Interview: Dorota Pankowska

Dorota Pankowska is a 22 year old artist living in Brampton, Ontario. I have followed her blog, Dori the Giant, for a very long time now, and though I follow the word of screeds of amazing artists, the way she plays on words and phrases in her concepts is what consistently makes me think that's genius!

Did you grow up in a creative environment?

Quite! Me and my sister would always draw and paint when we were little. My grandmother especially supported it, but then when it came to a career, my parents were always against a creative one and would turn down my ideas of wanting to become a photographer or something along those lines. In the end I ended up going to photo school after all.

How long have you been taking photographs for?

I’ve been taking photographs for almost five years. Ever since I found out that digital cameras were affordable, I begged my mom to buy me one for Christmas when I was 17. Although it was a cheap pink point-and-shoot, I thought it was the coolest thing and I started learning how to Photoshop my images soon after that.

How many hours in an average week would you spend working on your art?

On a good motivational week, sometimes I spend an entire day or two working on an art project. When it comes to concepts and ideas, the best ones are often unexpected ones, which are often the result of a hilarious conversation, or pointless daydreaming. I’d like to think my best ideas were unexpected.

Is art a full time role for you?

No, most of my art projects are just personal or for portfolio means, although I do get commissioned to do freelance projects, which isn’t a steady income. I’m hoping to become an art director in the future though!

What else are you involved with?

I recently graduated from photography school, so lately I’ve just been doing part-time work or freelance work.  As for hobbies… I pretty much love doing anything creative, from photography to street art. I try not to take art seriously, which is why I blog about every weird idea I get – it’s not really about whether or not other people like it. Artists make art because they personally enjoy it.

Do you have any training in photography or art?

I have a photography diploma, but aside from that I don’t have any professional training in art. I often self-teach myself online, although I think that learning online is a lot harder than it sounds!

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

There hasn’t really been one big highlight of my career just yet, although all the little things do add up for me, such as: getting into a magazine, getting into a newspaper, getting published online, winning small awards, and being in galleries. I always tell myself that big things always start as little things, so I’m hoping to accomplish a lot in the future!

What role has the internet played in your career so far?

The internet is a huge part of my life! I hope I don’t sound too nerdy, but I use the internet on a daily basis. The main thing I love about the internet is connecting with people, whether they’re friends or strangers. Opportunities won’t find you as easily if you don’t exist anywhere on the internet – especially if you’re shyer in person, such as me. I use it to apply for jobs, and through it I’ve always been contacted by people about jobs! But aside from networking, the internet is a huge source of inspiration, entertainment, and knowledge for me. I’m really thankful that it exists, and that I have access to it.

What photographic equipment do you currently use?

I still use the same camera I had to purchase for college which is the Nikon D300s with the 18-200mm lens. It’s pretty good, although it doesn’t quite compare to all the new cameras being released each year nowadays!

What editing equipment/programmes do you currently use?

I love Photoshop. No matter how experienced I feel like I am in it, I always learn new things every year. It’s kind of like a tool that helps make your imagination real. I always picture a photograph or a graphic in my head, or sketch it out, and then I open Photoshop and try to make it come to life with its tools.

Where would you love to have your work shown?

I really like Applied Arts magazine, although I don’t feel like I’m good enough to submit to that just yet! Aside from that, I haven’t really made it a goal yet to get anywhere in particular. I think for a beginner like me, it’s always exciting to get my name or work anywhere really!

Do you have a favourite piece of all you’ve created?

Yes! I really like my pine apple because it just looks really great on a shelf. It’s definitely my favourite right now.

Have you experimented with any other forms of art?

Of course. I have experimented with many forms of art, although I’m usually limited to things I could afford. I always see amazing works of art online, such as sculptures and installations where I just think to myself “Wow, I would love to have access to that kind of medium!” although I like to tell myself that in the future I just may get the chance.

How would you describe your artistic style?

INCONSISTENT! I actually don’t feel like I have a particular style of work because I often use different mediums, but my true passion is definitely creative concepts and things that are unique and creative. I don’t like to copy ideas or create crafts that other people innovated. I try to see where my own original thoughts can take me, and I guess being original is the main style which I would like to portray.

How do you find models sometimes used in your work?

Almost every model I’ve used is somebody I knew/met in person or somebody that is a friend of a friend.  I don’t photograph people on a regular basis because I try to focus on having a concept or a series going first. I’m not really big on taking portraits without any prior ideas.

Have you experienced nerves, particularly if you have done paid work?

Yes! I usually experience that if I get asked to do a job which I’m not sure if I could do in the best way – such as not having the best equipment or not knowing enough of graphic design. I think my best advice would be to just be yourself and be confident. There will always be people who like your work, and people who don’t. And don’t take work too seriously, either – especially freelance. If somebody is giving you a hard time, it just may not be worth the money.

What inspires you?

This may sound strange but my ex-classmates from college inspire me. Whenever I see them accomplish things, or produce amazing work, I feel like if they can get that far, then so can I. I also feel like they’re on a similar level as I am when it comes to the industry, which is good for trading advice and helping one another up the ladder. A few conceptual artists who inspire me greatly also include: Erik Johansson, Terry Border, Brock Davis, and Rob Woodcox.

Do you have an early piece you could share, to compare with your recent work?

Sure. This [above] is a photo I took when I was 17, using my pink point-and-shoot camera. I started photographing nature and insects and compositions, and that’s pretty much when I started falling in love with all of photography!

What are your goals for the next five years?

My real goal is to create some really great projects that would set me apart from other people. Aside from that, I’m looking into becoming an Art Director and I have a dream to travel to Poland for a while. Although I’ve found that my goals never happen the way that I plan.

