Interview with:Philip Hatter [philiphatter]
CREATIVITY
 | How and why did you begin to be creative? Like almost every kid, I was constantly drawing...and just never stopped. I remember my kindergarten teacher telling my mom that I seemed to devote much more time and attention to my drawing than the other kids in my class. Everyone has the capacity for creativity, but it needs to be fostered and I'm grateful to have had people throughout my life to step in and guide me--from private art teachers when I was little on up to my professors in college. |
| Do you have a ritual like retiring to a lonely place from time to time to cleanse your mind? I like to step away from time to time and just doodle in a sketchbook. Creativity does have a solitary component to it. Collaboration is a great thing, but I need to be able to get away from projects from time to time and let my mind wander through my pencil and onto the page. It's actually amazing how many of my characters are actually born in those moments, even though they may not see the light of day again for weeks or months. |
| "To give birth to ideas." Is this only an expression, or are there really parallels between giving birth and creativity? Well, not being a woman I can only speak metaphorically, but I think there are parallels. There is always great joy at the beginning of a project with that initial idea--so many possibilities. Then comes the process, the real work, when the idea must become a reality and that can sometimes be frustrating as you struggle to bring the idea to life. Creativity doesn't always come easily. Things you thought would work don't and you often end up inventing new techniques. But before you know it, it's all over and hopefully you can step back and look at the finished work and say that it was all worth it--and you would do it all over again. |
| Does spirituality contribute to your creativity? It does for me. God is the origin of creativity. He created the world around us in all of its beauty and splendor. And because I am made in His image, I partake in that creativity, although on a much lesser scale. |
| What do you feel when, after two or three years, you see an idea of yours again? Well it's one of two expressions. Either I look at it and say, "Wow, I can't believe how amazing that looks. Did I do that?" or I say "Yikes, I wish I knew then what I know now." I believe you should always be growing creatively and pushing yourself in your pursuit of excellence--and looking back is a good way to track that growth. |
DESIGN
| What is your specialty? I design and build puppets--yes, puppets. Not your ordinary off the rack hand puppets, but professional quality puppets for use in theater or film.
http://www.thistledownpuppets.com |
| Where can we view your portfolio online? |
| What is your motivation? What makes you get up in the mornings? I just have a love for what I do. It's easy to jump out of bed in the morning when you aren't dreading the grind. Every project brings a new challenge and new excitement. Being able to bring life to people's ideas and to make these amazing little creatures makes me feel like a kid every day. |
| How would you define your design style? I try to stretch my style as much as possible, but I would describe the look of the bulk of my work as cartoons that have come to three-dimensional life. I like simple, clean lines and well defined shapes. |
| Shapes, color, concept: where do you usually begin when conceiving a design? Well, the concept is definitely a must. Who is this character going to be? But when it comes to getting that character down on paper, it all begins with a bold shape--especially for the head design. When the audience sees a character for the first time, they should have a visual cue about his personality, and shape goes a long way to convey that. The colors should then reinforce the character and the shape. |
| What is your favourite type of customer? My favorite customer is someone who understands the organic, artistic element in puppet design and is willing to give me some creative liberty. When I can work closely with someone like that, the completed character always comes out better in the end. |
| Up to what point do your designs reflect your personality? You can't help but have your work reflect your personality. I'd have to say that there is a little piece of me in every character that I design and build, from the playful and sweet to the mysterious and mischievous. Each new puppet allows me to explore some hidden part of myself. |
| At this moment, what would be your dream job or project? To be able to design and build a cast of characters for an original fairytale of some kind, either for the stage or film. It's so fun and challenging visually to be able to put together an entire cast and the fairytale allows for fantastical creatures. Each character must have it's own unique look and personality, but must also belong to the whole. When you combine all of that with great writing, you have storytelling at it's best. |
ART
| Your biography in four lines. I was born a dreamer in the midst of the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains. I grew up with a love for stories and drawing and playing with puppets. I met the love of my life and got married, not knowing how to combine all of my artistic interests to form a respectable career. A few years ago it all clicked and Thistledown Puppets was born. |
| Must an artist reinvent him/herself everyday? Speaking for myself, I must be constantly experimenting, pushing boundaries, and growing in my craft and technique, but I must remain true and faithful to who I am. Who I am should influence my art, not vice versa.
You have to know who you are first. Then you can grow artistically and not be afraid to make some mistakes along the way. Those mistakes are opportunities to learn. I just think that the best art comes from solid people who have a good understanding of who they are--and their work flows naturally out of that. |
| In art, there is no guide. How do you know what the next step is? I don't necessarily agree that there is no guide. I believe there are solid principles and fundamentals of design that govern art. I think that creativity flourishes best within parameters, even if they are self-imposed. By having some limits, you can plot out your steps and keep your sanity. |
| Which of your jobs or tasks do you most enjoy? I think I equally enjoy the puppet building process and puppet performance. There is something very satisfying about the building process--taking an idea and making it a reality--but it isn't really a reality until it is brought to life by a performer. You can't build a funny walk or a gravelly voice. I think being able to perform puppets has made me a better puppet builder. |
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714 visits Whohub
Philip Hatter
Roanoke-USA
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95743 interviews created
![[philiphatter] Philip Hatter](http://www.whohub.com/_pics/21661.jpg?1337671769)
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