For my international artist invite I chose Sonja Ahlers, whose work I adore. Unfortunately Sonja did not reply. I know she is very busy and must get lots of mail.
I also invited local Bristol based illustrator Marisa Jiménez. I really enjoy her work and find it similar to mine. I emailed her with an invite:
Dear Marisa Jiménez,
We
would like to invite you to our exhibition, 'Off the Canvas' at Bower
Ashton, Bristol on the 7th May at 6.30pm (this may change!)
We are
a group of UWE second year Illustration students and are currently
working on a collaborative project that explores the future of our
individual creative practice.
We have compiled some questions for
you to answer as we hope to network and support our local artists.
Please feel free to answer as much or little as you please. Your time is
very much appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Hannah Deary
Marisa kindly answered all my questions and here they are:
1. How do you promote yourself?
I use Facebook (it’s
the best network to promote my artwork) then I use Instagram, twitter
and Etsy. Also I got some business cards, and I use to go to The full
Moon market every saturday to sell my staff.
2. What processes and material do you usually use in your practice?
Basically pencil, some watercolours and digital support by photoshop.
3. What has been or is currently your most recent project? Can you explain a little more in detail.
I am working for my first solo exhibition. (I would like to invite you, it will be 23rd June at The
Edwardian Cloakroom, Park Row/ Woodland Road, Clifton, Bristol, Bs1 5LS).
In
this exhibition I will show a work that is very delicate and soft. The
principal concept that i want to share
is the power of the erotism. Showing women's portraits by illustrations.
A view from innocence poses until the most sensual stare. I always try
to connect attraction with innocence and melancholy characters of women,
but at the same time showing how strong
and powerful it can be. I have only one muse, it is the woman. There is
an undiscovered mystery inside woman's body and that is what intrigues
myself. The mystery women can captivate with a direct stare, that
sometimes it is very intimidated.
Because of all of that I thought to create a whole set of playing cards. I think there is always a concept of elegance
and sensuality in a playing cards set and I wanted to make a fusion of these two.
"It's just a game" could be a metaphor about women's control on the erotic game just by her body.
4. What personal themes and ideas are expressed through your work?
I answered that at the previous question.
5. How has your work developed over time? Has new technology enabled you to work differently?
I think I as much you
work it will develops your knowledges and technique, every new work its
better than the last one, when you can see it that its the signal you
are doing well.
New technologies, in
my case its photoshop, it brings me millions kinds to work, it helps me
to fix for example the proportion or to add backgrounds, watercolour,
transparency,… I would like to think: To paint
by photoshop its the same or even better than paint with oil or
watercolour because you don’t have to wait for it getting dry. :)
6. Who or what are your main influences and inspiration?
For my artwork style I
like to get as inspiration: Alphonse Mucha, Gustav Klimt,… Also
contemporary’s artists like Marc Lagrange, Conrad Roset, Ruben Ireland,
Kelly Smith,… and of course many artists from my
university.
7. Do you have any plans or dreams for the future?
I would like to travel
to some exotic countries like India or Thailand to get some costumes
inspirations, and create new projects. Also I am thinking to work about
children stories illustrations for my next
project.
8. If you could collaborate with a group of people, what type of practitioners would you choose to work with and why?
For a team work I
always love to do some activities as Art-theraphy, that kind of art gets
involved many difference of situations, its really good exercise to
meet people, also it is a happy work and very enjoyable.
I have been working for 6 years as creative manager in a children camp
site, I invented a activity where you get balloons full of paint and
water guns full of paint then you throw the balloons to a wall and
painting by the water guns, that was very exited and
liberating.
9. How do you enjoy spending your free time?
Watching documentaries and movies, going to the cinema, museums, and for sure going out with my friends!
10. What are your thoughts on the term 'Future Canvas'? What do you feel the future holds for your creative field of practice?
Actually I have no idea! nowadays everything can be a canvas!! just the creativity can say it!
For me and my artwork
its always the drawing, the canvas its no very important, if you need to
create a new kind of canvas only you need to learn a bit about the
technique or support, then you can start to create!
