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ARTELLAGRAM 2-21-09:
"In the Studio"
An Interview with Artist Jaime Adcock
(This interview is continued from the February 21 2009 Artellagram...)
Artella: What was happening in your life at the point where you able to say "I am an artist"?
Jaime: Great question! I must admit that it was much easier for me to claim myself as a "writer" before I was able to also say "I am an artist", too (silly how we put such restrictions on ourselves, isn't it?). Both my aunt and my sister are accomplished artists and that has been both inspirational and a bit intimidating, too. Their way of making art was so very different (and still is) from the way I make art, that to my way of thinking, they were "artists" and I was more of a "dabbler" at best. That all changed for me when we decided to do a round-robin book project together. Once our handmade book started making the rounds and I saw each of our efforts unfold on different pages, I realized how "inclusive" art could be - all three of our voices represented in a way that worked together, yet still showing our individuality. I think that was the first time I allowed myself to claim myself an artist. Since then, my most favorite creative moments are those times I get to make art with other artists.
Artella: If you were not limited by anything (i.e. time, money, supplies, location) what kind of art would you be creating right now?
Jaime: I have a secret fantasy of winning the lottery one day and using a portion of my winnings to open up a Women's Center dedicated to all kinds of creative pursuits...sort of a clubhouse where you could just drop in and go to the studio and work on art if you liked, or drop by the dance room to join a group doing rhythmic dance or yoga or salsa; or find a quiet spot in the center's library to either read or work on your novel. There are so many things I'd like to try! I think the idea of having a place where you could experiment with all kinds of creative pursuits sounds like heaven! Of course, there would be a delicious cafe on-site, too! (We can't be expected to work on empty stomachs, can we?)
Artella: You use a variety of patterned papers in your art. When did you start working with Japanese papers? How did this inspiration begin?
Jaime: My favorite art is mixed media. I think I'm drawn not only to the visual interplay between color, pattern and textures, but also the idea of taking something potentially "perfect" and somehow deconstructing it a bit. That's why I love the idea of collage and altered books and ATC's. I try to convey that same idea of deconstruction in some of the decorative ornaments I make, and using Japanese papers work well for me here. First of all, the papers with all of their intricate patterns and colors are just beautiful. Secondly, I like to put a dense background on my ornaments and I find that the size and "repeat" of the patterns are just perfect for this. I like to cut a mixture of paper up in long horizontal strips and glue them down on the ornaments (cardboard ornaments found at craft stores like Michael's) using a matte or gloss medium. I love how the density of the background sets off the main graphic I use for the ornament.
Artella: If you could apprentice with any artist (past or present) who would it be?
Jaime: Well, for the sheer fun of it and her absolute AMAZING ability with glitter, I would love to apprentice with Joni "Queen of the King" Mabe. I admit to a certain fondness for old Elvis movies, and anything with glitter is right up my alley. Joni manages to combine the two in the most outrageous original Elvis-influenced art work you've ever seen! Huge mixed media canvases of "The King" that have been shown at galleries throughout the country - they are absolutely wonderful and one day I aspire to have one of these fantastic art pieces for my own.
See Jaime'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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