Artist Interview: Lauren Marx

“Attached”, 2016, Ballpoint Pen, Ink Pencils, Ink Wash, Graphite, Colored Pencils, Gel Pen and Acrylic on Mixed Media Paper, 8.5 inches by 11.75 inches (14 ¾ inches by 11 ½ inches framed).

The artist interview I have for you today is a wonderful treat.  Lauren Marx has such a unique voice, masterful execution of her craft, and a splendid ability to dance the fine line between beauty and the macabre.  That makes for a brilliant trifecta.  Please enjoy this Question & Answer round and check out the links at the end to find more of her and her lovely work!




"Demeter", Ballpoint Pen, Ink, Colored Pencil, Gel Pen, Marker, Graphite on Hot-Pressed Watercolor Paper, 12 inches by 12 inches (14.5 x 14.5 framed), 2015

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

Oh, I was always an art kid! I would spend hours drawing horses, dragons, and my favorite cartoon characters.

“Fall Apart Like Me”, 2016, Ballpoint Pen, Ink Pencils, Graphite, Colored Pencils and Gel Pen on Mixed Media Paper, 20 inches by 20 inches (23 inches by 23 inches framed).

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

Oh my favorite by far is the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood painting style. It is a great mash-up of my other favorite styles: renaissance and art nouveau. The style is just so romantic.

“Fire-breather”, Ballpoint Pen, Ink, Colored Pencil, and Marker, 18x24 inches, 2013

3.  What do you use for inspiration, or how do you generate ideas?  Do you keep a sketchbook?  Because I imagine that would be a stunning thing to flip through.

I use lots of things for inspiration! I collect animal skulls, feathers, taxiermies, shells, eggs, and various rocks, that can end up in pieces. I also find inspiration from my various art books and scientific illustrations. When it comes to generating ideas, they just kind of come to me. If I try to actively think of artwork ideas, nothing will come to me and I end up feeling very stressed. My ideas usually slam into my mind and become obsessive images until I can get them out in one way or another. I do keep a sketchbook, but I mainly write my ideas down which are usually accompanied by a very crude sketch. Right now, I am creating a sketchbook that will include more fleshed out ideas from my previous book. I'm having to get used to sketching since I started wanting to make larger works.

"To Kill the Goose That Laid theGolden Egg", 2015, Ballpoint Pen, Ink Pencil, Liquid Ink, Colored Pencil, Graphite, and Gel Pen on Hot-Pressed Watercolor Paper, 18.25 inches by 24 inches (21.5 inches by 27.5 inches framed)

4.  Your work is so detailed anatomically-did you study biology/anatomy in school, or at home, or how did you come to be so impressively skilled at capturing nature?

Thank you so much! I did not study biology, but I really wanted to! I'm a bit on the obsessive side with perfection and detail. I want my pieces to look “real”, but I can never quite achieve that. The way they look is my attempt each time to make them more accurate. Perfectionism for the win!

“Churning Up the Stars”, Ballpoint Pen, 11.25 inches x 23.75 inches, 2013

5.  Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished product?

Usually it starts with some sort of image coming to mind randomly, whether I am sleeping, showering, buying groceries. Once that vision hits me, I will either write about it, make a crude sketch, or immediately cut paper down and begin working. To start a piece, I begin looking up usually dozens of reference images per subject on my computer to perfectly recreate the image in my head as accurately as possible. When working on a piece, I start with a rough pencil outline of composition and subjects. Then, I outline the entire piece in pen, moving from foreground to background. I then add color washes with ink pencils to color every part of the piece, except for the background washes, which are done with standard ink following the ink pencils. I then go over all of the color with various pens to add detail, texture and contrast. Once I finished detailing, I add highlights with white colored pencil and white gel pens. Once the piece is completed, I cut down the paper and have it scanned then framed. After that, it is fully finished.

“Inhale. Exhale. Choke.”, 2016, Ballpoint Pen, Ink Pencils, Ink Wash, Graphite, Colored Pencil and Gel Pen on Mixed Media Paper, 20 inches by 17.75 inches (21 inches by 23 inches framed).

6.  What is a typical day in your life?

Well, a typical day will be waking up pretty early, watching The Daily Show while eating breakfast and taking care of chores. Then, I set up my art supplies for the day (I work in my apartment, though I think I will be studio hunting soon), and begin working. I usually work on art all day, taking breaks to run errands, eat lunch and dinner, and to sleep or socialize. I tend to keep things loose. I don't want to get to caught up in my art making and end up not enjoying it.

“When the First Became Divine”, 2016, Ballpoint Pen, Ink Pencils, Ink Wash, Graphite, Colored Pencils and Gel Pen on Mixed Media Paper, 24 inches by 40 inches (27 ¾ inches by 43 ½ inches framed).

7.  What do you think draws you to other artists' work?

I love realism with flora and fauna. Any artist that incorporates that is high on my list. I also love vibrant colors and contemporary abstraction mixed with realism. What draws me to other artists' work is that I feel they have achieved something that I lack, and their work becomes inspiration for me moving forward.

