Artist Interviews
Photographer Samantha Schwann
“My work is inspired by the need to protect our oceans, as it contributes so significantly to our food, fresh oxygen, water, and global economy. Scientists urge for 30% of our oceans be protected by 2030 in order to absorb the demands of current global population, yet less than 6% is currently preserved. I hope to bring the topic of ocean conservation to an expanded audience” - Samantha Schwann
Photographer Kathy Servian
“I’ve found that in every creative pursuit be it fashion, writing, photography, or art of any kind it's essential to trust yourself and make work that comes naturally to you. It’s easy to get caught up in the ‘noise’ around creativity particularly now with social media.” - Kathy Servian
Artist John Wieser
“Fascinated by the smallest details of nature, he delights in the entire process, from empty canvas to a thought provoking painting perfectly executed. Not satisfied with just reflecting nature with colors or pencil, he incorporates aesthetic harmony.” - John Wieser
Artist Annie Murphy-Robinson
“My work is about memories: real and not real, truths and lies- fluid and changing. Through embedding layers of charcoal, memories are redefined, refracted and reclaimed. My work is about my own experiences re-imagined through imagery of my children.” - Annie Murphy-Robinson
Artist Megan Seiter
“There’s no doubt that I’m a perfectionist, but I’ve learned that perfection is subjective. I can look at one of my drawings and find ten flaws, and someone else can look at it and think that it’s perfect.” - Megan Seiter
Artist Cameron Richards
“I have learnt throughout my practice that it is possible to be satisfied and have pride in your work whilst also being critical and enabling self development. When you arrive at this place it is calming and truly allows you to celebrate your work and the work of others.” - Cameron Richards
Photographer Julian Ali
“The job of the creator is to remain malleable and while the nation struggles with both unemployment and empowering African Americans, artists have continued to create despite all odds. One of the most important things I personally continue to learn throughout life is the beauty in perspective. Simply put, what could look like a setback is really a chance to redefine your focus & that is oftentimes what needs to happen in order for you to get it right.” - Julian Ali
Artist Asiah Thomas-Mandlman
“Recently, my preferred mediums are charcoal, colored pencil, and ink. I have also utilized hair, fabric, felt, and video/photography imagery in my work. Charcoal is my dream. She’s messy, sexy, and sincere. For a 2D material, charcoal is extremely moldable and forgiving. I like colored pencils for the opposite reason. Colored pencil is silly, slick, and will not tolerate mistakes.” - Asiah Thomas-Mandlman
Artist Gabrielle Banks
“I think something that I even have to remind myself is that your craft is an extension of yourself. Your surroundings and the people around you are also pouring into your creative process, they’re contributing to your experience.” - Gabrielle Banks
Artist Leah Probst
“What inspired me to start creating art was the need to create images from real world subjects, it was almost like a craving for something sweet but instead it was to draw. As my passion for making art grew, I began to focus on acrylic painting and soft pastel drawing using people and animals as my subjects. I loved the challenge of creating a life-like portrait.” - Leah Probst
Artist Lexi Laine
“I think the tempting thing with a creative block is to stop producing. I think the only way that I personally can work through creative block is by just doing that - working through it. I carry on even if everything I make is hopeless. I have enough faith in myself to know that eventually I’ll come out the other side of the low.” - Lexi Laine
Artist Jason Rafferty
“Keep looking at all sorts of artists and let yourself stew around. Short naps can be good to help reset the mind. Walks. I find the constraint of making works that look ‘cohesive’ from one piece to the next can be very limiting early on in a series, so I let myself bounce around between approaches, even if they seem ridiculously irrelevant. Make lots of little experimental sketches and try to fail on a small scale first. “ - Jason Rafferty
Artist Ira Upin
“I think about the making of art in a number of different ways. There is the element of nature, what you are born with in both the physical and mental aspects of life. Then as you age you need to decide what to do with those abilities to make sense and purpose out of your life. I always try to make sense out of reality, to see things clearly and not shy away from the truth of things, to make sense of things so life works. In a way for me my art is like personal psychotherapy, a way to understand my own contrarian personality.” - Ira Upin
Artist Lisa Hewett
“Stay courageous and keep creating. We live in a world where we are told to be ourselves, yet then in the same breath our authentic self is stomped on, so it takes a lot of courage to keep creating and putting our work out there. It's a world where there is so much division, miscommunication, brokenness, blame and hatred. That is why more than ever our world needs more creators and dreamers, more explorers and visionaries. So stay courageous and keep creating because what you do MATTERS.” - Lisa Hewett
Artist Ryan Jae
“Nothing is more important to me than conveying the hopes, dreams, and struggles of those who the fine art world is not built for. I use my camera to document everything in my environment as it happens, with particular interest in the dark beauty of everyday life.” - Ryan Jae
Artist J. Henry
“Maybe it was the books I looked at as a child. Maybe it was my mom saying “that’s not what a horse looks like” when I drew her a horse. I don’t know, there’s a lot of serotonin released when you experience beauty, and if you fall for the idea that you can create it then it’s easy to become addicted.” - Jocelyn Henry
Artist Lucas León
“Before illustrating, I write, read and research, then I make these reflections to symbols that take place in the composition. The first composition I build it in graphite sketches, and then I build it digitally with references to elements on the web, along with photographs that I make, special for the need of the work. I print that collage composition, I put it on a light table, and I trace the shapes with graphite on a transparent paper, to take the real substance from them, and then I add the imaginary shapes and abstractions.” - Lucas Leon
Artist Angela Alés
“Art needs to have a soul. It can’t just be a technical display. Anyone can learn technique. Originality and creativity is what makes it special.” - Angela Alés
Artist Benji Palus
“Painting or drawing basically anything and everything growing up, I can look back and see the early signs that I would eventually narrow my focus to figurative art, specifically women. I was obsessed with comic books in my teens, fascinated by the artists' ability to tell so much with images. Even then there was an allure to the female heroes over the male. I have always felt a pull toward the feminine in art. There is something so noble, so beautiful, so inspiring to me to be found in women.” - Benji Palus
Artist Heidi Neumann
“I think the most important thing I learned is to find your own style and explore it. I have met many artists with wonderful talent but have not found their own style. Their subjects and techniques vary from painting to painting and it is difficult to identify their style. Other artists have a style but no subject and their work feels a bit “all over the place”. I feel that concentrating on one subject for some time opens up entire new ideas and allows you to really reflect on your work.” - Heidi Neumann