Artist Interview: Amber Leilani Middleton.

Today's interview is with Amber Leilani Middleton.  Her shop features art dolls, collages, paintings and some jewelry too.  I really enjoy all the characters that she creates.  Let's get to know her a bit better, shall we?

1. Were you always an art kid, or did you stumble upon it later in life?  

Actually, a little bit of both. I was very creative as a child, but where I lived there were no art programs. I didn’t study art in college because my family didn’t think I could make a living as an artist. I took some jobs after college that had me trying to fit in with certain situations and people, and one day I realized I was squashing my creativity for people and jobs I didn’t even like!! It’s taken me about 10 years to feel comfortable with who I am as an artist and really begin to open up that creativity that I suppressed for so many years.

Bearded Lady, Gerilyn.

2. What style of art is your favorite and why?

I really don’t have a favorite style of art. I like so many different things: folk art, illustration, pop surrealism, fantasy. I can’t narrow it down to just one! It would be unfair to all the others (right now I’m really in to pop surrealism and it is starting to influence my work. But, shhh…don’t tell the other styles!)

3. What do you use for inspiration, or how do you generate ideas?

I suppose my main inspiration is music. I HAVE to have music playing while I work. I can listen to the same music every day and get a new idea from a song I’ve heard a thousand times. I am also greatly influenced by other artists – some of my favorites at the moment are Michele Lynch, Lateefah Wright, Travis Louie, and Anthropomorphica ArtDoll Oddities. But, I mostly let the ideas come to me when I am actually working on a piece. I find that if I just let go and immerse myself in the process that that is when the best ideas come!

Blue and Silver Cabochon Necklace.

 4. Walk us through your creative process from idea to finished project.  Also what made you choose Art Dolls?

My process is a bit scattered, I suppose. Sometimes I have an idea of what I want to do – I have journals full of sketches and ideas, but mostly I will just sit down and start sculpting faces. As each piece is being formed, I let it guide me through what it wants to be. After I sculpt the face I will add any horns, scars, or masks…whatever might add to the personality of the doll. Then I make my armature for the body. After that is finished I then attach the head and neck. Then the piece has to dry. When it’s dry, I then smooth out the features and body if need be and add any embellishments such as hair, clothing, or hats. Then I set it aside to dry again. Once the piece is completely dry (and it can take several days for some pieces to dry) I then paint and seal the piece.

As to why I chose art dolls…I really had never heard of an art doll until 3 years ago. I was recovering from a wrist injury that had put my jewelry making career on hold. I was looking at magazines one evening at the local book store and a copy of Art Doll Quarterly caught my eye. I was mesmerized!! I had my first block of paper clay within a week and I’ve never looked back!! It turns out that sculpting doesn’t hurt my wrist as much as repetitive beadwork!

"Eternal Love."

5. What is a typical day in your life?

Oh, goodness! I absolutely have to have my coffee in the morning! I really like to ease in to my day. I once saw a meme online that read “ I’m not a morning person. I’m not a night person. But I can rock 11am like it’s nobody’s business!” That’s me! I try to be in the studio by 10am on the days I am not at my retail job. I try to work an 8 hour day in the studio whenever possible. I also play with my cats, listen to music, and take a lunch break so I can watch a little tv (I watch way too much television). When my mister comes home, we eat and then it’s usually back in to the studio for a few hours before bed. I would say that’s a pretty typical day. I’m not a very good housekeeper, as I feel life is too short to do dishes rather than make art!

Yellow and Brown Cabochon Necklace.

6. What do you think draws you to other people's work?

Usually a sense of playfulness or a certain dark aesthetic. Or both! Haha! I am really drawn to portraits or sculptures of people. I love the human face…the emotions you can see even in the tiniest of frames. I am also drawn to certain textures. I am trying to teach myself to paint and there are several styles I am drawn to in painting, but it’s usually about the texture.

7. What are your interests/hobbies?

Does eating count? I love to eat! A good meal and a good bottle of wine are my absolute most favorite things in the world! I also enjoy well written television and movies, historical mysteries, steampunk novels, all things Harry Potter, and taking pictures – except of my work. Which I hate! It’s so hard to get good pictures at my house. I also collect writing journals and instruments. I love paper in its many forms and wish people still sent real letters….I miss getting letters in the mail.

Bunny Girl, "Eliza."

8. Is this your full time job, or do you have a job out-of-studio?

I work at home most of the time, but I do have a part time retail job that I really enjoy. I work for an independently owned gift shop that sells cool and kitschy items and fun, funky jewelry.

Carnival Queen.

