Artist Interview: Michele Maule.

Today's interview is with Michele Maule.  Her shop is filled with original mixed media collages, prints, and oil paintings.  Her subject matter consists of lots of my favorite things:  bees, water towers, landscapes, typewriters, deer, and birds.  I was very excited when she agreed to this interview.  So, let's get to know her better, shall we?

"Bumble"

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

Yes. I've always loved art. We had art once a week when I was in grade school and it was always my favorite day of the week. I didn't take art again until I was in high school, and once I started the class I didn't realize how much I had loved it and had missed it.

"Number 51"

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

I can't say I have a favorite. I truly love it all. There are aspects to all styles that I enjoy. Mixed media modern art has to be one of my all time favorites. I love the idea of making something collected, or found, into a piece of art. Robert Rauchenberg is one of the artists that I admire most, who works in this style.

"Gray Spring"

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

I kinda like to search my house, or books, for ideas. I also love watching movies. Sophia Coppola's films are particularly inspirational to me. The cinematography and soundtracks in her movies are so lovely. 

"Sometimes I Still Need You"

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

I normally don't have an idea when I first start working. If I'm working on a collage/painting I start with the collage. I have numerous boxes of collected paper and fabric. I pull those out along with gesso or my rubber cement. I start tearing and gluing various shapes and sizes of paper. Sometimes I cover things up and sometimes I plan out every size and shape. Once my collage is done, I gesso over parts or all of it. I then search out images either using books/magazines/my own photographs. Many times I think I have an image, and I start drawing, but for one reason or another it doesn't work right. So, I start again until I find an image that works for me and works for the collage.

I'm afraid I am not very exact when it comes to my work. I just kind of like to play with it and try things out until something resonates with my brain and my mood.

"Winter and Red"

5. What is a typical day in your life?

I wake up around 6:30 or 7 am everyday. I usually go running. It helps clear my head and it makes me feel calm. I come home, drink coffee, and spend way too much time on the internet. I pack Etsy orders, answer e-mails, and take my dog for a walk. Some days I head to my day job, some days I stay at home working on art. If I don't have to be at my day job, I paint or I draw. I take photos of my work. I list on Etsy. I work on my blog. I play with my dog, and hang out with my boyfriend. Not a terribly exciting life, but I like it.

"Tree Huggers"

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

Color and line work. I like art that tells stories about an artist's life, or other people's lives. I'm drawn to people's histories and who they are.

"Heart New York"

7. What are your interests/hobbies?

I love running. I recently got into running races. I'm training for a half marathon in January and I'm really excited about it. I'm planning on running the Portland Marathon next year.

"Four Friends"

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

I work part time at a local grocery store, in the housewares department.

"Heavy Weight"

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

My favorite piece has to be a painting of water towers I did my last quarter of college. That piece really opened me up to painting. It allowed me to let go of treating a painting as a precious thing. It allowed me to explore different medias and it helped me let go of working tightly and precisely.

"Write to Me"

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

Develop a tough skin. Don't expect to make lots of money. Work hard. Never give up.

Michele's Workspace.

11. Describe your work space.

I recently re-vamped my little work space. It's mostly white. I have two desks. One desk for messy stuff, the other desk for packing orders and folding cards. I have a couple of shelves for keeping my cards organized and two small shelves for storing paintings and for my little pieces of inspiration. I try to keep things tidy and organized. It's a challenge, but I feel like I am more productive when things are neat and I know where everything is.

Michele's Workspace.

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

When I first started out I did really well selling online. So well, that I did it full time. Things changed and slowed down for me quite a bit a couple of years in. So, I started my part time work. It was really hard for me to change from working for myself to working for someone else. I still struggle with it. However, it is a good job and I am grateful for it.

Michele's Workspace.  

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

Right now my goal is to be able to quit my day job. I'm not sure I'll ever have lots of money, but I would like to be able to make enough to pay my bills, have insurance and have a little money to buy things like music and books and fancy coffee, now and then.

Michele, thanks so much for letting us get to know you better.  If you'd like to learn more about her, and keep up to date with what is going on in her life, she has a Blog here, and a Facebook Page here.

I Could Live in Croatia.

I hadn't had a chance to check out Virtual Paintout for a couple of months.  I participated a while back, and I hope to again soon.  Essentially, a part of the world is chosen, and using Google StreetView you explore the area, and find a composition to paint (it's a lot of fun).  They change destinations each month, so I'm going to wait until November to participate again.  October's destination is Croatia, so I thought I would explore a bit for the fun of it.  The abandoned farmhouses are pulling at my heartstrings something fierce.  They are beautiful.

This little shack might have been a shed, but I think it was a home.

Via Google Maps.  You can find it here.

And this house is really interesting because part of the facing has fallen off and you can see how it was built.

