1.)    How do you feel when you tell non-artists that you are an artist.

What are some of the responses you get?

IIt depends on where their creativity scale is.  Some people live with no art on their walls at all, those people do not understand art or they would want it around them.  

If they care about art then obviously we have a base from which to understand one another.

2.)   What is your favorite reaction to your work?

A connection with passion, understanding of the inner soul and its longing to be heard.  It is those people I love hearing from.

 Most deflating?

Dismissal.  Someone who walks into a room filled to the brink with my art leaving no comment as if the room was blank.

3.)   As an artist what do you feel the Internet has done for you

(positive/negative)?

5K - 30K entries on google, depending on the day (gads).  It is a great networking tool.

I spend way too much time on it when I should be painting or sculpting.  It is so darn addictive.

4.)   If I asked you to tell me one place to go and one thing to do there,

where and what would you suggest?

I used to walk along the Silver Strand in Imperial Beach, CA.  I drew giant faces of women on the sand and danced around and sang to the top of my lungs, like the fairy I imagined me to be.  I created a dragon out of drift wood who one day took flight.  It is not that I would suggest going to the Silver Strand, it is that I would suggest to go to that spot where no  inhibitions are and fly there.

5.)   When are you most creative and why do you think this is?

The mornings are good for me.  I am very sensitive to what the moon is doing too, it creates havoc or bliss.  Creativity comes in waves.  I paint for a couple of weeks non stop in a frenzy and then recover... but.. I still paint even after the bliss of it has left me.  What brings these tangents on is unclear to me.  It just comes over me.

6.)   Who are you most inspired by; another artist, relative, pet?

Artists who show passion.  I cannot stand art that is meant to cause the viewer to feel calm and think nothing... rest?  Why bother?  

7.)   Do you visualize your Art before creating? 

Sometimes.. to a certain extent.  Not always.

Do you know what it will look like before you begin? What's your process?

It varies.  Right now I am working on a series of self portraits/self discovery.  It is an erotica series.  I am taking tons of photos, soul searching, writing, trying to feel those spots of me that I used to shun.

8.)   Did you choose Art or did Art choose you?

I have posted another interview at the bottom that speaks to this.

9.)  Any advice for a new artist contemplating dedicating their life to Art?

I believe that desire is talent and the rest is practice, so get to work.. no excuses.

10.)  Do you find yourself more attracted to work that is not like your own,

or work that has similarities to yours?

I am attracted to passionate work as I mentioned b4, so I seek that out for stimulation in music, photography, movies.. whatever.

11.)  Which do you think is smarter for an emerging artist: pricing work

affordably to make it more accessible, or pricing work high, to make it more

precious?

Put yourself into perspective.  Emerging artists always seem to price their work too high.  I think this is because they are really not prepared to let go of it.  Yet it irritates the hell out of me to see anyone sell their work for pennies, you also need to respect yourself.

12.)  Do you aspire for your work to meet a need and, if so, do you have a

name for that need?

I am never sure if I hate it or love it with every fiber in me.  It is a torture when not going well and haunts me to a fault.. I think of nothing else if I am not doing well and nothing else if I am.  Its exhausting. 

13.)  Is there a separation between your "normal" life and your work. If so,

how do you manage to keep each in its place?

I don't.. it is everything  so it touches everything.  I am obsessed.

14.)  Do you predetermine meaning in your work?

I am with this new series.

 and/or, after you complete a piece of art, do you feel the meaning needs justification/explanation?

I don't feel it needs anything at all to explain itself.. if people get it, they get it.   If people don't get it then I accept the fact that we just don't connect.

I write this above and yet I have explained myself to the hilt on my website for my "In Search of Klimt" Series.  I did that because content/text is what google is looking for my SEO and because I enjoy writing.  I also feel that by writing about my art I understand myself more.  

A dichotomy I know.

15.)  Do you think that the notion of an artist's "style" is fabricated to

boost sales and marketability?

It depends on the artist of course.  I do both.  I live in Hawaii so  I paint some stuff for tourists.  Is it me?  No, not all.  

I am also represented in New York by Monkdogz Urban Art, which is much more edgy.  I am working together with the gallery owner to push myself past what I have done before.. very exciting.  That art would not do well in Hawaii... I don't even think I could find a gallery to hang it in Hawaii. 

 Are artists then forced to limit their body of work to specific content or media in an effort to facilitate easy recognition?

It depends on what an artist wants or is satisfied with.  You can be a big fish in a little pond.. be recognized in Hawaii, which I do strive for because of $$$.  

Or

You can try to make it in the big world, which is often like wanting to be a movie star.  I confess I want that with every part of my being.

I want to strive towards excellence, self discovery  even though I don't believe that either can ever be found.  I believe that the very second you think you have arrived you are indeed finished.

16.)  What causes artistic blocks? What do you do to solve them?

Laziness.  I have a 20 year background in production pottery.  Production pottery is a craft not an art but it taught me that no matter how you feel, you still do art anyway.  No excuses.

17.)  What question do you hate being constantly asked about your work?

How long did this take you to do? 

18.)  What helps create a suitable environment for making art (aside from

tools)?

I think people get caught up in that.  They don't paint or whatever because their surroundings are too small or they have kids or whatever.  I have painted in my kitchen when it was not big enough to turn around in.  I have painted with children and cats running through my paints.  It goes back to making excuses.  If you want to do art.. truly?  You will and it will not matter how small or right your environment is.  With that said, I am painting in my garage right now because I am so messy.  I blast the music, sing, and try to free myself to let the dance of creating art happen.  

19.)  How willing are you to remove yourself from your work?

I'm not.

20.)  Do you ever forget or deliberately ignore why you make art? If so,

briefly describe the last time you realized you had forgotten or were

ignoring why you make art.  What did it take for you to return to your core

motivation?

I just can't relate to this question.  Art is like breathing to me.

21.)  How has your art contributed to society?

I have no idea.. I can't be the judge of that.  

22.)  Do you think it's important that art gives something to society?

No.  This doesn't mean though that I don't dream of being an 'Art Star', but I am not sure that has anything to do with 'contributing to society'.  If you want to contribute to society..  what society exactly?  There are so many factions, it feels impossible to please them.  If I think that way I will find myself only painting fluff I think.  

23.)  What exhibit that you have seen within the last year has most

influenced you? Why?

Boy... I don't see much in Hawaii.  It is all about tourists here.  The most inspiration I find is online at Monkdogz with fellow artists there or on My Space as funny as that sounds.  There are some amazing artists posting on My Space.

24.)  Does getting paid for your artwork embarrass you? If so, why? If not,

why not?

Gads.. I have to get paid or I won't eat!

25.)  Do you feel an art object's power is diminished or changed by having

assistants actually do the physical production? Explain.

Yes.. absolutely.  If you have a giclee that is produced by a printer.. is the life of the artist somehow diminished?  Artists enhance their work to add just a touch of life back to them but it is insignificant really, the work cannot breathe because it was tampered with by someone else.  I used to work for an Italian sculptor.  He signed his name to all my work.. customary of course.. but the arts presence belonged to me.

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