“Red Fox and Indigo Bunting”, Ballpoint Pen and Ink, 18in x 24in, 2012

8.  What are your interests/hobbies?

I collect hoofed animal skulls, and bird taxidermies. I love to go to antique stores when I have free time and completing puzzles. I recently obtained the camping bug too, but now it is too cold.

“Swallows”, 2016 Ballpoint Pen, Ink Pencils, Colored Pencils, Graphite and Gel Pen on Multi-media Paper, 8 inches by 10 inches (12 inches by 14 inches framed)

9.  What do you attribute to you choosing to make work that is so beautiful yet grotesque?

I really don't know 100% why I make my work grotesque, but I think it has a lot to do with my fear of death and my attempt to rationalize it in various ways, as well as address my anxiety problems and harsh past.

“The First”, 2016, Ballpoint Pen, Ink Pencils, Ink Wash, Graphite, Colored Pencil and Gel Pen on Mixed Media Paper, 20 inches by 24 inches (23 inches by 27 inches framed).

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

Art is my full-time job! I recently got a once-a-week job at a friend's deli to get myself out of the apartment and to clear my mind. Most of my year is spent working on art and art-related business stuffs.

"The Second”, 2016, Ballpoint Pen, Ink Pencils, Ink Wash, Graphite, Colored Pencil, Gel Pen and Acrylic on Mixed Media Paper, 20 inches by 24 inches (23 inches by 27 inches framed).

11.  Do you have a favorite piece you've made, if so, why?

It could be because I recently made the piece, but I would have to say my favorite is “When the First Became Divine”. It is my largest gallery piece so far, and perfectly captured the emotional turmoil that I was experiencing with my family. I also challenged myself a lot with that piece, with working so large and not sacrificing detail. It will be a big stepping stone for my future work. The piece has become very important to me.

“The Red Berries”, Ballpoint Pen and Ink, 19.5 in x 13.75 in, 2013

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

I would say to try to complete new work on the regular, to only make art that you want to make, and to stay realistic about the art world, your work and your future. I would also suggest buying some books on art careers!

Work in Progress via Instagram.

13.  Describe your work space.

My work space is my loft in downtown St. Louis. My kitchen table is a vintage drafting table that doubles as my drawing surface. I have a cute little cart, that carries all of my supplies, that I drag around my apartment. I usually have my three cats climbing all over me and running like maniacs while I work. My apartment has been designed to fully function as my studio without looking like it.

Lauren's Workspace via Instagram.

A peek at a sketch paper via Instagram.

A beautiful work in progress shot via Instagram.

14.  Did you face any set-backs on your path to being an artist?

Oh yes! Many! When I first started my career, I was still in college earning my BFA. It was hard to keep up with the demand for my work while trying to complete assignments for my classes. I also had no idea what I was doing, and art school did not prepare me at all for the business side of things...or how to frame my work, photograph my work, promote my work, write proposals...you name it. It was a lot of learning from my mistakes for the first couple of years. Now I am more used to things, but I am still learning every day. I was also not prepared for the competitiveness and pettiness of the art world. I am still judged quite a bit for my gender and age, and it affects almost every aspect of my art career. I know things are getting better in that regard, so I am not too worried about it. Making money has also been a huge issue to deal with. I am slowly turning a profit, but I had no idea how long it would take to get to that point. It has been an interesting challenge these past four years and I look forward to whatever else the art world throws at me.

Work in Progress via Instagram.

15.  You use such a unique mixed media process, how did you come to develop using such varied mediums in your work?

My materials have a lot to do with my anxiety, actually. Ever since I was a kid, if any materials got on my hands, for example: charcoal, paint, and glitter, I would be very upset. I hated the feeling of things on my hands so much, that I switched to using permanent, quick-drying materials when I was in middle school. A lot of my later materials began being used when I wanted to gain greater “oomph” with my pen and inks, that the materials on their own could not achieve. All while staying off of my hands.

Work in Progress via Instagram.

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

I have a couple that I am trying to achieve. I really want to be featured in the print of my favorite magazine, “Hi-Fructose Magazine”, and to show in Thinkspace Gallery. Both will be very hard to obtain and have more to do with outside forces and luck than anything. I also want to make enough money over the next couple of years to pay off my student loans, buy a house, and rent a studio space. I'm confident that I should be able to achieve all three in the next couple of years. It helps a lot that St. Louis is relatively cheap to live in! 

Also find her here:
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Tumblr
Etsy

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions!  Keep up the great work.

Artist Interview: Alexandra Loesser

This next artist interview is an exciting one.  She captivates me with her skill, and her subject matter is so much fun.  I was ecstatic when she agreed to let me interview her.  Please enjoy this Q & A with artist Alexandra Loesser:

Alexandra in her studio.

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

I was definitely always an art kid. I probably went through a ream of paper every few days with my drawing. I never proclaimed that I wanted to be an artist but it’s just what I always did starting from when I could hold a pencil.

"Barbie and Rex."

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

I appreciate all styles of art! My favorite would probably have to be early expressionism and romanticism. I love the line between natural realism and pure expressionist painting.