Dori the Giant blog.

Dorota Pankowska website.

Interview: Glenn Arthur

Glenn Arthur is a 33-year-old artist living in Orange County, California. His paintings and drawings of often-tattooed females have inspired many Facebook followers of his work to have his designs tattooed on themselves and I believe I came across his work in 2010 when searching for aviation tattoo inspriation; his The Navigator painting is one of my favourite images of any medium. He's definitely one those of you who create art yourselves may want to follow on Twitter or Facebook for inspiration as he frequently posts sketches and work in progress.

Did you grow up in a creative environment?

I was raised in a conservative, religious home; however I do not share the same views. I really had to shed my roots to pursue a career in art. I’ve been creating art for most of my life but only professionally since 2009.

How many hours in an average week would you spend creating?

Art is a full time role for me. I spend anywhere from 6 to 12 hours a day working on paintings, drawings and projects.

What other work or hobbies are you involved with?

I also work with Dr. Sketchy’s Anaheim Chapter as their Master of Ceremonies. It’s so much fun and I love bringing people together as a sort of art community and family.

What artistic training do you have?

I’ve never gone to school for art or taken any formal training so I’ve always been left to my own devices. I think being a self-taught artist gives me more freedom in my creativity but it is a lot of trial and error when it comes to technique and different mediums.

Do you remember the first piece of artwork that you sold?

I do. It was such a great feeling to know that somebody liked my artwork enough to pay money for it. I still get that same excited feeling every time I sell a piece.

What role has the internet played in your career so far?

The internet has played a huge role! It’s allowed my work to reach so many more people than I ever thought possible!

How do you record ideas for new pieces?

I write down little notes all over the place. I try to keep my ideas in my sketchbook but I’ve even gone so far as to email or text myself an idea if I don’t have my sketchbook with me.

Do you have any rituals associated with creating artwork?

I mainly like to paint during the day with a giant cup of coffee at my drafting table listening to music. Depending on the piece I’m working on, I might listen to everything from classical music to electronic dance. Music really helps to set the mood.

What has been the highlight of your artistic career so far?

That is a hard question to answer because there have been so many highlights. I think just being able to travel with my work to galleries all over the place is something that always excites me!

What experience do you have exhibiting?

I’ve had my artwork in solo shows, group shows and museum exhibits. I would say it’s always important to make sure that your work is completely ready to hang and not too complicated for the gallery to exhibit. Also make sure that all contracts and paperwork is in order and agreed upon between you and the curator or gallery owner just so there is no confusion with prices or buyers.

Is there a particular location where you would love to see your work exhibited?

All over the world! I’ve had my work in a good amount of galleries throughout the United States and a handful of galleries in other countries, but I would really love to see that branch out.

What is your favourite colour to work with?

I love warm tones, so working in reds, oranges, browns, golds, etc. is always fun for me.

How important to you is being immersed in an artistic community?

Extremely important! Being around other creative types is very inspiring. It really helps to feed off of each other’s energies!

What inspires you?

I try to find inspiration everywhere I go. I love being in big cities with beautiful architecture like San Francisco. My favorite artists are Alphonse Mucha and J.C. Leyendecker. No matter how many times I study their work, I always come away from it inspired!

Do you experience periods of "artists block"?

I think every artist does. When I experience a block I try to go through all of my old ideas and sketches to see if it sparks anything new. Sometimes I’ll even recreate an old piece in a new style to try to get some inspiration from it.

How has your work developed in the past five years?

Five years ago I wasn’t really making much art. If I was making art, it was only pencil or ink drawings. Now I’m working on full paintings and playing around with a lot of different media.

Do you have any goals for the next five years?

To keep on making art. Five years from now, ten years from now, twenty years from now. I plan to make art until my dying day!

Glenn Arthur website.
Glenn Arthur blog.
Glenn Arthur Facebook page.
Glenn Arthur Twitter.

Interview: Carolyn West

Carolyn West lives in Geelong, Australia. A post from her photography blog was recently linked on Nirrimi's Facebook page, after they spent some time together in Sydney. I loved the post she'd written, and was so impressed looking through the 17-year-old's photographs. Carolyn already has some pretty impressive experience behind her, and her determination to legitimise her photography business, Oh, Clémence, when she turns 18 is so admirable. As always - a very difficult (but enjoyable) task choosing just a few images to show here, so make sure you check out the rest of her portfolio.

Did you grow up in a creative environment?

I was encouraged as a young child to be involved in the performing arts. My mother is a lovely singer and she took me each Saturday morning to ballet lessons and would sing to me before I went to sleep at night. My father was more interested in visual arts and taught me how to draw and paint when I was older. We would spend hours sometimes, looking through photo albums from when I was born or drawings my father had done while still in high school.

How long have you been taking photographs for?

I've been taking photos since I was about ten years old. My father taught me how to use our film camera in 2005, on a family holiday to Queensland. I was itching for my own camera ever since and in 2007, my wishes were granted and I got a very cheap digital still camera and took it everywhere I went. My passion developed through the beauty of my life I captured through one click of a button.

Do you have an early photograph you could share, to compare with your recent work?

Early

Recent

Do you have any training in photography?

So far, I've self taught all that I know from the pages of many books and online tutorials. I have studied the subject 'photography' at school since year 10, but instead of teaching you how to use a camera or edit photos in photoshop, we just learn how to create a folio of works.

What equipment do you currently use?

