Interview with Museum Art Educator Rachel Stratford

This March, I am very excited to interview Rachel Statford, a museum art educator at Utah's Springville Museum of Art!

 

How does the opportunity to work as a museum art educator enrich your view of the world?

As a museum educator, I am asked to help bridge the gap between artwork and viewer. In order to bridge that gap we ask questions that get the viewer to ask more questions. We want to engage the viewer in the possible meanings of the artwork and create opportunities for a personal connection. I have found that as I think of and ask these questions, I learn so much from both the works and the patrons. This, in turn, affects my worldview. My eyes are not only opened to the life experiences of others, but also to the additional depth of meaning that can be found in artworks.

 
What have you learned about the creative process from studying other artists?
 
I have learned that it can be different for each artist. The Springville Museum of Art, where I work, has the pleasure of working with many living Utah artists. Opportunities to interact with them and visit some of their studios have taught me that they are all so different and that they work very differently. Some will do countless studies before heading to the final canvas, while others will jump right in.

What can art can teach humanity about itself?
 
To never give up. When people have a powerful aesthetic experience with an artwork they see in a museum or gallery, they often feel that the artist that created the work must be insanely talented or a genius of some kind. But what they often don’t think about are the years of hard work, entering shows and getting rejected, and scraping by until a painting sells. Somewhere in all that, there are moments of pure magic where things come together and a masterpiece is made. This is not to say that all artists or musicians or writers will achieve that, but that the kind of art that takes our breath away was not made without persistence. Imagine a world without those masterworks. It would be, at best, mediocre. And all because people had given up on themselves.

If you could ask any artist in history to paint your portrait, who would it be and why?

I have to confess this was the first question I wanted to answer, but I saved it for last like one waits to cherish a good dessert. I would ask Jessie Wilcox Smith to paint me. My mother introduced me to her work has she has been our favorite for years. I am drawn to the way she uses line, to her often golden light, and the gentle way that she depicts women. I would love to be her subject because I feel she would depict me as I see myself (on a good day): graceful, caring, and beautiful in my own way.

Interview with an artist: Heather Monson

This October, I am very excited to interview Heather Monson, who has many talents in art and theater, including costume designing!

Wood Witch

How did you first become interested in making costumes? (or is the term cosplay?)

Both terms are correct, depending on what you mean. Making costumes is just what it says. Cosplay is wearing costumes and playing the characters to whom the costumes correspond. It's a Japanese-katakana-abbreviation of "costume play."

As for how I became interested in it... I attended a panel introducing the basics of costuming at "Life, the Universe, and Everything: the Marion K. "Doc" Smith Memorial Symposium on Science Fiction and Fantasy" (commonly called LTUE). This was just a few months after LotR:FotR came out. I decided to make some Middle Earth-ish cloaks. Once they were done, I decided to attempt a dress that crossed costume elements I loved from LotR costuming with costume elements I loved from "The Princess Bride" costuming. And, from there, I was completely hooked.

 Whisper

What kinds of costumes have you made for yourself and others, and where have you worn them?

Oh, goodness. I've built costumes for a variety of local theatre productions, and have worn a few of my own creations onstage. I've made costumes for local small independent films and trailers. I've made a lot of costumes (film-based and original), for myself and others, for conventions. Quite a few of my costume creations have been for live action roleplay games (LARPs). The LARP creations are probably my favorites, as they aren't just costumes. They are what that character wears (and, in the case of LARP weapons, which I also build, what the character uses to defend himself/herself). LARP gear must be very sturdy and functional, in addition to being attractive and out-of-the-ordinary.

 Poseidon Rising and Desert Sun

Making costumes is very time-consuming. Can you describe the personal rewards of finishing a new piece?

It's the same as writing a story, capturing a poem, creating a painting, etc. Being able to look at something and say, "that exists because I made it" is, in many ways, its own reward.

Other rewards... When I'm sewing for other people, I love seeing their reactions when I deliver the finished pieces. One friend in particular has a face that lights up like a little kid's face at Christmas when I show him a new costume. After the initial reaction, he proceeds to notice and admire all the details, try things on, admire the overall effect, and thank me profusely for my hard work. Thanks to his reactions, he's one of my very favorite people to sew for. I love giving people a chance to step into another character, another perspective, another world.

