Interview with:Sandra Mack [samack]
ART
 | What do you do? How do you define yourself as an artist? I am a Graphic Designer. I make vector designs and draw illustrations using an Intuos Drawing Tablet and Photoshop. I sell my designs on Wedding Invitations, and t-shirts, posters, prints, coffee mugs, steins, skateboards, business cards and more. |
| What is your message? I have so many things in my life that are important it is hard to narrow it down. Keeping my focus is really my life's goal and a life long struggle. Most important of course is God, second is people. Put God first and do your best to serve others in anyway that you can and everything else falls into place. We get into trouble when we put ourselves first too much... I know it isn't the message you are used to hearing in this world of ours-but there is so much truth in this equation for living. If you make it all about you and just keep trying to get ahead you will end up feeling exhausted and uneasy-not at peace. But if you do your best to put God first and then others-a peace will fill your soul. When you get off track you know it cause you can't sleep... and then you realize you have lost your balance.
Now we are not all spiritual- we are also physical. The two most important aspects about the physical are- what you put in your body and what you "do" (exercise) with your body. Eat whole foods and local or organic as much as possible. And do some kind of physical labor- like plant a garden and work the garden or have chickens and care for them and scrub your floors and dig! I love to dig and get dirt in my fingernails- there is "good" bacteria in the dirt and the physical labor will keep you healthy in body and soul. One of those ancient guys - can't remember which one said everyone needs a library and a garden. You need to take care of your spirit and your body.
Now the second paragraph seems to go against the first- the first tells you to put others before yourself and the second tells you to take care of yourself. But you see you take care of yourself by eating well and working the garden - but the focus is not about YOU- your focus needs to be to do it for the good of all - not doing it for yourself- when you can open yourself up to serving others- you are set free. |
| Your biography in four lines. I have loved art all my life and studied art at the University of Kansas. I continue to love art and to learn more all the time and tend to want to do nothing but art! I have to make myself work in the garden- but I enjoy every minute once I get out there! |
| Do you upload your work to the web? If so, where could we see it? I have four sites. The first is my store at Zazzle:
http://www.zazzle.com/samack*
My Second is my Blog:
http://samack.wordpress.com/
My Third is another blog where I feature my work as well as others:
http://zazzlesamack.blogspot.com/
My last site is my personal website where I am featuring many artists at Zazzle as well as my own work:
http://www.samacked.com/ |
| How is an idea born? For you, what is inspiration? I have dreamed my designs-but mostly my ideas come to me as I work. The more I produce the more ideas flow. |
| What role does technology play in your creative process? I use photoshop and a drawing tablet. I do everything on the computer now. |
| What is art? Art is imagination and beauty combined. |
| When do you get your best ideas? Like I said earlier- usually as I work ideas just come to me. But also in my sleep! haha |
| How do you evaluate whether an idea is good or not? I just go with it and then produce it and see what it looks like in its finished state. Then I may need to adjust a little here and there. |
| When and how did you begin to see yourself as an artist? I have always drawn. I took art classes in school and have always known I wanted to do something with art, however, for a while I abandoned my art and began a banking career. I was successful and was Assistant Vice President in charge of the Main Office Branch at Michigan National Bank when I left that career. I then was a SAHM and Homeschool Mom and now have finally found my first love again. |
| Why do so many artists and creators have such volatile personalities? Interesting question! I suppose it could be because we have passion. To create art you need passion and passion is volatile-I suppose... |
| Do you consider yourself postmodern? sometimes |
| How should a work of art be evaluated? On how it makes you feel... |
| Must an artist reinvent him/herself everyday? maybe not everyday... =) |
| What advice would you give to those just beginning? Enjoy! |
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Sandra Mack
Grand Rapids, Michigan
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