I share a Canon 500D with my father, which as you can imagine, can cause a lot of fights. Fingers crossed I will be able to get the money for my own camera very soon! My favorite lens is my 50mm 1.8 portrait lens. I currently use Photoshop CS4 for editing all my photos.

How much time do you spend working on your photography?

As I'm still at high school, I always dedicate the latter half of my usual day to my photography work. Whether it's editing photos, writing blog posts, looking for inspiration or promoting my work. On the weekend I often do freelance work or organize photo shoots when I can.

Is photography your main source of income?

Yes. About a month ago I decided to quit my part time job and solely focus on my photography. Thankfully, it has been a very good decision for me.

What else are you involved with?

I'm currently completing my year 12 so unfortunately, that does take up most of my time. I run a food blog with my boyfriend, I sing opera from time to time and I’m a huge movie buff.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

In March I was lucky enough to be an official photographer at the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival. I shot for Alex Perry and Frankie Magazine at the end of the runway with photographers from getty images, all the newspapers, Vogue magazine and other places I only dream of working for at the moment. It was honestly a surreal experience. I was the youngest there and I met so many lovely photographers who were more than happy to help me out. I got my own media pass and I felt rather professional, despite my age. I was also lucky enough to sneak backstage for some shots. It was an experience that made me feel utterly at home, in my comfort zone and I'm absolutely itching to do it all over again.

What role has the internet played in your career so far?

Huge! Most of my marketing is online. In fact, the only sort of advertising I do without the internet is hand out business cards. I'm not quite sure where I would be without the internet. It's where people contact me, view my work and read my stories. It has enabled me to reach over the boarders of Australia and make my work international. It's the most amazing self marketing tool.

Where do you dream of having your work shown?

I've always imagined portraits of mine on huge pieces of paper, pasted on city walls for quite a long time. Making an impact, a statement. However, I think having my work featured in any magazine would be amazing. Having something in Frankie Magazine or Vogue would be absolutely awesome!

Do you have a favourite photograph of all those you’ve taken?

Have you experimented with any other forms of art?

Before I really got into photography, I used to draw all the time. I took a few classes and wrote picture story books with images I illustrated when I was quite young. As I grew older, I experimented with painting and using inks and water colors. I’ve also done a little bit of filming for myself.

How would you describe your photography style?

I don't even think I have a style! I think it depends on what I'm shooting. I like edgy images with high contrast, especially if I'm shooting in black and white, but I also love images with soft lighting and lots of pretty colours.

Do you find it easier to shoot with strangers or people you already know?

I find both to be equally as easy. I think working with people you don’t know gives you the chance to learn from them and to expand your contacts. It also creates diversity in your images rather than just using the same people all the time.

Have you experienced nerves, particularly in the paid work you've done?

I always get quite nervous when I’m doing paid shoots or work for modeling agencies. I mostly get nervous about whether they will like the photos or not, but I always remind myself that they wouldn’t hire me if they didn't like what they saw on my blog or portfolio in the first place. Before a big shoot, I often look through old photo shoots to remind myself of what I'm capable of to erase any sort of negative thoughts out of my mind.

What inspires you?

Nirrimi, who I was lucky enough to meet recently, is a huge influence on me. Her passion from such a young age is similar to mine and her achievements for being so young constantly motivate me to achieve more and aim higher. I love her images because they capture little, precious moments in time, they’re the in between moments. They never look posed or fake. That has been something I've aimed to capture since I was quite young.

My dreams are a very big part of who I am and where some ideas for photo shoots come from. I have a very active dream life, I lucid dream almost every night. Sometimes I will be overcome with ideas that I’ll get barely any sleep. My mind is active and it’s exhausting but amazing at the same time.

Music and lyrics also inspire me. Sometimes I can take a single line from a song and create a whole photo shoot out of it. If I can, while doing a shoot, I like to play music to create a bit of a mood for the model and I to work with, to really capture the feelings I want associated with the images.

What are your goals for the next five years?

Oh wow! I have so many aspirations for the next five years. Well, hopefully I'll be off to university next year to study photography and get some formal training and hopefully some more opportunities. I've been running my own freelancing business through Facebook and I'm registering it as an actual business when I turn 18 and doing numerous small business courses over the summer as I hope to continue making money through my little business while I'm still at uni.

I’m hoping to move to Melbourne next year so that I can do more photo shoots and test shoots with modeling agencies and I guess continue to promote my work and myself. I am also hoping to do a photography fund raising campaign in the near future, to raise money for the disease muscular dystrophy and maybe experiment with film making more. I’m not really one to plan everything right down to the meticulous details.

I like to see where life takes me, I’m spontaneous. So we shall have to wait and see what the future has in store for me!

Carolyn West portfolio.

Carolyn West blog.

Oh, Clémence Facebook page.

Interview: Ellen Schebor

Ellen Schebor is a 27 year old illustrator from Miami, Florida. Unlike in most of my other artist interviews, I wasn't really hunting for art when I saw her work on Google - I was seeking the Gotye album cover. But when her portrait of Gotye and NZ's beloved Kimbra popped up in the results, all hope of beautifying my iTunes was lost and I had to know more about the artist. Having now looked at all of Ellen's work that I could find, I think she's fantastically talented, and I love the diversity of her subject matter. Her blog has a lot of great work in progress photos and draft sketches, which I always enjoy seeing - so those of you who are art enthusiasts may wish to add it to your reader. Best of all? She comes complete with an Etsy store which stocks prints of her work and the occasional greeting card.

How long have you been creating artwork for?