And the rewards don't end there. At conventions, it's fun to be stopped by people wanting a picture. At Halloween, it's fun to be the person everyone in the office is trying to beat (and, in all fairness, usually succeeding--but somehow I'm still the standard they want to beat). When larping, the garb I made myself really helped me to inhabit the characters I played, and to be very comfortable (in all kinds of terrain and weather) doing it.

This might sound a bit odd, but I love how costuming allows me to combine the love of art I got from my mom with the love of math (yes, math--I suck at everything beyond Algebra II, but it still fascinates me) and things that are built well that I got from my dad into an end result that can be worn and used and enjoyed.

 Arwen Mourning Gown

In other words, how do you feel when you can inhabit a character’s persona?

I enjoy getting absorbed into the character, so I suppose you could say I feel what the character would be feeling. Wearing what the character would wear helps make the experience immersive (which the spellchecker thinks is not a word, but it should be, darn it). How absorbed I get depends a lot on circumstance. For example, onstage in a play or as part of a larp event, I can get thoroughly immersed in the character. At conventions, it's a much more superficial creation of the role, as I need to fill a lot of functions besides just portraying whomever-I'm-dressed-to-portray.

 Sepiroth and Aerith

What advice would you give people who are interested in learning how to make their own costumes?

Get started, and be very, very forgiving of your early attempts. Learning to costume is the same as learning any other skill. You'll improve tremendously with time and practice.

Don't be afraid to use your imagination. If the pattern doesn't do what you want it to do, change it, or set it aside and make up your own.

Also, when using commercial patterns, check your measurements against the pattern measurements BEFORE you cut your nice fabric. Hardly any of us are shaped exactly to the pattern's measurements, and the pattern's measurements aren't always accurate. Make any adjustments you need to make when you're working with tissue paper, not when you're working with fabric.

 Jester Costume

What would your dream costume be?

lol That changes several times a year. At the moment, with full time work and new parenthood eating up all my time (though I very much love and appreciate both), my costuming dream is just to get caught up on existing projects.

Interview with an Artist: Debbie Barr

This August, I am very excited to interview Debbie Barr, who works in the bookselling industry at 4 Kids Books and Toys, and is also a writer and artist herself. 

As you are both an artist and a writer, do you find balancing different kinds of creativity essential to your process of inspiration, or is it a constant tug-of-war game?

The big struggle between my writing and other creative pursuits is time. I think it’s probably that way with everyone who enjoys multiple creative outlets. Some days I wish for an extra hour (or seven!) to get everything done, but I just have to make do with what time I have. I do think that my crafting side can complement my writing side, but I have to be careful because I will definitely let my other hobbies take over. For me, writing is work and crafting is pure fun, so there has to be a balance there.

How has working in the children’s book market affected your perspective on creativity in literature? How has it challenged you to evolve as a writer?

I absolutely think my work as a bookseller has changed my outlook! The big thing is that I now read much more widely (at least among the children’s and young adult genre) than I used to. Every writer needs to read, and I think it’s important to know what’s selling in your genre right now. On the other hand, it’s also wise to take a step back out of your typical genre and read something else, so you don’t become too entrenched in the tropes and styles of what you like to read.

In other ways, though, it can be challenging. The downside to being so aware of the industry side of things is that sometimes I get much too focused on the business of publishing, which can be depressing. It’s hard to see an industry I love and care so much about struggling in many ways. But in the end, if you want to be a writer you need to write because you love it, you need to write for yourself, and if you can focus on your passion the rest doesn’t matter as much.

(You can purchase these awesome Pi and Cherry Pie earrings at her etsy shop!)

Who is an artist and/or writer that inspires you, and why?

There are so many writers I admire, it’s difficult to choose just one! So I’ll mention two:

First of all, I am a big Shannon Hale fan. She has an incredible way with her prose, especially her metaphors, which I can’t help but admire every time I read her work. One of the things I love most about Shannon, though, is that she hasn’t been afraid to write true to herself. She has hopped genres, written books for all ages, done sequels, stand-alones, you name it! I love that she is a writer who has let herself grow over time, and I think that is hugely admirable.

