Carmine Magazine: What drives you to create? Also, what inspires you and your work?
Celëne: My emotions and a need to be released from reality. I am in another world when I am working on a painting. At times I get so lost in my work I feel as though I am inside the piece looking around. My passion for art is my connection to other people.
Music, other artists, art nouveau, friends, family, books, crafting and silent movie photos are some of my inspiration.

CM: Were you formally trained in art or self taught? Do you think it has helped you or hindered you?
C: My mom tells me I was drawing as soon as I could hold a crayon in my hand. In high school I took a commercial art class half of the day and got to draw whatever struck my fancy. Classmates would ask me to paint album covers on their jackets which gave me some interesting projects to work on. After graduating, I attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh where I focused on illustration and computer graphics. After a few graphic arts jobs and computer eye strain I realized fine art was more of what I was looking for. A journey ensued shortly thereafter.
School definitely gave me a basis to grow from but I always enjoy learning something new.

CM: What mediums do you work in the most?
C: Oils and acrylics on canvas or wood are what I enjoy using the most. Lately I have been experimenting with pastel paintings to capture a ghostly look in my most recent works.

CM: At what point did you realize that creating was going to be a large
part of your life?
C: I’ve always known being creative would be a big part in my life. It seems to be in my blood. I am very lucky my mother has always been so supportive and also my friends and family.
In grade school I dressed up in my mother’s smock, a beret and carried around a brush and palette for career day.

CM: If there was one style of art that you could take up, what would it be?
C: Art nouveau sculpture and architecture. I find the designs of humans integrated with nature so appealing.

CM: How do you deal with creator’s (or writer’s) block?
C: I scream on the inside then go for a bike ride or take a long walk. Sometimes I drink cups of tea and stare out into the nothingness.

CM: How do you prepare for art shows where your work will be shown?
C: I prepare for an art show by becoming a hermit, researching ideas, going out and taking photos for reference, visiting where I’ll be showing, if possible and work, work, work!

CM: How do you define your style? Does it represent an inner you or something completely different?
C: My work is a reflection of my subconscious thoughts and experiences.

CM: What kind of environment do you need to create in?
C: I enjoy being alone and listening to music while working on a painting.

CM: What does your workspace look like? (Pictures or a description work
for this one)
C: Shelves of art books and magazines, paints and paint brushes on my easel, reference photos laid all around the floor and blank canvases and wood waiting to be painted on.

CM: What was your worst experience with art? And the best?
C: Learning the hard lesson of rejection and that not everyone is going to appreciate what you’re doing. The best times are when others connect to your work and relate to something inside themselves, especially when they are inspired to do something creative. Also when people have come out to one of my art openings.

CM: What movies, books, music, etc get your creative juices flowing the most?
C: I’ll start with some of my favorite artists, Remedios Varo, Dali, Alphonse Mucha, Hieronymus Bosch and Toulouse Lautrec. Music I listen to when i paint are A Beautiful Noise, Spiritualized, Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions, and Sparklehorse. Movies I enjoy The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Amelie, Science of Sleep…
I am currently reading Sophie’s World but am still left with visions from In Watermelon Sugar by Richard Brautigan.

CM: Do you think the internet, technology, media, etcetera are helping or
destroying the art world?
C: I see both sides tugging me with this question. The good side is you get a lot more exposure, can meet people from all over the world and do everything yourself.
The other side is the over saturation of the internet. At times I feel overwhelmed keeping up with all the different avenues for getting out there.
I would rather someone come out for an art opening or go see a live band instead of just looking online. I feel seeing the art in person is such a different experience.

CM: Aside from art what do you do with your time? Is there anything else
that drives you or that you’re passionate about?
C: Ride my bike, travel with my boyfriend to interesting places, sew, silkscreen, drink lots of tea. Lately it’s been making origami cranes and alien looking sock animals.

CM: Do you have any upcoming shows, events, releases, etc. you would like
our readers to know about?
C: I am currently working on a kokeshi doll for a group show curated by Christina Conway at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles scheduled for the summer of 2009.
I have a few other events in the works that I will be releasing later this year. You can check back to my site for a listing or sign up for my newsletter through my homepage. Thank you!
I was just introduced to this William Blake quote… “I must create a system, or be enslaved by another man’s, I will not reason or compare; my business is to create”.

For more information on Celëne and her work please check out these links:
Official Site
Blog
Etsy
Myspace