Carmine Magazine: What drives you to create? Also, what inspires you and your work?
Melody Pilotte: I love to try and recreate what I see. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, so I have lots of visuals, both organic and gritty urban scenery. Also, if I couldn’t create visually, I would probably lose my mind.
I am inspired by a great many things. Mostly from reading and learning, but also stuff I am interested in: tattoo and Catholic tattoo iconography, indigenous culture, the female body, the Autumnal season, etc. Also, other artists totally inspire me: Daena M. Ortego, David Mack,–they’re like my painting heroes– Pollack, Kristen Allen, CLAMP, Herb Leonhard, Su Davis–they’re all truly amazing.

CM: Were you formally trained in art or self taught? Do you think it has helped you or hindered you?
MP: I was self-taught. I don’t think that art is something that can even be taught. I think either you would have it in you, or you don’t. Art is so subjective. I think that taking classes in perspective or different style techniques is valuable, but to say that art can be taught in the same way as science or English is ridiculous. I think that I may have at one point benefited from formal classes, to help me branch out, but I am far along enough to realize that this is the direction that I want to go. It would be a step-back right now.

CM: What mediums do you work in the most? Do you have a particular brand that you love working with? Why do you use them?
MP: Watercolours are my best friend. We’re like sisters. Really. I have never found anything else that was so intuitive to what I wanted it to do. It’s really incredible. It’s capable of being molded into different textures, so many subtle colours. Sometimes I’ll use India Ink and acrylics for some flair, but I am pretty loyal to watercolours. As for brands, I am a little less loyal, as I use lots and lots. Windsor & Newton, Reeves, Art Advantage, Saukra Koi, Angora and Crayola.

CM: At what point did you realize that creating was going to be a large part of your life?
MP: I realized it would become a larger part of my life when it emotionally stimulated and connected to other people, not just with me. Some of my art is very personal, so personal sometimes it says in a language everyone can understand things I am terrified to say out loud. People I don’t even know will say how much they love it, or how it makes them feel. I had a very close friend say to me once that my art was a “talent others could only dream about,” because I could use it to express myself. Well, I don’t know if I really buy that whole wishy-washy thing, but it has had a lasting effect on me.

CM: If there was one style of art that you could take up, what would it be?
MP: Taxidermy. Or making wax statues.

CM: How do you deal with creator’s (or writer’s) block?
MP: I generally just don’t touch them for months if I have to, and try to be focused on something else until then.

CM: How do you prepare for art shows where your work will be shown?
MP: I’ve actually never done an art show. A real one, anyways.

CM: How do you define you style? Does it represent an inner you or
something completely different?
MP: I don’t think I have one set style. It depends on what I am drawing, actually. If it’s a portrait, I want it to look as closely to the original as possible, even so if I have to measure it out to make it of scale. If it’s a portrait of a musician, I want to paint the way their music sounds. You can defiantly see that in the Toris and the different painting styles for the different songs. If it’s something more original, it’s more gritty and urban influenced–especially with the clothes (or there lack of) and the additional of unique tattoos. Sometimes I think it looks like it’s got a bad anime hangover trying to grow up. Haha. One thing for sure is that I am super detail-oriented no matter what.

CM: What kind of environment do you need to create in?
MP: I need music-it’s essential. If possible, I’d want organic Italian soda, cold kielbasa and brie, too, but those aren’t as mandatory as the music. I also like good company, or sometimes even just to be alone.

CM: What does your workspace look like? (Pictures or a description work for this one)
MP: Messy! We’ll have to leave it at that!

CM: What was your worst experience with art? And the best?
MP: I had someone threaten originals I had given them. I realize now that the threats were probably hollow, and I’ve just learned to not be as open about giving originals away. Most other experiences have been generally positive.

CM: What movies, books, music, etc get your creative juices flowing the most?
MP: -Books: The Lovely Bones, Piece by Piece, Song of the Magdalene, A Tale of One Bad Rat
-Movies: Moulin Rouge!, Ghost World, Indiana Jones, It’s a Wonderful Life.. So many..
-Music: Tori Amos (duh), Kate Bush, Charlotte Martin, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Killers, Queen, Sam Cooke….

CM: Do you think the internet, technology, media, etcetera are helping or destroying the art world?
MP: I defiantly think that there is a little bit of both. I think it’s helping some people get more exposure, and there’s more access to their stuff, but I think there’s a lot of scammers and art thieves. Plus, for me, carpal tunnel is not really worth it if I can paint something the same way traditionally. It’s like it’s almost too easy to do something digitally. Oh, there are people out there who do really beautiful stuff, and I love their work–Star St. Germain is just incredible– and I definitely admire people who can do both beautiful work traditionally and on the computer. It’s like Nati says, it doesn’t have to be digital to be good, and there is a lot that can be said for traditional work.

CM: Aside from art what do you do with your time? Is there anything else that drives you or that you’re passionate about?
MP: Well, I am a full time student and intern and professional school-er right now, so that takes up a huge portion of my time. I love to dance, mostly swing and ballet, but that’s just for fun. I am super passionate about American Indian issues, studies and sovereignty, as well as sexual violence and incest awareness–especially sexual violence toward Native women. I think those issues really shape so many more than we even realize, and I also think that it’s time we started stepping up, taking responsibility and righting some wrongs here. I can’t tell you how I start frothing at the mouth over these issues.

CM: Do you have any upcoming shows, events, releases, etc. you would like our readers to know about?
MP: Right now I am just trying to finish the print collection I am doing for the Rape Abuse Incest National Network (RAINN.org). I feel so privileged to be a part of something that I admire so much. We’re still trying to iron out some of the details, but I think it’ll be something to look out for. Also, I plan on contributing to SNAG (Seven Native American Generations) magazine at some point soon. They are also super fabulous, and I am really excited to be donating art to them. All this is going to be happening within the next year, so keep an eye out. ;)

To find out more about Melody Pilotte and her art, please check out these links:

• My Facebook Page where you can “become a fan”: M-Pilotte
• DeviantArt: Thezippyolive
• Live Journal (mostly private, all art is public): Tithehatesu
• My Store (of Sorts): Watercolourstain
  
  
  
  
  
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