As an adult I have come to love Kate DiCamillo and her work. I am thrilled that she is now the children’s literature ambassador! She is incredibly humble and I admire that she got her start a little later in her life. She also has written with some variety, but I think what I admire most about her work is her characters, who are always unique and flawed, yet incredibly relatable to readers of all ages. Each of her novels manages to capture some aspect of childhood perfectly, and I feel like almost everyone who has read her books has loved at least one of them.

How do you overcome fallow spells in creativity and regain the courage to create again?

Honestly, this last one was a difficult question for me to answer, mostly because I’ve been in a low spell for some time now. I think for me, as I mentioned above, you have to focus on the story, why it’s important to you, and why you love to write. I also think you need to learn when to say goodbye to a project and start on something new. The excitement of a new story can always get me back into writing!

Also, I have a lot of fear that I hold onto sometimes when I want to write. Fear that it’s going to be bad. Fear that I’ll never get published. Fear that no one will like my stories. But in the end, that fear makes all of those things happen. So don’t be afraid! The best part about writing is that everything is fixable, nothing is permanent, and you can always try again, no matter how many mistakes you’ve made.

I know you didn’t ask, but I wanted to leave you with a few books to recommend to your readers! It’s what I do. Here are some of my favorites from this year:

A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd: My favorite middle grade read of the year, a contemporary story with just a hint of magic. The main character is also a word collector, so it’s a great read for writers!

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson: I read this as an early ARC a few months ago, and I’m still thinking about it. A practically perfect contemporary teen novel, about love in all its forms (except for triangles, thank goodness). Definitely for an older teen crowd, but I see a lot of adults enjoying this one, too.

Incarnate, Asunder, and Infinite by Jodi Meadows: If you haven’t read Incarnate yet, drop what you’re doing and go read it right now! I loved this YA fantasy trilogy, which follows a society of people who have been reincarnated for 5,000 years—that is, until Ana arrives, a new soul, and no one is sure what to do with her. They’re fantastic, and every book in the trilogy was excellent.

*You can see more of Debbie's work at:

Nerd Goddess Jewelry - Support your inner geek

https://www.etsy.com/shop/nerdgoddess

Interview with Author Janci Patterson

This July, I am very excited to be interviewing author Janci Patterson about the creative process behind her new novel, Everything’s Fine, and the drive to keep on inking!

1. Everything’s Fine is in part based on your own real-life experiences. How does this affect your process of inspiration? Did this make writing the novel more or less difficult than Chasing the Skip?

To be clear, here are the things in Everything’s Fine that are based on my life:

1) My little sister played softball. She really did have a blue tape square (though it was on the garage, not the fence) to represent a strike zone for pitching practice. To me, softball sounds like a ball hitting a wooden garage door at high speeds over and over and over.

2) I had depression in high school. Some of Haylee’s behavior is based on that, but not much. 

3) I also had best friends, and we were at once awful and awesome to each other, as happens when you’re that age. 

4) Mr. Craig is based on my favorite high school teacher, whose first name is Craig.

5) Some of Kira’s observations about the funeral are based on stories my husband told me about his brother who died at nineteen. I stole outright the story of the rewritten poem at the grave--that really happened sometime around his brother’s death.

That’s it. So I wouldn’t say that this book was based on my life. More that I pull details from life, and make up the narrative. That’s what makes it fiction. There are certainly more true life details in EVERYTHING’S FINE than there were in CHASING THE SKIP. I think that’s mostly a factor of me actually having been in high school, but never having been on the road with a bounty hunter. I also drafted the first version of EVERYTHING’S FINE much earlier in my writing career, when I still had some stories of my own to use, and didn’t have to make everything up.

2. Who is a writer that inspires you and why? 

I’ve recently been reading and re-reading Stephanie Perkins’ ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS and LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR. She’s a master of getting emotion on the page.

3. How do you overcome fallow spells in creativity and regain the courage to create?

I’m extremely pragmatic about creativity. I have a job. I show up to work. I don’t let myself off the hook for not showing up to work. If all I have in me that day is crap, I write the crap, but I don’t just skip it. That’s about all there is to it. I’ve gotten better and better at this over the years. These days I have a hard time even taking Sundays off (which I do for religious reasons), because the habit is so ingrained.