"Beast"

"Fox and Stars."

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

The biggest problem I feel that I’m faced with is being overly inspired to a point that I have a hard time reigning in my ideas. Most of my inspiration comes from living things; I love animals and people but the real ideas come from the relationships between living things. I like to give form to intangible feelings and energies. I usually start with something I’m interested in from an aesthetic perspective. That initial attraction is really a jumping off point to figure out what the subject means to me and how I should develop it and add complexity.

"Ghosts of Spring."

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

My creative process is not very formulaic. I usually start with a very general idea of what I want and begin to create different experimental drawings. These sketches help me narrow down what it is I want to paint and what I have to say. Once I have a loose composition, I put it to canvas fairly quickly. I’ve found that if I do too much preplanning I lose some of the magic. I like to leave room for the painting to reveal itself to me during the process. Very rarely does my finished piece look exactly like the original sketch. I do a little under painting and a little premixing but I’m very much of an “on-canvas mixer” because I’m finding a new color every second, and I want the painting to feel fresh and not static. It is during the actual process of painting that I figure out what the instinctual decisions I made really mean. A painting can take months or days; I just have to go with my gut to know when it’s finished.

"Great Horned Owl."

5. What is a typical day in your life?

A typical day starts with me arriving to the studio as early as I can, which means about 9:00am. I like to work early in the morning or late at night if possible. I think the closer you are to the dream state the better. I have my etsy shop to take care of and emails, so I work on that for a while and then jump right in to whatever painting is currently holding my attention the most. I usually have about five paintings going at a time that I can work on a little every day unless there is one I can’t tear myself away from. I try to be in the studio a full eight hours every weekday so I don’t get slack. It’s important for me to go into the studio everyday even if I don’t feel like it because you never know what might happen – the day you don’t go in could have been the day you have an artistic breakthrough. Being a painter is a pretty solitary job (but if I’m in a good creative zone I don’t notice the time), so at the end of the day I come home and try to remember how to be social again. When I go to sleep I always keep a pen and paper by my bed because ideas often come at the most inconvenient times.

"Polar Heart."

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

Lots of things! I think it’s so important to always look at other artists’ work. It’s inspiring to get a glimpse into someone else’s mind. You can also learn so much from other work, whether it’s in technique or style or just the imagery, but I’m most drawn to emotion in work. When you look at art or create it you want to feel something, and you know you’ve found a good piece of art when it lingers with you, when everything isn’t quite spelled out. I’m always attracted to work with a haunting quality; a little darkness can be really beautiful.

"Coyote and Butterflies."

7. What are your interests/hobbies?

I’m a little single-minded when it comes to this…drawing or painting is what I’m doing most of the time, though I wouldn’t call painting a hobby because it’s always felt more like a necessity (one that I enjoy). Lately painting has led me to do some writing. Writing gives me relief when I have something gnawing away in my mind and an image is not the right means to give it form. Oh and I do love to watch weird films. A beautifully done movie is like a painting in itself.

"Winter Birches."

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

Painting is now my full time job; it’s not always easy, but I’m always grateful.

"French Invasion."

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

My favorite piece is one that I made back in college. It’s a self-portrait that I painted when I became very frustrated with art school. I was mentally exhausted and my boyfriend at the time snapped a photo of my face in the midst of tears and desperation. I immediately went to work on a new painting using that photo as reference. I completed the large scale self portrait in a single night. It’s not the best painting I’ve made to this day, but at that time it was. I think I attached myself to how I was feeling and tapped into painting the emotion rather than the face. When you get the chance to “tap in” all the work is done for you.

"Hyena with Flower Crown."

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

Unfortunately, I know very little about the business world but my advice to someone who wants to profit from what they create would be to always create from the heart…not from what you think people want. Also, know your craft, know it up and down. Be proud of your work but never completely satisfied; satisfaction prevents growth, In my opinion. And finally, let your work speak for itself and you won’t have to “sell” it to anyone.

Alexandra's Work Space.

11. Describe your work space.

I am constantly cleaning my work space because it looks like a hurricane after every work day, and I usually have several paintings/drawings in progress at a time. I paint in natural light and keep photos of inspiration and other paintings I admire all around to remind me to continue challenging myself. My studio is airy and quiet which is a nice balance for my mental space.

"Maned Wolf."

Alexandra at Work.

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

I think I face small setbacks every day whether it’s financial or a near-finished piece I decide to scrap, but they keep me in check. I’ve always known this wasn’t going to be an easy career path, but I have a great support system and time in the morning to meditate and keep myself centered. It also helps to remember that if you are in the studio working, time is never wasted. Even if I’ve spent a lot of time on a painting that isn’t going to work, I’ve still learned something.

"Polar Bear."

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

Right now I’m just focusing on pushing myself to the next level. I’m hoping to show in some new galleries and explore some new subject matter. I want to get outside of myself and outside of my city for a while.

You can also find Alexandra here:

Website:  http://www.alexandraloesser.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TheArtOfAlexandraLoesser
Instagram:  https://instagram.com/alexlaserr/
Etsy:  http://www.alexandraloesser.etsy.com