Artsy Monday

This week is very special because I interviewed my bestest bud! Tori Watson and I have been friends ever since she found out I was a Hanson fan in 9th grade. We bonded over the band, but have stayed besties because we have tons of stuff in common and she's one of the radest people I know. It's so wonderful to have a buddy that challenges you both intellectually (she has a HUGE brain. HUGE) and creatively. She is a great painter both on canvas and on the computer. In fact she designed our Hodgepodge banner. She also is a very talented film maker and is totally famous in the internet world through her work at hitrecord.org. I adore her, and I know you will too....

Introduce yourself in 10 words please;

Strangers are friends you haven't met yet - Hi, I'm Tori. :)

When did you know that you were an artist?

I think I knew I was an artist when I fingerpainted at nursery, then I went to school and spent a super long time learning about all the things I wasn't, and only now I'm discovering that there may have been an artist in me all along. I'm an absolute believer that every single person is a creative being with an imagination begging to be used. And an artist is someone who works hard at turning that imagination into something tangible.

What is the piece you are most proud of?

That's a really hard question to answer. I don't really stick to one medium, so everything I make tends to be quite different, from short films to animations, illustration, poetry and I even dabble in music. Front and foremost, I'm a remix artist, so I spend most of my time collaging art made by other people into new works, so often I feel like a curator rather than the creator.

If I had to pick an illustration, I think it would be "The Jar"

But if I was choosing the remixed piece I'm most proud of, I think I would choose "Two Can Dance", an animation I made from a photograph:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kbR03Bs8ICE

That animation was one of the first I ever made and it was such a triumph to work out how to make it move. I always make a habit of trying to learn something new with everything I make and that was the first piece where I really truly rolled up my sleeves to get my head around animation.

What is the biggest challenge you face as an artist?

Silencing the voice that tells me to stop trying to keep up with the big kids. I think it's so easy to compare yourself to other people and see them doing bigger better things than you and give up or not take yourself seriously. I'm working towards being comfortable in my natural stride, but I also secretly wish that I was working harder and making faster.

Who are the artists that inspire you most?

I work in a children's book museum so most of the art I see is illustration for picture books. My favourite illustrators of the moment are Ed Vere,

Oliver Jeffers

 and Mo Willems

 Outside of picture books, Sabrina Ward Harrison is a huge inspiration to me - honest, cathartic, vibrant art about daily life.

What are your goals for your art?

Really simply, my goal is to keep enjoying making art and sharing it whenever I can with whoever wants to see it.

If you were granted the wish to own any piece of artwork ever made, which piece would you choose?

When I was little we'd go to our local art gallery with my dad and there was always one painting that I would get lost in called "Isabella and the Pot of Basil". Every time I go and look at the painting, I'm hit with a wave of nostalgia - but, that aside, it's also just a really beautiful oil painting.

What is your favourite colour?

Turquoise. My collection of turquoise jewellery just keeps on growing.

If you were stranded on a desert Island with a CD player and 5 albums of your choice, what would they be?

1) Dilate by Ani Difranco

2) Ben Folds Five by Ben Folds Five

3) Gold by Ryan Adams

4) Beautiful Freak by The Eels

5) From a Basement on a Hill by Elliott Smith

Celebrity crush?

I have a soft spot for James McAvoy... (especially with his american accent in "Penelope"!)

What is your favorite thing to order at a coffee shop?

My favourite thing to order is a chai tea latte! (Probably with something chocolatey on the side too!)

Oh, and here's a few more pieces by Tori;

Thanks Tori. WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!

Artsy Monday

This week I'd like to introduce you to Helena of poppopportraits.

 I found Helenas work on Etsy and thought her drawings were so sweet and charming. I love that she takes the time to write little stories about her subjects so you really feel like you know them;  

Sally

"Meet Sally. She loves eating cereal and has had a life-long battle with big hair. She has tried all sorts of haircuts with unfortunate results, the worst being the "pixie" crop she once had that landed her on a list of hairstyle don'ts. Sally now thinks big accessories will help camouflage the boof. What do you think?"

Kate

"Kate is on cloud nine. Her boyfriend just surprised her with a beautiful bunch of flowers and plans for an overseas trip. You can't tell but Kate is actually hiding a massive smile behind the flowers. She can be a bit shy sometimes."

I asked Helena a few questions and this is what she said;

1- When did you know that there was an artist inside of you?

I tend to shy away from the word “artist” but I can say I was never far from a packet of pencils or textas from a very young age and knew that I preferred being indoors, doodling, as opposed to being outdoors, playing.

 

2- What is the biggest challenge you face as an artist?

Finding enough time to do everything that needs to be done. Sometimes I stay in working on projects for several days in a row and neglect other areas of my life or vice versa. I'd like to have a bit more balance.

 

3- What is your favorite piece that you have created?

I really like the painting of Juno that I created for my little sister. A lot has to do with the fact that I saw her face light up when she opened the package! I guess I'm attracted to the emotional response.

Juno

4- Which piece of art would you LOVE to own to put up in your own home? I would love to own anything by Del Kathryn Barton, I think she creates some of the most wonderful imagery I've ever seen.

"I ate the Rainbow Up"

5- What are your goals for your art?

I'd like to make a short film and or have a book published...easy peasy, right?

Just for fun questions:

6- What is your favorite colour?

Yellow!

7- If you were stranded on a desert Island with a CD player and 5 albums of your choice, what would they be?

Grizzly Bear- Vecktamist

Mates of State – Bring it back

Patti Smith – Horses

Vince Guaraldi Trio - Charlie Brown Christmas

Nick Cave – From her to eternity

8- What is your favourite thing to order at a coffee shop?

 I'm a lover of chai.

Thanks for your time Helena, it was lovely chatting with you! We wish you the best of luck with your art, and can't wait until you fulfill your dream of having a book published. We'll be the first in line at the bookstore!

 

Follow Helenas blog here

http://poppopportraits.blogspot.com/

or buy something from her shop here

http://www.etsy.com/shop/poppopportraits

Artsy Monday.

It's a rare day in GA. Snow has fallen, the roads are icy and everyone is at home. So here are some beautiful winter-wonderland scenes of the City Hodgepodge calls home.

Love in Piedmont Park.

Our friends puppy Molly enjoying her backyard.

 

Phillips Arena

Midtown

Everyone stay safe and enjoy the view!

Artsy Monday.

I thought I'd do something a little different for Artsy Monday this week. Here is a step by step showing how I paint. I hope you like it.

Step One- Map out color areas.

Step Two- add shadows

Step Three- add highlights

Step 4- blend colors and soften lines

Step Five- add details.

This painting is for sale in my Etsy shop. Click on the last picture to buy it.

Have a great week everyone :)

(PAINTING SOLD)