Everyone told me that writing would be so much harder after I had my first child, but I actually write much more now, because having a toddler who will happily soak up all my time and attention is a constant reminder that it would be very easy for me to simply not make time to write, and soon not be a producing writer any more. I let the fear of that drive me to make writing a priority every day. If I’m only going to do one thing in the day, it’s take care of the basic needs of my family. But if I’m going to do ANYTHING else, that thing is write. (Spoiler: I actually have time for a lot more than that. But writing is always number two.)

As far as courage: I don’t always believe that what I’m doing is any good. But I don’t let that stop me. I just accept that I’m going to write words, be they good words or bad words, selling words or not selling words, keeper words or words to be rewritten. Fish swim, birds fly, I write books. And if the bird can fly without having a crisis about whether or not the flight will get them anywhere earth-shattering, then I am perfectly capable of writing words even if they aren’t brilliant. And if I don’t write them, how will I ever know?

*You can get the latest from Janci at:

www.jancipatterson.com

Twitter

Janci Patterson (@jancipatterson).

https://twitter.com/jancipatterson

Interview with an Artist: Jackie Musto

This June, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jackie Musto, illustrator and web comic creator of The Adventures of Lady Skylark and Kay and P!

What is your process of inspiration for creating art? 

Pretty much everything around me. The first piece of advice I give to any artist of any medium is to carry a sketchbook with you wherever you go. You are going to see places, observe people and get ideas from all over the place, and you want to be prepared to write those down - as quick as they come into your brain, you should be sure that they will go right out again. So I take my book with me wherever I go, and jot notes, sketch bits and pieces and craft ideas all the time. I kind of suffer from almost having too many ideas - there are a lot of them I am sure will never see the light of day because I just don't have time to dedicate to them all!

Who is an artist/writer that inspires you and why? 

I watch a lot of fellow artists on tumblr, and I find it inspiring to see what comics and other things there are up to. I feel like following your contemporaries (especially in this age of modern media) is really important to get a handle on what's going on in your field; as well as networking and idea-sharing. It's great to be able to show your work to a group of people - some of who are on another continent - and get some really excellent feedback.

Some of my favorite folks are: Paige Haisley Warren, Tarabba, Jessfink, Ben Bishop, Amy Falcone, itscarororo, Kathryn Hudson, Claire Hummel... and way too many more to list!

How do you overcome fallow spells in creativity and regain the courage to create?

I tend to just push through and keep working. I have the benefit/problem of working on a schedule of three comic pages a week - so people expect something of me regardless of if I'm having a bad day or crazy life stuff. I do my best to keep on my schedule and that helps me plan my time accordingly. There have certainly been days where I've been tired and didn't feel like working, or didn't really feel inspired - and then I'll take a break, play some video games or go somewhere to shake up the old head-space. I think one of the best pieces of advice I can give people who want to work creatively is to pick bite sized projects at first - they'll be done quickly so you won't tire of them, and then they'll give you some practice to tackle larger projects later. It's great to develop a sense of self-discipline to keep yourself in check. Besides, if you love what you are doing, you'll find yourself coming back to it no matter how much you try to take a break!

You can discover more of Jackie’s marvelous work at:

Kay and P 

http://kayandp.thecomicseries.com/

“Life when your best friend is a skeleton.”

Lady Skylark

The Adventures of the Lady Skylark

http://ladyskylark.thecomicseries.com/

“A steampunk story about pirates, treasure, gentlemen and of course the Lady Skylark herself.”

Interview with an Artist: Audrey Bagley

 This May, I have the pleasure of interviewing artist Audrey Bagley for my continuing segment on inspiration and creativity!

What is your process of inspiration for creating art?

I have dreams where I meet people in other dimensions or worlds that don’t exist and wouldn’t exist had I not seen them in my dreams. When I wake up I know that without visually documenting the worlds I have encountered, the worlds will never be seen.

I mostly draw girls, and although they have different colors of hair and features, I am drawing an experience or thought that came from me, so I imagine everything as a self portrait.  I like to leave questions and open interpretation. I’m always questioning purpose and life.

I don’t believe art should be identical replicas of anything that’s already created, i.e., a copy of a photograph.

