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ARTELLAGRAM 2-14-09:
"In the Studio"
An Interview with Artist Carol Ingram Moore
(This interview is continued from the February 14 2009 Artellagram...)
Artella: Do you actually buy much of other folks' art, or just use it for inspiration?
Carol: I started buying art when I was around twelve. I had been given money for vacation. I had a tendency at a young age to wander in and out of art shops. I bought a small brass sculpture at the beach. It may have cost $15 in the early sixties. I remember getting a loan from the teacher's credit union at my first real job to buy an oil painting from an artist liquidating his art to leave for Germany. Our home is filled with art and sculpture from years of collecting and trading. My grown children have their own art collections. My grandchild attends an art magnet school near Asheville, North Carolina. She is in first grade with teachers in drama and two art teachers. She made a clay mug and painted it this week. Her art work is highly prized by family members. Several years ago, I had the opportunity to direct an artist in education program for a local elementary school. The budget included funding to purchase art from the artists in residence. As the years progressed with this award winning program, we commissioned artists to paint murals on the school walls. I theorized that being surrounded by art would increase self esteem and encourage learning. The school's test scores are above average. They are currently building a new building leaving the existing murals. One day it occurred to me, I am an artist. I started making art and haven't stopped. Surround yourself with art. Create each day.
Artella: If you were not limited by anything (i.e., time, money, supplies, location), what kind of art would you be creating right now? Is there some kind of technique or media that you've never done before that you've always wanted to try?
Carol: This just tickles my brain! I would be creating jewelry and sculpture from fused glass. I enjoy the sunlight flowing through the incredible colors of glass. I keep several prisms in my studio. Rainbows dance on the walls. About thirty some years ago, my husband made leaded glass windows, mobiles, and other forms of glass art before we had children. We discussed purchasing a glass kiln to make some windows for our church. The costs were a little more than we could possibly handle. But I expect that before long, we will purchase that kiln.
Artella: If you could apprentice with any artist (past or present) who would it be?
Carol: Eric Carle. Three years ago, we decided to take trips to places we wanted to visit within the states. First on my list was the Eric Carle art museum in Amherst. Having taught children's literature at the local community college and lectured at the university, Eric Carle is one of my favorite children's author/ illustrators. The art museum is like an art palace for the community. The white modern museum lies in an apple field. It is expansive with large paintings on the wall. There children everywhere, in the galleries with freedom to explore. There is an art room to create filled with materials and light flowing through the windows. I would love to see him create a page for one of his collage books. He understands color, form, and children. His art will last for generations.
Artella: What is the weirdest art material you have ever used?
Carol: Besides bottle cap pins, using bits of metal, found objects, and being a magpie at heart, hmmm. Last week, I taught a private art class to a family. The four-year-old twins love to paint. I set out a variety of materials: sponges, stencils, yarns, leaves, brushes, and all the basic materials. Then, I thought something just a little different. There were several dried daylily stems near the door. I cut some. I dipped it into the paint and just made some strokes. They used it as a brush drawing shapes and making all sorts of movements on the newsprint.
One of the twin's favorite painting materials is toy cars. I place a car next to a plastic cup filled with paint. Each car's set of wheels is the brush for each separate cup paint. Dip the cars in the paint. Drive them across the newsprint covering the table. They enjoyed painting with cars. They went home, gathered all their toy cars, and covered their dinning room table with paper. They painted up a storm while their Mom was busy doing other things. Clean up, I heard was pretty interesting.
Artella: How do you find your "voice" in your own art journey?
Carol: I believe that American society, as a whole, does not respect nor understand ART. It then, becomes difficult for a creative person to say, I am an artist. You certainly would not want to quit your day job. However, it is important for each of us to create each day. Clarissa Pinkola Estes in her book, Women Who Run With the Wolves, writes about creating. Within each of us is a fire that burns, the flame of creativity. When we choose to ignore this flame, it burns within creating depression and illness. Within each of us is the flame of creativity, to understand ourselves, I have found it important to listen quietly, breathe deeply, and be gentle with yourself. Taking time each day to breathe, focus, and create makes a difference in how we view ourselves and the world. The critic will rear her angry head, each time she arises, be strong. Let her go.
Gentleness will help you discover your art voice. She is there, just waiting to sing.
See Carol's wonderful products in The Shoppes of Artella, here.
 Want more artist interviews from Artella?
Take a look at our eBooks Artist Profiles Assembled and Artist Profiles Assembled, Vol 2, and look at the "Ask the Artist" column every single day in The Artella Daily Muse, our daily online creativity newspaper.
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