I'd like to think I grew up in a fairly creative environment. Both my parents are makers of things (my mother does a lot of crafting, my father does a lot of woodworking) so I grew up watching and engaged in their creative processes. I've been making marks since I could physically hold a crayon (the walls in our family room still bare the scars!) Thankfully I've progressed from the scribbling stage.

What artistic training do you have, and do you feel you have benefited most from formal lessons or your own experimentation in developing your style?
While I think each artist has to approach their education and experimentation individually (no one path works for everyone) my formal training was indispensable in giving me a feeling for the real art world. After graduating, (BFA, Michigan State University) the experimentation that followed was a lot more successful.

How many hours in an average week would you spend creating?

Art is very much a full time for me, I don't think I've ever had another role. Between my own personal work and my day job, I probably spend upwards of 70 hours a week involved in making.

What other work or hobbies are you involved with?

In addition to my personal work, I am also lead artist for ChickenBrick Studios where I work on game art, character development, the occasional concept piece, etc. While that work is very different from my personal work, I'd like to think the switch up keeps me from falling into that dreaded art rut. When I'm not involved in an artistic pursuit, I play a lot of videogames.

Do you remember the first piece of artwork that you sold?

A small watercolor, when I was about 12. A lovely neighbor paid me $5 and I was thrilled.

What has been the highlight of your artistic career so far?

Thus far, probably being asked to show a set of illustrated posters for a charity auction back in the spring. I was so nervous that nothing would sell, as there were a ton of other items being auctioned off. In the end, thankfully everything sold and I got to talk to a lot of people about my art and make a ton of connections that would not have been possible.

What role has the internet played in your career so far?

Huge. Giant. I wouldn't be anywhere near where I am without the internet. From allowing me to collaborate with other artists instantly, discovering new ideas, researching... I don't think I'd even want to know where I'd be without the internet. It's scary.

How do you record ideas for new pieces?

I have several sketchbooks that I am terrible about using. I keep running lists, but sketches for new work are usually done on scraps.

Do you have any rituals associated with creating artwork?

Coffee and more coffee. And music without words. My current favorite is the soundtrack for the video game Skyrim. It's a beautiful arrangement on it's own, and I draw a lot of inspiration from the songs.

Have you learned any lessons from your experience with exhibiting?

Be prepared. I made the mistake of showing up to a few shows with only a handful of cards or postcards not expecting to hand them all out, only to end up empty-handed halfway through.

Is there a particular place where you would love to see your work exhibited?

There are a ton of incredible galleries here in Miami. A whole section called Wynwood houses loads of fantastic artists, studios and show spaces. I'd would die if I could show in any one of them.

How important to you is being immersed in an artistic community?

Changes everything. I can create on my own, but a community pushes me to try other solutions, start over, make something new. When I work alone I find I can fall into periods of “tunnel vision”, where I get far too focused on one thing. When I step outside my little art box and meet/work with others, the tunnel opens up and I am able to see possibilities that I couldn't before.

What inspires you?

Music and the outdoors inspire me. Great art and people. Anything that stirs an emotion, really. As for particular artists; growing up I adored Georgia O'Keefe. Currently; Marco Mazzoni, (his colored pencil work is mind blowing.) Or the tattoos of Peter Aurisch. Or Zak Smith.

What is your favourite colour to work with?

This changes frequently. I'll find myself attracted to one or two particular colors for awhile and play with them until I just can't anymore. Generally I tend to stay a bit more neutral. Currently I love earthy oranges and purples.

Do you experience periods of "artists block"?

I most certainly do. I can usually out-maneuver the oncoming block by starting a new list or new project but if I can't, I overcome the block by just pushing forward and making something. Anything. Throwing paint on a canvas, wire sculpting, finger painting... anything to keep me working. I try not to focus on success of the work when I'm in that stage, otherwise I might never get out.

What was your work like five years ago?

My work was timid and overly controlled. I'm still in a constant battle to relinquish that control and not get stuck in teeny details, but I'm getting better.

Do you have any goals for the next five years?

I'd like to do a few more group shows. Group shows are a great experience in artistic camaraderie, and I always learn something awesome. Other than that, as long as I am still making, still improving in 5 years I'll be happy.

Ellen Schebor website.

Ellen Schebor blog.

Ellen Schebor Etsy store.

Ellen Schebor Facebook page.

Interview: Hollie Martin

This interview is the 19th I've published here over the past 15 months. I've found people to interview through a range of different online means - Etsy, social media, even Google image search. During that time I have had a couple of emails from people recommending artists to interview, or promoting themselves, but as the interviews are part of my personal blog I've preferred to focus on work I discovered myself, and always creators of work I genuinely love and would like to own.

Hollie Martin is 26 years old, lives in Sydney, Australia, and is the first exception to my self-imposed rule. I got a well-written email introduction from her last month, with attached examples of her gorgeous work. As well as appreciating the delicate patterns Hollie creates on paper and our shared love of watercolour, I've found her art blog is entertaining, frequently updated, and features work by artists she is inspired by in addition to her own pieces.

How long have you been creating artwork for?

I wouldn’t say I grew up in a creative environment - my dad used to do what I thought were awesome drawings though, and has a real good mind for technical drawing and building things. I am an only child though and I put my interest in making things and my need to be busying myself down to that. I guess I was always looking for something to occupy myself as a kid and being creative was always encouraged and was fun. I’ve been creating art with more serious intent for about 6 or 7 years now and I’m loving every moment of it. 

How many hours in an average week do you spend on your artwork?

It isn't a full time role for me yet but I really hope that one day it will be. I can assure you that I think about it all of the time, though! I can't think of anything better than drawing pretty pictures and making pretty things every day of the week. At the moment I work three days a week doing my art and then the other two days are spent at my part time job. 