My process for Art is to use the pieces of every different puzzle I’ve ever encountered and put those different pieces together into a new form that connects with a feeling. I like to arrange feeling into something expressive and tangible.

Who is an artist that inspires you and why?

Nobuo Uematsu. He is a video game composer for the most beautiful video games I’ve ever played (given I haven't played video games hard core since high school). I used to think I would become a composer because of him. When I did more research on the video games he was involved in creating music for, I later found Yoshitaka Amano, who was the main artist of those games. They were both self taught artists, which really encouraged me in my teens to work hard at what I love. I really thought I was going to work for Squaresoft video games back then, haha.

How do you overcome fallow spells in creativity and regain the courage to create again?

When people say, “Wow you are doing a lot,” or, “You’re on a roll,” I don't let these comments allow me to become too comfortable and settle down. I’m not done yet and I never will be. I always take note, "If I don’t do it, it isn’t going to happen.”

Not too long ago I found myself in a dizzy spell after a few hard blows. Over time I recognized a parallel between my physical well being and my personal energy and willpower to create. I exercise more and take one or two days a week to focus on hanging out with friends. Then the other days I have to say no to everything and get to work.

*View more of Audrey Bagley's fabulous art at:

audreybagley.com

audreybagley.tumblr.com

Interview with an Artist: Heather Robinson Teran

I've decided to start a monthly segment on my blog exploring creativity through interviews with other artists and authors. Why? Partly for selfish reasons; my own inspiration has felt rather starved lately, but I realized that in my life I have had the sweet serendipity to know many immensely talented people dedicated to their craft. I want to learn from them how to court the creative muse!

Without further ado, I present the ever-stelliferous artist Heather Robinson Teran!

 

What is your process of inspiration for creating art?

Intuition is what guides my artistic process. I begin by gathering a wide variety of visual material--old photos, digital images, magazine clippings, vintage comic books, patterns, even lace and other fabric. Then I select the imagery that really calls to me and place it together. I begin by spray painting, using texture or pattern, or just by painting a background in acrylic. From there I usually begin painting in oil. I paint, sand, layer, paint, splash, and keep going until the painting feels right. Some of my paintings are simple and only focus on one image, while other paintings feature a smorgasbord of information all competing for attention. A painting can start out one way and end up radically different. I let intuition guide me throughout and it is a very fluid process. 

Who is an artist that inspires you and why?

Hands down, Monica Canilao. She is an Oakland-based artist known for her eclectic installations and collaborations with fellow artists. Everything she creates is imbued with this folk magic and belief in the good things in life. With most artists, some of their work I love, some of it I hate. With Monica Canilao, everything she creates is inspiring and pushing boundaries. I would also say I am most jealous of her, because she collaborates often, usually is creating these huge gorgeous installations, and has a big studio space that looks like a vintage fantasy world. My dream home would be inside a Monica Canilao installation. Other artists that have influenced me include Joao Ruas, Kent Williams, James Jean, Tran Nyguen, Arthur Rackham, William Rossetti, and Henry Darger.

How do you overcome fallow spells in creativity and regain the courage to create?

Consistency. Discipline. Schedule. If I waited to make art until I was feeling “creative” and “in the mood,” then let’s be honest, I wouldn’t paint often and I wouldn’t get anything done. I know because years ago I used to be that way. Serious artists have consistent work habits.

  

 I paint a certain amount of hours each week, and the more disciplined I am at sticking to it, the more creative I become because I am in the act of creating. The more you create the better you become at it. If you are in a rut, then force yourself to work a certain amount of hours each day, and you will work your way out of it. If you are consistently creating, whether it be writing, painting, etc., then something good will come of it. Not all your work will be perfectly inspired but some of it definitely will be. And then you go from there. 

Along the lines of “Regaining the courage to create,” I think that surrounding yourself with encouraging people is one of the best things an artist can do. Don’t live in your head too much. Talk to others about your art, have it critiqued, know who to show your work to when you are feeling particularly negative or in a tough spot. All artist need support groups that give positive and helpful feedback. Find those people and stick with them. I have an amazing group of people who support and critique my work and I definitely couldn’t do it without them.

 Heather Robinson Teran

www.HeatherTeran.com

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