Archive for March, 2008

Carmine Magazine: How would you define your style?
Marie-Josée: My style is figurative and illustrative. It is a mix of whimsical, magical, folkish and just a tiny bit creepy. I am actually in the process of uncovering it. After years of trying to emulate things I liked and doing endless school projects, I have taken a stance against my own habits and embraced my style. It is truly amazing for me to see it unfold paintings after paintings.

CM: What things inspire and influence you and your artwork?
MJ: Anything and everything. But first and foremost: stories. Any kind of stories really, but especially folk tales, myths and fairy tales. I am also influences by nature and colors. Sometimes I start a painting with just a specific color scheme in my mind.
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Carmine Magazine: How would you define your style?
Theresa Hall: Multi-layered and experimental, hopefully reflecting my life and philosophy.

CM: What things inspire and influence you and your artwork?
TH: Quotes-I’ve collected quotations for years. Organic things and abstracts. It’s easier to ask me what DOESN’T inspire me because I’m interested in everything. I live in Tucson and its proximity to Mexico affects my choices in colors and themes, like the Day of the Dead and Our Lady of Guadalupe.

CM: Do you listen to music when you create? Describe your perfect creative work environment.
TH: It depends on what I’m working on. If I’m creating in my art journals, I prefer quiet. If I’m sewing or beading, I like to have background music,any kind, turned down low. I think I have the perfect work environment now-my studio has big windows with views of my cactus gardens and citrus trees and the Santa Catalina Mountains behind my home. It’s peaceful and sunny. My studio is filled with art work from fellow artists. I have a storage unit where I display postcards, mail art and stickers I’ve collected or received. People say every time they come to my studio they see something new and wonderful. I surround myself with things that make me happy and inspire me.

CM: What mediums do you work in the most? Why do you use them?
TH: There hasn’t been a medium I haven’t tried, though I did flunk tole painting. I love fabric and beads and use them in my art journals too. I like to use every day, inexpensive things like kids’ Blo-pens, markers and fabric from thrift stores. I actually like junk mail for the “debris of the day” that I use in my collages. I like texture in my art, so fabric always excites me. Messy layers of acrylic paint and paint drips and coffee stains-all wonderful too.

CM: Name a few of your favorite artists.
TH: Frida Kahlo, Friedrich Hundertwasser, my artist friends. Elementary school kids and people who don’t call themselves artists.

CM: If there was one style of art that you could take up what would it be?
TH: Abstracts have my attention now. Subject to change any minute.

Find Theresa’s work at these places on the web:
Theresa Hall Designs
Theresahall on Livejournal
Sheloveshiny on Blogspot

Some artwork from Theresa Hall:

Carmine Magazine: How would you define your style?
Brian Ewing: Beats me. “Failed comic book art?” Not something I ponder. I spend more time worrying about paying the rent.
As a kid I was heavily influenced by comic book art, heavy metal, skateboard graphics and movies. Add it all up and it’s a recipe for disaster.

CM: What things inspire and influence you and your artwork?
BE: My friends, music and other artists. Can’t forget self-loathing. It’s tough to pull an idea out of nowhere. I get my ideas from hanging out with friends talking about music, movies and other artists. I’m a book junkie, so I tend buy a lot of books with my spare cash. I was like any teenage kid. I loved the Misfits, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Fugazi, The Accused, Kyuss, Metallica and Slayer. As well as Jim Phillips, Pushead, XnO and Thrasher magazine. All of that shaped my desire to be an illustrator. On top of that would be comic books. Berni Wrightson, Mike Kaluta, Jeff Jones, Barry Windsor-Smith, Mike Mignola, Tim Bradstreet and Adam Hughes.
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Carmine Magazine: How would you define your style?
Rosemary Travale: Quirky, cute, and colourful.

CM: What things inspire and influence you and your artwork?
RT: Oh wow, there is so much! I really love things like cartoons, comics, adventure movies and video games. Things that can covey an engaging story. Stuff that has a really good design sense and colour palette that is really fun! The whole aesthetic of children’s books from the 1950’s is amazing. It had a really big influence on me as a kid and still does today. Basically I just like silly and ridiculous things that everyone can laugh at and enjoy, and that is the kind of atmosphere I try to convey in my illustrations!
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Carmine Magazine: How would you define your style?
Kelly McKernan: I would call it a mix of whimsical, dreamy, surreal, illustrative, and curious. For years now, people who have watched me develop as an artist have said I have a very distinct style, but it wasn’t until a few months ago that I felt I was discovering it. It’s been an interesting experience, because each painting has revealed to me what kind of artist I am. It’s been a lot of fun uncovering that.

CM: What things inspire and influence you and your artwork?
KM: I am strongly inspired by words. I keep a large list of words that I find interesting and enjoy putting them together to fit in some sort of context. That is where most of the surrealistic aspects of my work are derived from. I am also inspired by dreams, music, and everyday quirks. Wikipedia, too. I love to research the items and ideas I intend to use in my work before I create the pieces.
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