Via Google Maps.  You can find it here.

This building appears to have a house above, and barn space below.  Note the chickens and ramp up to the little doorway a la chicken coop style.

Via Google Maps.  You can find it here.

A lot of the properties have fences that surround the house and barns, and gates at the road.  They have my perfect set up.  The rustic-ness of the architecture makes me swoon.

Via Google Maps.  You can find it here.

I am going to continue to look around, but I'll quit this post here.  If I don't, I fear that this post may have fifty pictures before it's said and done.

Etsy Love: Bison Edition.

ONE.  TWO.  THREE.  FOUR.  FIVE.  SIX.  SEVEN.  EIGHT.

Newest Sale in Both Shops:

My husband doesn't read this blog.  That's perfectly okay with me.  It actually makes this surprise a lot easier for me to manage.  You see, he's been working so hard on getting our house put back together (this renovation has lasted many years and for the first time in our relationship we have walls, floors, and ceilings in our home), and I think he deserves such a big thank you. 

 

 

That's where all of you come in.  You'd be doing a great service if you'd take advantage of the really super sale I've got going in both of my shops.  The Gallivanting Girl, and Julia Wright Art.  You get the savings and I get the money to save up to buy Mike a wonderful birthday present:  a flat screen tv to put above our fireplace (the size of which will be determined by the money earned, ha).

 

Also depending on how the sales go, if we reach 200 sales I am going to do a giveaway by drawing a name from the people who have bought from the shop during the sale period.  So, see you could win stuff too.  That's a pretty good deal.  Prices start at $3.00 (for a wallet size which you can find a listing for in the custom section in the photography shop).  Christmas is coming up, so stock up now on some great art at great prices.

Okay, end of sales pitch.  And thanks in advance! 

Loving this Song: Emmylou by First Aid Kit

Artist Interview: Mia Buchanan of Miart Design Creation.

Today's interview is with Mia Buchanan of Miart Design Creation.  I stumbled upon her pink elephant graffiti style painting, and was hooked.  She was kind enough to let me ask her a few questions so that all of us could get to know her better.  

Pink Elephant with Vintage Style Silver Pattern.

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

Since I got first prize for drawing at Pre-school in Japan, I was a kid always good in art class. I started taking Art seriously when I entered at High school. I went to regular High school at day time and went to Art pre-collage after noon. I painted more than 6 hours almost everyday. However, I decided to get a Graphic design job instead of pursuing art when I come to U.S.A. for College. I got a Bachelor degree for Graphic design and I worked for MTV and AD agency for Canon. 

Pantone Color Nail Polish Painting.


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

I like a combination of street art and graphic design. I like well designed art with calculation. My favorite artists are Tes one and Mr BrainWash. I like art where all kinds of media and color are mixed. It looks calculated but still has organic flow in the painting. Because of my background as graphic designer, I like a piece that has a strong impact and is visually beautiful instead of not so beautiful but a lot of message behind it.

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

A lot of ideas come from images in magazines, photos and everyday life. I like to combine and narrow the concept in my head, then I sketch on the paper with pencil.

Two Donuts from the Dessert Series.

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

I expect some kind of accident will happen when I paint. ( such as paint dripping, scratch, grunge..) I don't want to paint exactly the same as I sketch. I enjoy the accident and that is  the part of fun of hand painting.


5. What is a typical day in your life?

After I send the kids to school,  I go to Bikram Yoga. After I am back to home, it's time to check all emails and art prints orders.  If there is any time left before the kids get home, I will paint but normally its not enough time to finish so I go back to paint later in the night.

Materialistic Girl - Pink/Gold.

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

I do like to see what kind of techniques other artist use. Observing other people's skill sometimes gives me a hint for my next creation.

7. What are your interests/hobbies?

My hobby is Yoga.

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

Illustration and Art are my main focus, but I do freelance jobs as graphic designer as well.

Original Flower Painting.

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

I don't have my favorite yet.

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

Making beautiful artwork is not enough of a skill to be successful.  Artists still have to know how to sell their name and make their art as valuable as possible. Marketing is really important.

11. Describe your work space.

My work space smells like Art class in school. It's really a calming smell to me. I do all graphic jobs and painting job at my work space.  I have 2 scanners, 2 Macs, and 1 printer, a lot of canvases and spray paints.

A view of Mia's Studio.

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

It is always difficult for me when friends or family members ask me to make a painting and they expect me to not to charge them.

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

I try to have group shows and showcase more so I can sell my name as an artist. Also, I am always looking forward to meeting other creative people because not only do they inspire me but it makes for another opportunity for a show or collaboration. My dream goal in  the future is showing my art at Miami Basel. The event place is heaven for all artists.

Her work can also be found at ZaPow! Gallery.

And prints are available at MiartPrintCreation.