9. What is your favorite piece you've ever made and why?

Ok, this is weird, but it’s a piece called “Self - Portrait with Bunny Ears.”  I made it after I had major surgery this past September on my left ear to remove a growth behind my ear drum. It was pretty painful and it turned out that I was allergic to my pain medication, so it was not a pleasant experience. It really defined who I was for several months. The “self - portrait” piece was my way of dealing with it all after the fact. She is a very pissy and defiant bunny. She’s not happy at all despite her flowers and lovely dress….and it looks absolutely NOTHING like me except for the big scar on her left ear! That piece is at Dollirium Art Doll Emporium in London, Ontario, Canada. She hasn’t sold yet and if she doesn’t I am definitely keeping her. I kind of hope she doesn’t sell….

Frida Kahlo Day of the Dead Collaged Card.

10. What advice would you give to an artist just starting out in the business world?

Be absolutely true to yourself, no matter what!! Look and research and experiment and never stop learning. Don’t compare yourself to others. You have to find your voice. Even if you think it’s weird and no one will like it, make it anyway. And never compromise on what you will or won’t do just to make money. Most importantly have fun!!

Circus Strongman, "Jean Pierre."

11. Describe your work space.

I work at home so my space is the back bedroom in our fairly small apartment. I share it with my mister, but it’s really mine. Mwahahah! To sculpt or paint I work at an antique dining room table, which I have lined with wax paper. I also have an antique writing desk where I do my jewelry making. My cats hang out with me when I’m working, and one of them even has a box on the table where he sits and keeps me company when I’m working. I have a lot of supplies and a goodly amount of art and dolls I have collected over the years. It’s a fairly sunny room (painted yellow) and I’ve tried to make it as cheery and inspirational as possible. But, it’s nowhere near as large as I would like…or as clean. And I absolutely HATE the carpet! But, I guess you can’t have everything. All in all, it’s a nice place to work and beats my old work space in our last apartment, which was in the hallway outside the bathroom. 

Amber at work.

12. Did you face any setbacks on your path to being an artist?

Well, I did have a hard time growing up as a creative kid in a rural area where most people just thought I was weird. I never fit in. And my parents weren’t keen on me going to art school, so I have a sociology degree. I always knew I was an artist at heart, but I tried for many years to have a “normal” career and fit in and all that nonsense. I think I may have been my own little setback more than once. It’s taken me years to really get back in touch with that creativity. And I am NOT letting it go any time soon!!

Her workspace.

13. What milestones, goals, or achievements are you striving for right now?

I want to be a better artist!! There is so much to learn and I feel like I just got started (and I’m not getting any younger)…and I really want to be able to make a living making art full time. I’m still not there yet. I keep trying. I was just published in ART DOLL QUARTERLY this winter, and that was a HUGE goal of mine over the last few years. I would love to be able to do more group shows and of course, have a solo show sometime in the future. Right now I’m really just loving being able to do what I love. To me, the most wonderful feeling in the world is having someone purchase something I made with my own two little hands….

You can also find her:

FLICKR:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/yellowflower/

FACEBOOK:  https://www.facebook.com/amberleilanidesign

BLOG:  http://amberleilani.blogspot.com

ETSY:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/amberleilani

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer with such awesome responses!

Something New and Exciting.

"One."

"Two."

"Three."

"Four:  All in a Lifetime."

"Five:  Car Payment or Cruise?"

"Six:  Ousted."

Artist Interview: Marco Suarez.

Here is an artist whose work inspires me.  I really enjoy his digital collage work.  Please read further to get to know the artist Marco Suarez.

1. Were you always an art kid, or did you stumble upon it later in life?

I was interested in art ever since I can remember. When I was very young, I would ask my older sisters to draw for me so I could watch them. Then I would try and mimic what they did.



Bird Collage I.

2. What style of art is your favorite and why?

I don't know if I have a favorite style. I enjoy most any style of art. As far as creating, I'm drawn more toward photography and printmaking than I am oil painting or drawing. Some people enjoy art because they appreciate the technical ability of the artist. I appreciate that. But more so, I'm interested in the emotional response. How does this make me feel? And do I like how it makes me feel? But I am a huge fan of the Pop Art era. Artists like Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, and Roy Lichtenstein.

3. What do you use for inspiration, or how do you generate ideas?

Big cities and nature.

I travel quite a bit. And my wife and I love to explore cities. I love finding little cafes, shops, or restaurants. I love how you can create an atmosphere in a cafe or shop that generates a particular emotion. I'm very interested in how you respond emotionally to a space. So I'll try and find little details that explain why I'm responding a certain way to a space, take note of them, and try and replicate them in my work to capture and repeat that emotional response.