What other work or hobbies are you involved with?

I work as a dental nurse so when I'm not creating or spending time with friends and family I'm helping a Dentist do dental things. I know, two completely different worlds, right? 

What artistic training do you have, and do you feel you have benefited most from formal lessons or your own experimentation in developing your style?

I studied at Newcastle Art School, which is under the TAFE system in Australia. There I gained an Advanced Diploma in Fine Arts and majored in printmaking. I loved studying and I thought it was majorly beneficial to my practice. It was really inspiring to be working alongside other budding artists at that time too. The type of course I did allowed me to spend a lot of time on particular areas of creating before we made a final decision of what medium we wanted to really immerse ourselves in. I have thought about furthering my studies and getting a Degree in Fine Arts but have ended up resorting to motivation and persistence to develop on my own. Being in contact with other great creatives has helped with this too. I think that both formal lessons and my own experimentation have contributed positively to where I’m at with my practice today. The combination of both has been more beneficial than one or the other. 

Do you remember the first piece of artwork that you sold?

Not clearly. I think it might have been a print. At the end of each year while studying at TAFE we had an exhibition where we showed the work that we produced that year. I think it was at one of these exhibitions. 

What has been the highlight of your artistic career so far?

I can't pinpoint any particular highlights. There's a few at the moment. The first one being my first solo show, which was held last year at China Heights Gallery in Sydney. That is such a huge accomplishment for me. The second being the more recent opportunity I had to do a window installation at the men's Incu store right in the city of Sydney. There was so much build up for the project and I had such a great time executing my idea and working with the people at Incu. And then theres the collaboration I did with Cake Wines. This project allowed me to break out of my comfort zone and see my work in a new context. Im also so happy with how the final product turned out and am actually quite proud.

What role has the internet played in your career so far?

The internet is a really important component of my practice. If I'm not using it as a tool for inspiration and research then I'm using it to promote myself and to network. It's so interesting to see the capabilities of people now that we have the internet and anyone can start up a blog. Everything's just so accessible and convenient. Everyone is creative in some way or another and now we all get to see that! 

How do you record ideas for new pieces?

First of all, ideas come from everywhere and I might record them in my phone or on a camera then transfer/elaborate on that in a journal. My journal is a super important part of my practice. Being able to just get ideas out is liberating, even if they don't evolve. And the journal is like an artwork in itself. It's great to look back and flip through the pages and see how ideas have developed. I find it easy to forget my ideas so having a physical reminder is perfect. Plus, I'm drawn to the tactile nature of the process journal as well. 

Do you have any routines associated with creating your work?

I usually work well at any time of day. I like to wake up early and get stuck straight into things. My partner and I have a second bedroom in our apartment that we have turned in to a studio for the both of us. This can be dangerous because it means I sometimes stay in my pyjamas for longer than I should. Usually the first thing I do is work on my computer for a bit and send emails and gather my thoughts and inspiration for the day then I start with the creating and that usually goes late into the afternoon/evening. Sometimes I don't even break for food, although I do drink a lot of tea. I need to have music playing. Sometimes I listen to the radio or a cd or stream stuff on my computer. It really depends on my mood what I listen to. 

What experience do you have exhibiting?

When I was studying there was a huge emphasis on exhibiting and getting your work out there so I was lucky to get a good amount of experience with this early on in the piece. But that doesn't mean I know everything there is to know now. I've been involved with a few group things over the past couple of years and had my show at China Heights as I mentioned before. When you work with other people you are constantly learning new things and the nature of exhibiting means you're always going to be crossing paths with other people, like-minded or not. Don't be scared to test the waters and apply for exhibitions. This is all experience as well and chances are you're going to get on someone's radar even if your work isn't right for the space for whatever reason. Persistence is key with this – knock backs aren't the end of the world. This goes for competitions and prizes as well. One piece of technical advice I can give is that if you can't be there when your work is being hung and it's a tricky hanging system make sure you give detailed descriptions on how it should be hung and make sure those descriptions are followed. I've had a negative experience with this and was poorly surprised when I saw the work on opening night. I've learnt my lesson with this! 

Is there a particular gallery where you would love to see your work exhibited?

I'd love to one day be hung in the Art Gallery of NSW. Considering I've visited there so much and it's the major gallery in this city it would be awesome to have work there! It would be a great experience painting some really big walls too and create some large scale patterns around the place but not confined to an indoor space. I've got no specific sites in mind but would really love to do this one day. 

How important to you is being connected to other creative people?

Super important! I like to be around people who I find inspiring and motivating and these people are always creative in their own way. They aren't always artists though. They are in the music industry, they own their own businesses, they work in fashion and some are artists. If I cant get together with someone I try to connect with them in some way and love hearing about what they've been up to. Sydney's really great like that too, it's a big city but its small, and it's easy to cross paths with other creatives and inspiring people. I've also been surprised by how willing people are to help or give feedback. It’s really encouraging. 

What is your favourite colour to work with?

Since I work with watercolour, I get really excited by combinations of colours and how hues bleed together to create something completely new and unexpected. With the watercolours I use I do have a serious soft spot for the pink, purple, and orangey shades though.

What inspires you?

I'm inspired by so many things – seeing other people work, nature, things that occur naturally like crystals and shells, colour, pattern, shapes, fashion, light. My favourite artists encompass an aray of styles. I love the work of Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat and just to list some others who inspire me – Brett Chan, Anthony Lister, Hannah Smith, Tara Marynowsky, Ana Montiel, Mia Taninaka, Ghostpatrol, Justin Lee Williams, Kevin Tran, to name a few. I always find myself highly inspired by design work as well.

