Interview with:Karen Sloan ~ Wall Flower Studio [karensloan]
ART
 | What do you do? How do you define yourself as an artist? I've don't bother with defining myself as an artist. Labelling is something I'm not interested in. Other people may feel a need to do this, but I'd rather paint and get on with things. Dwelling on what it is or what it isn't seems like a big waste of time. |
| What is your message? I don't have a message. I just enjoy the process of creating, and hopefully that's what comes through in my work. |
| Your biography in four lines. Born in Toronto: Late 1960's. Been creating art since I was a little girl. Majored in visual art at the Claude Watson School for the Arts in Toronto. Trained as a horticulturalist at Guelph U. Currently living near Minden, Ontario with my family, and we're enjoying the good life that country living offers. |
| Do you upload your work to the web? If so, where could we see it? |
| How is an idea born? For you, what is inspiration? Music is my inspiration. Preferably, Steely Dan. So much imagery in their songs. It's like candy : ) |
| What role does technology play in your creative process? Only enough of a role that I can display and market it online. |
| What is art? Art is whatever you think it is. Different to each person. I don't think it can be defined. |
| When do you get your best ideas? I get the best ideas when I'm listening to music, loud music. Jazz music, and of course, Steely Dan. It can be euphoric. |
| How do you evaluate whether an idea is good or not? If I'm pleased with the outcome of a painting or sculpture, then it was a good idea. |
| Three creative ideas that you would have liked to have created? I would like to paint a really large painting of my Jazz furniture scenes, and then use it as a background by recreate the same items that are in the paintings in a sculptural form.
Making the 2 dimensional come to life would be fun. It would be like walking around in one of my paintings. |
| When and how did you begin to see yourself as an artist? I always felt artistically inclined, but it took me a long time to be able to call myself an artist, at least in a professional way. Gaining confidence with my work, and developing a style, and of course sales certainly helped. |
| Why do so many artists and creators have such volatile personalities? I think that's just silly. Some people are just too ego driven. |
| Do you consider yourself postmodern? I let other's decide that. I'm not interested in labelling myself. |
| How should a work of art be evaluated? There are people out there who feel they know more about art than others. I think those same people just feel their opinion matters more.
Really, though, everyone has an opinion, or a feeling about what they are observing. A reaction to a work of art can be positive or negative... That's what evaluating art is. |
| Must an artist reinvent him/herself everyday? That's just seems silly to me. I am who I am. Why bother trying so hard. If someone is reinventing themselves everyday, then they obviously aren't very comfortable with who they really are. |
| Which artists do you admire and how do they influence your work? Picasso, Braque, Matisse, Gris, O'Keeffe, Mondrian. They broke all the rules... I admire that. |
| What do you think about public funding for the arts? I've never had any funding for my work, so I don't know what to say about it. |
| Is art necessary? I think by human nature, the act of creating is necessary for the human spirit, whether its painting, writing or making music. |
| Does it pain you to let go of a piece you have sold? Not a bit. Get over it already!!
I was only (pleasantly) suprised that anyone would want my paintings on their wall! |
| Is a work of art purchased, or is it better said, that it is the artist who is bought? It's an image. I don't think so deeply about it all. I paint it and then let it go. On to the next one. |
| In art, there is no guide. How do you know what the next step is? It's intuitive, at least for me. I just go with it. If I question something too much, then there's not much point in it. |
| How do you feel about the fact that the pieces exhibited in contemporary art museums are often of artists already deceased? Then they've earned the right to be there, even if it's after the fact. If my work is in a museum someday, well that's just great. But it's not why I paint. That would be a purely ego driven way to think, and not at all why I do what I do. |
| What role have the figures of art dealer, gallery owners, representatives, and intermediaries in general played in your career? I've had some good advice from some art dealers/gallery owners, etc., and also been told by one that I paint too much like a woman. Funnily enough, I am a woman, so how else would I paint?? Well, now I don't worry all that much about it. It's the people who purchase my art that matter. However, I paint for myself and not to please others. If someone likes my work enough to hang in their home, then what does it matter what intermediaries think? It doesn't at all. |
| What types of jobs do you usually do? I'm a full time artist. However, my other love is gardening, and I design/maintain other peoples gardens. It's true...Do what you love and the money will follow. |
| Do you personally collect any items? I collect first edition books. I'm a voracious reader.
Also I collect antique furniture, especially chairs. I love chairs. |
| Which websites do you frequently visit? I'm on dial-up. We live in the country, so high speed is not available, at least as of writing this. So, to answer the question, mostly gardening sites, and just working on my blog. |
| What advice would you give to those just beginning? It takes a long time to develop a style and to get your hat in the ring. Be prepared for criticism, and if you can't take that, then being an artist may not be for you. There are soooo many artists out there, hence much competition, and it's not easy to make a living at art. However, if you love what you do, and feel some confidence, then don't give up. |
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[karensloan]
Karen Sloan ~ Wall Flower Studio
Minden Canada
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