The same is true of nature. Milton Glaser said that you never really see until you draw. So I'm trying to train my eye to see the details I would only ever see if I was drawing something. I took a walk through a redwood forest recently and just wanted to sit and stare at a tree trunk all day. I think most artists are inspired by nature. It's kind of the ultimate inspiration.

Empire 2.

4. Walk us through your creative process from idea to finished project.

This is obviously always changing, but my circle prints start with a photograph. I love doing things like renting a car, picking a direction, and just driving. I love getting lost. Recently I did this in California and wound up finding some of the most breathtaking views I've ever seen. So I take the photos with my DSLR, go home or back to the hotel, and start playing with them. I do most of my work digitally. It's funny how artists either accept digital work or hate it. I see it as just another tool. I'm sure people were also intimidated by photography when it became an art form.

I generally don't know where a piece is going to go. I just start playing. Like I said, I'm interested in the emotional response, so I allow the photo to tell me how it wants to feel, then I try and push more into that.

But sometimes I start with the emotion and pick the photograph to fit that. For instance, I was greatly inspired by U2's song Get on Your Boots and created the piece called Empire. I picked the photo, colors, textures, etc to fit the way I was feeling.

5. What is a typical day in your life?

This is probably different than most artists since I don't do this full-time. So my artwork is relegated to late nights and weekends. It's the way I unwind from the stresses of working for a start-up. I generally start around 7 or 8pm and work late. Everyone's in bed, it's quiet and it's just me, my headphones, and a cup of good coffee. I do my best thinking and work from 10pm to midnight. Not really a sustainable model.

Glowing Forest.

6. What do you think draws you to other people's work?

I have a couple circle prints I made from photographs I took of the smokey mountains. I had someone tell me they grew up in Tennessee mountains and moved away while they were still young. But these images captured exactly how they remembered the mountains. Like a memory. And that nailed it for me. When we remember things in our mind we attach the way we felt to them. And that alters the image. It makes it more intense and magical than the reality. And some people have a hard time remembering those images. They're distorted in their mind. And when people see my work, it makes that image clear again. That gets me so excited.

Heat.

7. What are your interests/hobbies?

I absolutely love branding. My philosophy of branding is identical to art. How can I make a person feel? I love it. I'm also a musician. I play guitar. Occasionally write songs. Compose music. I love making coffee. We moved into a new house to fit our growing family and my wife and I are having a blast decorating it. Basically, I don't care what I do just as long as I can create. So, creativity is my hobby I guess.

North Shore.

8. Is this your full time job, or do you have a job out-of-studio?

I work for a start-up called Zaarly as their lead designer. It's a full-time and sometimes more job. I currently am a man without an art studio. A year ago I moved out of my studio and in with a coworking group where I lack the space for a true studio though I occasionally take over some table space to create some textures or something. But since most of my work is digital, this is manageable.

9. What is your favorite piece you've ever made and why?

Whatever I'm currently creating. The two that have sold the best is Painted Tree and Coast. Those are some of my favorites because of how people fall in love with them. But I'm most excited about what I'm creating right now, which currently from photographs I took in California.

10. What advice would you give to an artist just starting out in the business world?

Learn business and take advantage of technology. I know amazing artists that work at Starbucks because they just don't get how to market themselves. And get a mentor! A mentor is critical.

Painted Tree.

11. Describe your work space.

Since I don't have a formal studio I'll describe where I pick to work. Like I said earlier, I'm interested in how spaces make you feel. So I'll find a place like home, coffee shop, park, wherever that energizes and inspires me. Since I work mostly on my laptop, that makes this easy.

12. Did you face any setbacks on your path to being an artist?

Um, everything. It's hard. Most people don't see art as having a function. They hang it on a wall or set it on a shelf. So people are hesitant to spend money on something they don't see having a function. And for a long time I didn't sell much. But I started to hit a stride and get some recognition on Etsy with my circle prints. People really started to take notice because of how they connected with them. That's when things changed.

13. What milestones, goals, or achievements are you striving for right now?

I see art falling into 1 of 2 camps: decorative art and high art. Decorative is generally cheaper and people purchase it to help decorate a room. Once their tastes change, the art gets ditched. Then there's high art. This is generally more expensive and people buy it as an investment. They're interested in the artist's career and look at it as part of their permanent collection. And they generally create a stronger deeper bond with the artwork. I want to see my work and my career fall into the high art category.

Thanks!

Marco

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Thank you Marco for letting us get to know you a bit better.  You can also find Marco here:

Flickr:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcosuarez/

Website:  http://marcosuarez.com/

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/#!/marcosuarez

Blog:  http://marcosuarez.com/blog/