Do you experience periods of "artists block"?

I'm lucky enough not to have really experienced this yet. I usually just keep pushing or repeating over and over until something new just pops out. I have come across bouts of laziness though and times where I feel I need to lay off production for a while and just do some research until I’m ready come back with a fresh mind and fresh hands. 

What did your work look like five years ago, and how has it developed?

Five years ago I was still studying and I was producing my final body of work. At this time I was screen printing imagery of teeth and text. There was lots of line work and layering and lots of mixed media. I was using watercolour then but not the same way I am now. My media application was much more free then and quite angsty to a degree. Now I feel like I have a calmer, more feminine touch when it comes to producing art. Back then I was also using bigger equipment and machines to make art. When I left TAFE I still wanted to create but didn't have the same facilities so I turned to drawing because it was so accessible and such a simple, immediate outlet. 

Do you have any goals for the next five years?

I'd like to aim for a solo show each year as something to work towards and to help my work to keep evolving. Heading overseas with my work is a huge dream of mine as well. And I would also love to see my work on fabric. I love the cross over between the Fine Arts and Fashion. It's been so exciting over the past couple of years to see fine artists working alongside some beautiful labels – Kate Rohde x Romance Was Born, Gemma Smith x Rittenhouse, Ken Done x Something Else, to name a few.

Hollie Martin blog.
Hollie Martin Facebook page.

Interview: Ben Kling

Perhaps you've not heard the name Ben Kling before, but you may very well have seen his work. His historical figure Valentine's Day card designs were enjoyed by a whooole bunch of people back in February - first with tumblr reblogs, then jumping over to the magical world of the Facebook share button. Fortunately he'd quite literally signed his name on them, so I went straight to his website - yes, with a young artist interview request most definitely in mind - and discovered he more than qualified at just 20 years old. Below I've focused on his illustrations and the popularity of those cards, but this Bostonian's talents are numerous, and his website worth checking out for the design alone.

How much time do you spend in an average week focusing on illustration?

I sort of go in cycles, where I'll focus on music for like ten days, then I'll get bored (hopefully after finishing some things) and do a bunch of drawing and design for ten days, then maybe work on some stand up for ten days, then move on to essays, etc. Someday I might even have a friend.

Do you know how your Valentine's illustrations went viral, and when did you realise that had happened?

Actually, yeah, it was incredibly premeditated. I really started studying tumblr the year before, the way it works and the trends and patterns of content that filter through it. I made the first round of valentines (Mao, Stalin, Marx, Castro, Trotsky, Hitler) when I was in high school, for my history teacher. I posted them on tumblr on a whim on Valentine's Day 2011 and they brought in a couple hundred followers, which blew my mind. But since I released them on the day, they were only reblogged in the afternoon and then a bit in the following days with stuff like "wish I had seen these in time." So this year I did a few new sets and released them at peak hours of tumblr, which is a lot of middle/high school students - so like 3PM when they're back from school, 8PM when they've just finished dinner, 11PM when they're trying to avoid homework, etc. And they really blew up. The one thing I hadn't foreseen was that a screenshot of them would make the rounds on Facebook. Some lady shared it and it got tens of thousands of re-shares, and that was where a lot of people saw them.

A few months on from that, are you still getting recognition for them online?

Every now and then, yeah, but the spike in traffic was pretty focused around that week. I redesigned my site and cleaned everything up a bit in the month prior, in preparation for it. Like I said, it was super premeditated. I was planning to apply for an internship in spring, and I wanted them to find something if they Googled my name, so I did the Valentines. I had to buy extra bandwidth on Valentine's Eve because the traffic crashed my site, and I got a bunch of people asking me if they could purchase the cards. I didn't have the means to do that, so I just said "print em out" and offered a donation button. I'm planning to offer them in print form for next valentine's day, along with some new ones.

Has your workload increased significantly since then?

I had a ton of schoolwork this semester, so I had to turn down a bunch of requests for jobs, but this summer I'm hoping to be able to accept more. I don't think I really got (or deserve) recognition for them, because it's sort of a one-off thing; like Warhol said, "in the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes." Memes and viral content come and go, I think, and you only deserve recognition if you consistently deliver stuff that people enjoy. I'm not there yet, but it's what I'm working towards.

Are members of your family artistic?

My mom likes scrapbooking and my dad's a carpenter, if that counts for anything. Yeah, they definitely encouraged me making stuff growing up, except they hated my computer. They'd pop in and see me on it and say I should be doing other things with my time. But I think Baby Boomers don't quite get that the computer is your type-writer, your recording studio, your canvas, your TV, and your library. 5 hours on the computer could be an hour reading Cheever stories, an hour working on a drum track, an hour learning about heraldry, an hour animating, 50 minutes checking email and 10 minutes watching porn. Since I didn't put on a different hat for each activity, they sort of just thought I was staring into a box, rotting my brain. They'd confiscate it at night, and I'd wait til they were gone and sneak into my closet because I had a backup computer in there. And now I've got this I-told-you-so thing with them, because it was in those stolen hours at night that I learned the skills that I use to make money now.

What sort of people did you identify with at high school and how did you spend your spare time then?

I wanted terribly for everyone to like me (I mean, I still do), so I had my fingers in a bunch of different pies - I floated between all these different cliques making sure they didn't hate me but never quite being a member. I had one really good friend with whom I'm still close, and we just sort of flopped around trying to make each other laugh. I would put obscene amounts of effort into stunts in order to catch her off guard. I think 90% of my time in high school was spent trying to make my best friend shoot milk out of her nose.

