What are some recent, upcoming or current projects you are working on? Currently, I am painting as much as possible! I am working on paintings inspired by this summer such as my time at ACRE as well as other wonderfully outdoorsy adventures. I’m also working on paintings inspired by routines and pictures I take on my phone (like those wonderfully “inspirational” shots of roughened boots on the gravel surrounded by changing leaves… or shot of “perfect” breakfasts (you know the ones)). I am at the beginning stages of planning a show with a few other artists, which will hopefully be showing both here and in Richmond. I am also possibly reprinting a book I made over the summer. Otherwise, I’m spending a lot of time looking for an apartment and generally going on vacation. Ha!
How did your interest in art begin? My interest in art began when I was a kid and all I wanted to Christmas were lined notebooks and Crayola crayons. I guess it began before that but I couldn’t tell ya how! When we got our first computer I would spend a lot of time looking at art on Deviantart (I honestly wished I spent that much time looking at art now as I did then) (now I just look at food blogs) and I remember in middle school when the art teacher told me I could go to high school and major in art and I was like holy moly! That rules! I was kind of set from there. My other dream was to be a veterinarian or a giraffe so art just made the most sense.
If you had to explain your work to a stranger, what would you say? Explaining my work to strangers is honestly still so hard for me! I usually say some garble along the lines of…”Big paintings of memories, lots of colors, some figures, yadda,” and than pull out my phone and show them. I really need to work on that.
Guilty pleasures? Food pics on Instagram.
What are you listening to right now? Right now I am listening to a lot of podcasts! I learned I focus better when I am listening to stories or information. Also I decided that if I was going to spend so much time painting about myself in the studio, I may as well be learning something too. My faves right now are NPR, Stuff You Missed In History Class, This American Life, Stuff You Should Know, and Ted Radio Hour. I really like the history ones cause I’m an idiot when it comes to those facts (also math).
Cats or dogs? I like cats and dogs ugh! But Im allergic to cats. I would own a dog. I like those cats that are down to ride on your shoulders. Honestly I’m a low-key horse girl, lets be real.
What was the last exhibition you saw that stuck out to you? My last favorite exhibition is a tie between the Kerry James Marshall at the MCA in Chicago and the Mexican Modernists show at the PMA in Philly. I could have lived and died in both exhibitions and been happy.
What artists are you interested in right now? Right now I am so inspired by the artists working around me. People are doing really amazing things in Baltimore right now and they blow my mind and keep me going everyday. Dave Eassa, Travis Levassaur, Anna Crooks, Louis Fraction (he’s in NY now), and June Culp are just a few to keep on your radar. I’m also super inspired by the poetry coming out of here (check out Janae Kelly, Alain Ginsberg, Anna Crooks, Grace Davis, and Maya Martinez). I’m totally obsessed with Giordanne Salley (NY) and Nicole Eisenmann as well.
What do you collect? I collect rocks, shells, and general small knacks. I like having an assortment of 25cent machine sized objects around. I collect a lot of my friends ceramics. I have some postcards too. I collect through my sketches too.
What is your snack/beverage of choice when working in your studio? My snack of choice in my studio is usually something I packed cause I’m really into that! I can have too many snacks around because I will go hard. So I try and pack a good lunch. I usually drink tons of coffee and tons of water always.
What do you do when you’re not working on your art? When I am not working on my art, I am working a job, or making a meal, or seeing a friend. Or watching Gilmore Girls in bed.
Can you share one of the best or worst reactions you have gotten as a result of your work? I don’t know if this is the best or worst but I made these little 4×5 paintings of butts and sold them at PMF, a local fair here, and now people think of me as the butt artist.
