The dreaded question. You're at a social function, surrounded by non-creative or semi-creative types and eventually word gets out that you're an artist.
"Oh really? What kind of art do you make?"
Maybe this is actually an easy answer for some artists, but it's never been that simple for me, and I'm sure it's challenging to many of you as well. For one thing, most of like to dip our fingers and toes into several different outlets and media (hence we call ourselves mixed-media artists!) so summing up what we "do" in a short answer is nearly impossible.
This you practice at home. It is a description of your art that
you eventually know by rote that takes less than two minutes to
say. Record yourself describing your art to a friend – there is
nothing like describing your work to a real person to get to the meat of
things. Your friend can tell you what is not clear, and how your description may improve.
Step Two
Irony
I knew someone who, when asked a question they didn’t care to answer would say with a strait face, “No, but I did see Coal Miner’s Daughter.” If you are feeling particularly frisky you might go the ricochet route and say something like “I describe my works as abstract porcupine love tops,” and then change the
subject.
Step Three
Break it down
Come up with a few different answers in order to keep things
interesting for yourself. Break down the essence of your artwork into camps
of what materials you use; how the art makes people feel when they look
at it; your intent or message; the colors, images or scale. Any of
these areas are worth an answer of their very own.
Step Four
Pull out your iPhone
This is a killer solution if you have the dough! Upload digital
images of your artwork onto your iPhone and allow people who query you to
scroll through the images with a wave of their finger. They’ll be so
impressed that they will probably try to pick you up. But that’s an
entirely different eHow subject.
I'm thinking I might try Step 2 next time. How do YOU usually answer this question?
We interrupt your regularly scheduled blogging for a mixed-media news bulletin—or at least a teaser: Collage artist extraordinaire Claudine Hellmuth (author of Collage Discovery Workshop and Collage Discovery Workshop: Beyond the Unexpected) is preparing to launch a new line of products with Ranger in July. After my recent fascination with Tim Holtz’s Grungeboard, I have to admit I’m dying of suspense to see what Ranger will think of next. (I'm not alone, by the way. Check out The Impatient Beader/Blogger Ms. Margot Potter's recent experimentation with Grungeboard here.) You can read all about Claudine's recent trip (including meeting with chemists… how scientific is THAT?) to the Ranger offices on her blog. I keep checking back regularly hoping she’ll give us a sneak peek, or at least a hint. (I think some people call this blog stalking, but in this case, I like to think of it as Ranger Roving.)
What new products have got you itching to get your hands messy?
I often wander over to Fresh Market for lunch, and while I was there yesterday, I picked up a bottle of hint™ essence water in the mango grapefruit flavor. I'm always inspired by graphic packaging that has a clear nature to it, so, since I love grapefruit, I rushed home (uh . . .not before my work was done though) and whipped up these easy earrings. I think it might be fun to use the other flavors/colors too. Hmmm. . .I'm suddenly feeling very thirsty . . .
Happy Friday, everyone! Jessica, here. As you all know, the winner of this month’s challenge will receive a copy of Secrets of Rusty Things by Michael deMeng (click here if you're in the UK), and it couldn’t be a more fitting prize. A self-proclaimed alchemist, Michael is truly the master of reinventing the discarded, the aged, the distressed, the forgotten and the just plain ordinary in his art. He doesn’t just use found objects in his work. He transforms them completely into intricately constructed pieces laden with meaning and even mythology. Students of Michael’s workshops always rave about the experience, and it’s no wonder. By the very nature of the work, every piece is an adventure that you begin without knowing exactly where you might end up. They leave with a piece that is unlike anything they’ve ever created, and with the contagious enthusiasm that comes from working side-by-side with a truly talented individual.
I've had a few adventures of my own with Mr. deMeng. I’d been fascinated with his work ever since reading his book during its production, but I didn’t have the good fortune to meet Michael in person until a trade show in New York just as Secrets of Rusty Things was first hitting the shelves. His demonstration was the last one scheduled at our booth that day, so as he wrapped up, I introduced myself and we decided to share a cab—we both were headed to a North Light dinner that night. Unfortunately, as everyone poured out of the convention center at once, we were unable to find an unoccupied cab. More unfortunately, I had been walking the floor all day carrying bags of catalogues and wearing high heels that, in retrospect, were not the wisest choice (but ladies, how can one not strive to wear fabulous shoes in New York City, land of Sarah Jessica Parker?). Most unfortunately, it began to rain. I was a bit embarrassed (to put it mildly) when Michael noticed that I was about to crumble onto the sidewalk (the fact that I was, shall we say, having a hard time keeping up, um, might have tipped him off). After some arguing (oh, no, I’d be fine, he should just walk on ahead and leave me there on the sidewalk with my pile of catalogues—I’d be fine! Really! I heart NY!), he insisted on carrying my bags, and we decided with mutual fake reluctance that the best option was to grab a drink and wait out the crowds and the clouds. I quickly learned that Michael is a stand-up kind of guy. I don’t even mind when now he greets me with, “Jess! I see you are wearing sensible shoes!”