Do you have experience finding commercial work, and how have you been doing this?

I haven't really had a lot of commercial work, but the stuff I've gotten has been through connections. I go to Emerson College in Boston which is a great place for networking, because it's a bunch of ambitious young people who are trying to make it in film, TV,  advertising/marketing, etc. So I've been hooked up with some clients via classmates.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

I haven't had much of one, really. I'm only 20 and I still feel 17. I guess being recognized once. Because that's not even really something that happens to illustrators. Also I got a date once with someone way out of my league because they liked the Valentines. So I got to pay for someone else's meal thanks to my work. Movin' on up.

How do you record your ideas for work?

I rarely use pen and paper at all. If I want to doodle, I use my tablet. For most other stuff, joke ideas and bits of songs, I just record tons of voice memos on my phone. Then I have this labyrinth of folders on my computer that attempt to organize them.

Do you have any special routines attached to creating your work?

For illustrating/animating I usually put on The Best Show on WFMU with Tom Scharpling. It's a really great show, but it's 3 hours long and sort of meandering, so I can't devote time to just listening to it every week. So I subscribe to the podcast and put it on while I draw. I definitely do my best work between 11pm and 4am. Wherever I'm living, my desk has to be near a window so I can see the sun rising, because that's my cue to go to sleep.

Do you remember the first piece of creative work that you sold?

The first time I made money from anything creative was web design, and I just felt guilty about it because the guy had all of these terrible ideas and I just said "okay" and did it, and then he paid me. It was the owner of a local business in my hometown. I've since realized that you have to explain certain design fundamentals to clients who don't get them, otherwise you end up with (I kid you not) a large image of the client's pet chihuahua that obscures a third of the page and doesn't move away when you scroll.

Do you feel your age has ever been a barrier in getting your work noticed?

Absolutely the opposite. Especially with web design, clients love the idea of the ~*wunderkind*~ who was raised on computers and operates them like an extension of himself. And in other areas, the fact that I'm young has always been sort of a plus. Everything you do is more impressive when you're young. I had this mini-crisis when I turned 20, because I was like - Zuckerberg was twenty-something, Ben. That's where the bar is now. What do you do? You draw pictures and write jokes, and not half as well as certain other twenty-somethings.

Do you think it's important to balance paid creative work with pieces for your own amusement?

Definitely. I'll add schoolwork to that list, because that's what's dominated my time for the last few years, to the exclusion of both paid and unpaid creative work. Summers are really when I get stuff done, and I always start my month with a project that will pay for rent/groceries and don't move onto my own stuff until that's done.

Who are your favourite creative people?

As far as illustration/animation goes, I used to animate for albinoblacksheep.com and they had a guy named Yotam Perel whose style I really love. Also Dan Meth, who did stuff for Frederator and now works with Collegehumor. My dear friend Emmy Cicierega is a constant source of motivation, because she kicks ass like it's her job (it basically is) and I have to struggle to even nudge ass. As far as professionals go, I love Loren Bouchard - I think Bob's Burgers has a perfect aesthetic going. The music, the character design, the palettes, the writing, and the talent. It's just the alt. comedy kick in the pants network adult animation needs.

This is tough because I actually have this wall in my room that's covered in a grid of  8.5x11" black and white headshots of people who inspire me. It's terrifying. Every night as I go to sleep I look up to see Louis CK and Ricky Gervais and Jonathan Ames and Charlie Kaufman looking down on me, and they're saying with their eyes "Can you really afford to be sleeping right now? Alright, have fun accomplishing nothing ever!"

What inspires you?

Aside from the massive wall of famous faces?

Other people's work, I suppose. Also a crippling fear of death.

Do you have a favourite colour to work with?

#FFCC00. It's a sort of marigold. It's really offensive to the eyes after a while, but I'm fond of it for some reason.

What's the ultimate dream? And the good old cliche - what do you think you'll be doing in five years time?

The ultimate dream is to get paid for doing what you'd do for free, right? I'd love to work in TV, animated and live-action. In five years time, I hope to have a job. Preferably doing what I would otherwise do for free. I'm having a lot of trouble separating my pipe-dream fantasies from my expectations. I think that's why I'm at art school. It's an exercise in facing your superego, plugging your ears and going "lalalala I can't hear you."

Ben Kling website.
Ben Kling tumblr.
Ben Kling Facebook page.

Interview: Andy McCready

Andy McCready is a 30-year-old artist from Dunedin in the South Island of New Zealand. She paints the most beautiful female figures, and I really love her use of MDF board, wallpaper and records for painting surfaces. She sells beautiful giclee prints of her work under the name Gilt and Envy on both Etsy and the New Zealand-based Felt- make sure you check them out because, as always, it wasn't easy selecting just a few images to show here.

Where do you consider 'home'?

As above, but if someone wants to magic me up a green card I wouldn’t mind calling New York or San Francisco home for awhile – I went to the States last year and fell in love with those cities.

Are members of your family artistic?

My family are an eclectic bunch of crafty and ‘making things’ types (various members could teach you to build model airplanes, sew and knit, create coats of arms, stained glass windows, make cards and even build furniture), but I think I’m the only painter.

Are you a full time artist?

Oh to be a full-time artist… sadly, at the moment I have to pay the bills by other means, so I squeeze the art in around a full-time job at a university. I want to be an artist when I grow up though – that hasn’t happened yet, right? Hobby wise, I guess I sew and play guitar now and again, but most of my free time is taken up by painting these days. Does gambling count as a hobby?

What has been the highlight of your artistic career so far?

