Interview with the "Artists in West Michigan" blog

Diane and Julie of the "Artist of West Michigan" blog have recently interviewed me.

Being interviewed is an interesting introspective process - to really ponder who I am as an artist, the work I do, and the reasons for doing it and what I'd recommend to other artists. It's a fun process and a nice way to revisit my purpose and passion when it comes to art.

Here's a snippet:

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
When there is nothing else you can do about your present situation, or when you are waiting for something to occur, this is the best time to be working on something you like to work on.

One of the hardest things for artists to do is to stand apart from everyone else. How long did it take you to come up with your own style and signature look?
I’m still working on it. I believe that how we make things is influenced by our perspective of the world we live in. Life continuously changes, at times when we don’t even want it to. When I think of a “personal style”, I’m not too sure of what to say. We go through so many changes that it has to show up in the art we make.

What is your inspiration for your pieces? What keeps you motivated?
Most of the time I think I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. In terms of making art, for me, it is the action of making it. In printmaking, carving out the plates is most gratifying. During a drawing session, the act of placing the figure on paper, then allowing the development of composition to unfold has a sort of fascination. There are times when I find myself in the Muskegon Museum of Art, standing in front of the Curry painting, or looking for the Charles Burchfield trees. If time allows, I might look up some other printmakers on the internet.  There are all sorts of areas in the world where you will find art history to look at.

If you'd like to know more about my work, please read Diane and Julie's interview - it was great fun.