In support of this month’s challenge, Michael agreed to answer a few questions exclusively for MyCraftivity. How lucky are we? And now, before I change my mind about posting the above story, without further ado, my latest conversation with Michael deMeng.
What (and when) was your very first assemblage? How did it come about? My first assemblage … hmmmm. That would probably be my pinecone and glitter Xmas ornament. Or was it my toothpick log cabin? Well, I suppose if I had to nail down a particular instance where I first made an “educated” assemblage piece, it would have been a large 5x4 piece of plywood in which I jumbled a random bunch of mannequin parts together, then covered it in plaster and then painted it. This was in college. It came about because it was what I had come across and decided to mess with it. Interestingly I did not go back to assemblage for ten years after that … in the form of a shovel shrine.
Transforming found objects is at the heart of your process. Was there ever a consciousness that you were being aware of being earth-friendly with your art, or is that just a happy natural extension of assemblage by its very nature? As much as I would love to say I was interested in the concept assemblage because of its association with recycling, I just wouldn’t be true. The earth friendly part was a happy bi-product. Perhaps there is something subliminal going on. I will say this, though: What ultimately lead to my shovel shrine was seeing the glass of burnt-out lightbulbs being used as plant vases in Mexico. I was so struck with how nothing seems to be wasted (i.e. broken bottles in concrete in place of barbed wire for security) that it made rethink the discarded.
Missoula is a beautiful place. How does it influence your work? Missoula…is that where I live? I travel so much these days it doesn’t seem like I have a home. Missoula in an inspirational place, not so much in the environment or the setting (at least for my style) but because it has a very vibrant arts community that promotes edgy and new ideas.
Your travels to Mexico have also had a deep impact on your art. What is it about the Mexican culture that you most hope to capture or convey in the work that results from your experiences there? I would say that Mexico is a perfect spectrum from the earthy, kitschy and banal to the spiritual, sacred and beautiful. Everything in Mexico seems to gradiate from these extremes. The most everyday item is often exalted and the converse is true. Fascinating.
While we’re on the subject, I have to ask: What’s your ideal meal to order in Mexico? Well, you start off with an order of with a Sol cerveza con limones (lime) and some cacajuates (peanuts dried garlic with a salty chile seasoning). From there we move to nice order of cerviche (shrimp or fish cooked by the acids in lime juice) for a main I’ll order a chicken or pork mol’e (a Oaxaca chocolate based sauce), sometimes this dish in the form of a banana leaf tamale. Delish. For dessert…anything chocolate….Oaxaca is chocolate city or perhaps plantanos flameados (fried bananas in orange, cinnamon, etc. and mescal). To finish the evening I most definitely will have a nice mescal (similar to tequila but specific to Oaxaca and better). I’ll usually order it “con sangrita” meaning you get a side shot of a tomato/citris, chile drink, that you sip after each sip of mescal. Also delish.
This year you spent time living in Australia. What was your favorite artistic experience there? Well, I have been spending a fair amount of time at the auctions…kind of a fun experience. The best buys are in the big lots. You can really get caught up in the excitement and spend too much. Also getting to see what sort of goodies they have at the flea markets and antique stores. Each culture’s goodies are little different.
Is it difficult for you to work when you’re not in your studio at home? What key things do you need to have? Paint!!!!!! Glue!!!!!! Dremel!!!!!! Junk!!!!!! The rest is luxury items, but if I have that stuff I can get by.
What advice do you have for artists currently working in other mediums who would like to experiment with assemblage? Don’t be afraid of the Third Dimension. For those 2D’ers, try sticking some stuff to a canvas and start painting like you normally would. It’s a fun experiment.
I'd like to follow up Jessica's Recycled Paper post by introducing Holly Anne Mitchell. Mitchell creates very cool jewelry pieces from recycled paper and most often, newspaper. I really like how she sticks to a theme for various pieces, such as Sudoku puzzles, comic pages and expired coupons. The coupons may be expired and the news not no breaking by the time Mitchell completes a piece, but you have to agree, these works are a pretty ingenious example of creating art from something that is discarded on a daily basis.