Watching some of my artworks come to life at an exhibition opening. My boyfriend and I had a joint exhibition at the end of 2010, and I thought it would be cool to get some models made over to look like my paintings and have them serve drinks. We got sponsorship from Aart on St Andrew hair salon, and they did a fabulous job of creating a bird’s nest, beehive and peacock do on my lovely and ever-obliging friends-slash-models Sam, Nellie and Elza. Despite the fact that I look like a hobbit standing next to them in all the photos from the night (and despite spending most of the week leading up to the show crafting bits and bobs for their hair rather than working on my art), it was awesome seeing the finished effect next to the paintings and helped make the opening really special.

How do you record your ideas for new pieces?

I have a sketchbook full of pictures, phrases, lists, doodles, quotes and general scribbling. I usually go back and trawl through this for inspiration when I’m starting a new piece, but it’s kind of frustrating to know that probably less than half of the vague ideas and quickly noted thoughts will ever be developed into an actual painting – perhaps there'll be more hours in the day when I finally get that full-time artist job…

Do you have any experience with exhibiting?

I’ve now organised three DIY shows myself, as well as participating in heaps of group exhibitions others have curated. Exhibiting 101: it always takes at least three times as long to hang the works as you think it will; no matter how much booze you buy for the opening night, it’s gone within the first half hour; and the piece everyone wants to buy is the only one you made not for sale. And pricing everything sucks.

Is there a particular gallery in the world where you would love to have your work exhibited?

I went to an opening at this really cool little gallery in New York called Last Rites Gallery which, with its black walls and gothy décor, looked more like a gig venue or tattoo parlour - admittedly, it incorporates both of these as well - than your standard white-walled empty exhibition space. I’d love to have a show there, although maybe I’d need to angst my work up a bit first…

What role has the internet played in your artistic career?

For someone who’s quite technologically impaired, it came as a great surprise to me that the internet has ended up playing a significant role in getting my art out into the world. A workmate introduced me to the joys of Etsy and Felt, and it wasn’t long before I stumbled my way through setting up my own stores on them to sell prints. I’m still slightly impressed that the whole thing actually works – Paypal is quite possibly the best idea ever, and I still get a little thrill every time I get one of those ‘you have made a sale’ notifications.

Do you have any special routines or 'rituals' attached to creating your artwork?

If I’m in painting mode, you’ll find me in my bedroom, sitting on the floor, usually at night, listening to punk rock music and fuelling the process with a coffee then a beer, a coffee then a beer, repeat till the beer runs out. A painting often won’t see the light of day until it’s almost finished and then I usually have to go back and touch things up because natural light exposes all those little flaws that a dimly lit room (and beer consumption) cover up.

What artistic training do you have, and do you believe you have benefited more from formal lessons or your own experimentation in developing your style?

I’m the rather sheepish holder of a Graduate Diploma in Fine Arts from Massey, which was possibly the least worthwhile thing I could have spent $6000 of my own savings on. I would have been better off doing an illustration course, instead of an expensive indoctrination into the glories of conceptual art over aesthetics. I also have an Honours degree and a Master’s in Art History and Theory from Otago, which I’m slightly more proud of.

Do you remember the first piece of artwork that you sold?

I arranged to show ten of my paintings at a local café about five years ago, and was pleasantly surprised that most of them sold, including two to my former art history lecturers. The café had gorgeous bright orange walls, which I thought would be the perfect backdrop for my black/white/grey paintings, although hanging the show was something of a nightmare. I had to do it in the middle of the day when the café was at its busiest, so was climbing over people and moving tables to position the ladder and generally annoying everyone by hammering nails into the wall. I should note that this was all carried out with a massive hangover. I had such a sense of accomplishment seeing all my works up on the wall for the first time though, and selling some really made me feel like this was something I could pursue seriously.

Who are your favourite artists of any medium?

Pop Surrealism/lowbrow art all the way, especially the amazing work of Audrey Kawasaki, John John Jesse and Natalia Fabia. This new current in art synthesises many of the tendencies that appealed to me in the work of earlier artists, such as Rene Magritte, Frances Bacon and Joseph Cornell, three of my all-time faves.

What is your favourite medium to work with?

Acrylic, because I’m impatient and it dries quickly, and MDF board, because I like that I can shape it and that it’s not textured like canvas. Painting on vintage wallpaper also works well for me, as it forces me not to overdo things and be a bit more restrained in my painting – you can’t get back the pattern underneath once you've put paint on top.

Do you have a favourite colour to work with?

I started off painting solely in black, white and grey, but have come to love colour, and some of the most fun I have is playing round with different colour palettes when I’m starting a new work. I guess I tend to use warm, earthy colours more than cool colours, and orange and pink feature strongly.

What inspires you?

The usual suspects - punk rock, pretty girls, lowbrow art, junk shops, libraries, old wallpaper, lyrics, clothing… I’m always particularly inspired after I’ve been to an art exhibition, whether or not I liked the work on display.

Do you have any particular goals for the next five years?

This may sound silly but I’d like to get some kind of prize in some kind of art competition. I enter a lot of them, but have never placed and feel it would be a vindication of sorts – a ribbon to pin on my art CV if you will. I used to win colouring contests all the time as a kid, and this just seems like the adult equivalent. Failing that, showing my work in the States would be pretty cool, as would being featured in Juxtapoz magazine, to which I’m an avid subscriber. Five years may be a bit ambitious for all that though – maybe I should just focus on getting into a position to be able to quit the day job first…

Gilt and Envy Etsy store.

Gilt and Envy Felt store.

Gilt and Envy Facebook fan page.