suddenly produce like crazy and sometimes forget to take time to sleep, eat, whatever until I get something done.
4) What mediums do you work in the most? Do you have a particular brand that you love working with? Why do you use them?
Glass! Bronze, other metal, wood, paper, fabric... I love things that feel "real" and wholesome. Like they are connected to nature and our surroundings, and have a history of good solid craftsmanship. I have to push myself to use things like plastics, though for some reason using resin isn't too bad. In theory I like the concept of using recycled materials for art, but in reality I am seriously picky about what I use, so I tend to recycle things like old book covers instead of pop cans or whatever. Things have to fit into my personal aesthetic. Oh yeah, and acrylic paint. I love acrylics. And ink. And pens. And permanent markers,
5) As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? And now?
An artist, wildlife biologist, archaeologist, astronaut, inventor... Now I am an artist. Now I want to be able to reliably support myself with just my art. :-)
6) If there was one style of art that you could take up, what would it be?
Glass Blowing! Oh wait, I do that already...
7) Do you think the Internet, technology, media, etcetera are helping or destroying the art world?
I think they are helping the world in many ways (this goes for the art world as well as the world in general), but there are a lot of road bumps and wrong turns along the way. We are growing so quickly that we tend to have unstable foundations at times and spawn extra extremities that aren’t well developed or useful for more than a fleeting moment. Hopefully we don't inadvertently harm ourselves in our exuberance. All the possibilities are exciting, but also terrifying. Knowledge is power...
8) How do you deal with creator's block?
I do something else until I have to work on a project, then I just start plugging away until I work through it. Sometimes going out to galleries, art shows, or meeting with other artists can help - I am always inspired after being exposed to outside ideas. My mind immediately starts re-processing them into my style and traveling on new paths.
9) How do you prepare for art shows where your work will be shown?
It depends on what I am showing and where. Initially there is a lot of last minute clean up, making sure things still have a nice finish intact, everything is marked appropriately, signed, has any needed backdrops, etc. On the day of, it is all about putting on a performance of being the artist. I dress the part, very nice or somewhat eccentric but nice, put on makeup, etc.
10) At what point did you realize that creating was going to be a large part of your life?
I have always known that creating is a large part of my life. About half way through high school I realized that I was going to do something specifically art related.
11) What was your worst experience with art?
Having someone steal my printmaking portfolio in college, so I had to re-edition my whole portfolio in a week.
12) What was you best experience with art?
Don’t have one best experience. The GAS conference I went to recently is my most recent good moment. I love the atmosphere of power and excitement that builds up when so many people are in one place bouncing ideas around and sharing knowledge.
13) How would you define your style?
Organic.
14) What does your workspace look like? (Pictures or a description work for this one)
Chaos. I work in several different places and here are a few pics (some not so recent):
Glass Shop
More Glass Shop
Chehalem Park and Rec art lab / classroom during on of the book binding workshops I teach
15) Aside from art what do you do with your time? Is there anything else that drives you or that you're passionate about?
Juggling, history, knowledge, family and friends.
*Everything* drives me to create. I am a maker. The world around me inspires me. Nature, technology, other artists, ideas, actions...
2) Were you formally trained in art or self taught? Do you think it has helped you or hindered you?
Both formal and self-taught. Both of my parents are artists, so I sort of had to learn about art or perish. They insisted I take art classes, but also allowed me to freedom to do a lot of experimenting on my own and choose my own path. I think that I have benefitted from all of my art education, both formal and informal. Even the less pleasant bits were learning experiences with valuable lessons.
3) Do you have a ritual, quirk or superstition that influences you and the way you create?
Not really. Though I am sort of a procrastinator binge artist. I will think about things for a while and then suddenly produce like crazy and sometimes forget to take time to sleep, eat, whatever until I get something done.
4) What mediums do you work in the most? Do you have a particular brand that you love working with? Why do you use them?
Glass! Bronze, other metal, wood, paper, fabric... I love things that feel "real" and wholesome. Like they are connected to nature and our surroundings, and have a history of good solid craftsmanship. I have to push myself to use things like plastics, though for some reason using resin isn't too bad. In theory I like the concept of using recycled materials for art, but in reality I am seriously picky about what I use, so I tend to recycle things like old book covers instead of pop cans or whatever. Things have to fit into my personal aesthetic. Oh yeah, and acrylic paint. I love acrylics. And ink. And pens. And permanent markers,
5) As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? And now?
An artist, wildlife biologist, archaeologist, astronaut, inventor... Now I am an artist. Now I want to be able to reliably support myself with just my art. :-)
6) If there was one style of art that you could take up, what would it be?
Glass Blowing! Oh wait, I do that already...
7) Do you think the Internet, technology, media, etcetera are helping or destroying the art world?
I think they are helping the world in many ways (this goes for the art world as well as the world in general), but there are a lot of road bumps and wrong turns along the way. We are growing so quickly that we tend to have unstable foundations at times and spawn extra extremities that aren’t well developed or useful for more than a fleeting moment. Hopefully we don't inadvertently harm ourselves in our exuberance. All the possibilities are exciting, but also terrifying. Knowledge is power...
8) How do you deal with creator's block?
I do something else until I have to work on a project, then I just start plugging away until I work through it. Sometimes going out to galleries, art shows, or meeting with other artists can help - I am always inspired after being exposed to outside ideas. My mind immediately starts re-processing them into my style and traveling on new paths.
9) How do you prepare for art shows where your work will be shown?
It depends on what I am showing and where. Initially there is a lot of last minute clean up, making sure things still have a nice finish intact, everything is marked appropriately, signed, has any needed backdrops, etc. On the day of, it is all about putting on a performance of being the artist. I dress the part, very nice or somewhat eccentric but nice, put on makeup, etc.
10) At what point did you realize that creating was going to be a large part of your life?
I have always known that creating is a large part of my life. About half way through high school I realized that I was going to do something specifically art related.
11) What was your worst experience with art?
Having someone steal my printmaking portfolio in college, so I had to re-edition my whole portfolio in a week.
12) What was you best experience with art?
Don’t have one best experience. The GAS conference I went to recently is my most recent good moment. I love the atmosphere of power and excitement that builds up when so many people are in one place bouncing ideas around and sharing knowledge.
13) How would you define your style?
Organic.
14) What does your workspace look like? (Pictures or a description work for this one)
Chaos. I work in several different places and here are a few pics (some not so recent):
Glass Shop
More Glass Shop
Chehalem Park and Rec art lab / classroom during on of the book binding workshops I teach
15) Aside from art what do you do with your time? Is there anything else that drives you or that you're passionate about?
Juggling, history, knowledge, family and friends.
