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ARTELLAGRAM 3-6-09:
"In the Studio"
An Interview with Artist Annette Phillips
(This interview is continued from the March 6 2009 Artellagram...)
Artella: Do you specific ideas for how artists can use little blocks of time to create art?
Annette: Here are some ideas, depending on what your interests are:
1. Photography: I just simply take my camera with me everywhere; it's always in the car.
2. Digital Design: I use my spare time after work, waiting for my carpooling husband to pick me up, by designing on the computer.
3. Searching for inspiration: My daughter and I can spend hours just hanging at the local libraries, Barnes and nobles, craft stores. It's relaxing, fun and you can make it quick or take it slow.
4. Schedule it, have a craft/art buddy
5. Stay up an extra hour past your normal bedtime if you have to, but if you just pick something that you love doing, you will find the time and make the time.
6. I am always doing double duty, if there is a TV show or movie I want to watch, I work while I watch it, I am never just sitting there doing nothing. Even as I am answering this question, I have the news on in the background.
7. I purchase my books on tape now so I can listen vs. holding the book and reading it, and I listen while I am working, just like music.
Artella: Do you actually buy much of other folks' art, or just use it for inspiration?
Annette: I go both ways, it really depends on the item and the cost. Certainly how-to and instructional books I love and will purchase readily if it's specialized on a subject I am interested in.
Because I dabble in a lot of things I have an idea of how much time it can take to do certain things. So if it's fairly priced and a love it, I will purchase it for future inspiration. If I think it's over priced for my taste, I'll just use the idea for inspiration, but I have to really love it to buy it, especially if it is something I can just make myself.
I think that is probably normal for people who are creative. I might like something, the idea of it, but not the colors or it's not quite my overall style, but I will take a photo, make a quick sketch or jot down a few notes about it and then create my own version in my style.
I do have an INSPIRATION cabinet filled with things that I have purchased and never use because it's inspiration only to me. I don't intend to actually use it, just keep it. Like beautiful fabric squares, something that had great color combinations that I liked, embellishments, things that glitter and sparkle, ideas cut out from magazines, products I have purchased from others, etc. They are still all nicely wrapped and perfect, they are just there for idea generating.
Inspiration is everywhere, so you can get a lot for free, but I also certainly will buy for inspiration if it's a fair asking price.
Artella: If you were not limited by anything (i.e., time, money, supplies, and 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?
Annette: My daughter and I both want to work with glass as one of the next mediums we try. We both like variety, sometimes we like the same thing, sometimes we don't. But learning to work with glass rods and make items from glass is something we both are interested in. In fact, she is currently checking out the details, where are classes, supplies, how to set up a safe shop, etc.
Ceramics is something we are both interested in as well. But both of these would most likely require us to take over a portion of the garage now too, so we'll have to think on this one.
Artella:What advice can you give to those who have big ideas and big dreams, but think it's just too late in life to try to follow them?
Annette: Oh my gosh, I had to pick this as a question to answer. It is not too late; it's never too late to start. I am 51; I just joined Artella in January of 2008. I set myself up this year with, I believe 7 goals and its only 3 quarters the way through the year and I have just finished starting the last one. I can't believe I have accomplished so much in just 9 months by just taking that first step out of my comfort zone.
1. You do have to have some type of basic plan or idea of what you want to do, but also, then be flexible to adjust and change it as opportunities start coming your way. I am not one of those "write down in details exactly what you are doing", etc., etc. I just personally wing it with a light sentence. Check out my early blog with my new years resolutions/goals.
2. You must work your plan daily. It doesn't mean you have to spend hours each day, just do something though each day to keep your mind focused on moving forward. (some day's I am on the computer, some day's I'm just flipping thru idea magazines, some day's I am on a shopping trip, sometimes I just play with supplies, but every day I do something to further my goals).
3. Watch and be open to "other" opportunities because you never know where they will take you. (Example, I just started volunteering for Artella, I didn't know what they would have me do, but I knew it would be a growth opportunity, out of my comfort zone).
4. If you find it hard to stay focused, collaborate with someone. Working as a team can help you stay focused and accountable to each other.
5. Have a reason and inspiration for why you are doing something and that will help motivate you to keep going. (My personal inspiration is that I want to start building an on-line presence now, so when I retire it's already in place and up and running strong. I plan to just slip from my full time fun occupation to my retirement fun occupation. It's going to be there already waiting for me to just slip in.)
6. Never give up, I know that sounds common, you heard it before, but it is so true. If one door closes, don't give it a second thought, move to the next door and try that one. Don't worry about any doors that are closed to you, just rush though the ones that are open for you. Those are the ones that will lead you to the next open door. If you get turned down for something, quickly shake it off and move forward to find the next item or opportunity.
7. I am a firm believer that you can't worry about someone else's approval on your work. Art is so subjective and everyone has a personal opinion of what they like. So, don't get discouraged if your style does not fit in with someone else's view, it's their opinion, it doesn't mean it the right opinion, it just means that it's their opinion. Stay true to what you like and other's that like your style will find you. You don't need lots of one hit lookers to like your style you just need to build your own faithful following.
8. Put it on a calendar. I'm not kidding, assign yourself tasks on a calendar and that will help you to reserve time, to keep the goal on your mind and continue to move forward.
9. Be accountable, tell us, we'll help motivate you. I put my goals right on my Artella Blog. I let Artella know way back in January that one of my goals would be that I wanted to volunteer for them, so if they read my blog, they knew at some point I was going to come a knocking, and here I am.
Artella: How can I use my creativity to help other people?
Annette: Opportunities to share with others are everywhere. Look at your particular interests and see were they can match and you might even surprise yourself and end up someplace else that you never even thought about. Seven months, I was not thinking I would be doing what I am right now.
There are so many community clubs and centers that are looking for volunteers, whether it's helping young people or sharing an afternoon or evening with shut ins.
Start a blog and teach others.
Start a class at your church, most likely they will even let you use a space there for free.
Your local library is also a good place to check out to teach and share.
Write a booklet/make kits and how to instructions.
Plan a creative get together for those who have the same creative interests as you or those that are solitary.
See Annette'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.
Go back to reading this Artellagram
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