 | | | ARTELLAGRAM 4-25-09:
"In the Studio"
An Interview with Artist Dr. Niama Williams
(aka Dr. Ni) (This interview is continued from the April 25 2009 Artellagram...)
Artella: What was happening in your life at the point where you were able to say "I am an artist"?
Dr. Ni: I don't think I ever stopped long enough to say, "I am an artist." I was always too busy producing.
What took courage was saying, "I am a writer." Now THAT took some doing. I put off wearing that label for all of the typical reasons: I hadn't produced enough, I hadn't published enough, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
However, when that first Lulu.com title arrived, a complete book with my name on it, covers and everything, and I knew that I had done all of the work--THAT'S when I knew I could say, "I am a writer."
Now being an artist? This gets to the root of the question in another arena. I never thought I was an artist; I regularly and religiously told myself that my brother got all of the mechanical skill and all of the artistic skill. He can literally draw anything exceptionally well just seeing it one time or envisioning it in his head.
Then, during a pivotal hospital stay after a life-altering trip to the UK, I found myself doing arts and crafts and actually drawing from my own hand. I stopped and was astounded; I was actually sketching. Later, on another arts and crafts day, I completed a "fill in the colors" item with such vibrancy and accuracy that I could no longer deny my artistic talent.
When will I say that "I am an artist"? When I am on property that I own in Shropshire, free, painting in a field, and my husband is nearby or in the town, doctoring.
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 something that you've never done before that you've always wanted to try?
Dr. Ni: As I mentioned earlier, I firmly convinced myself that my brother, the oldest, got all of the artistic talent because I did not want to "take away" anything from him, and I knew that I was a talented writer. A supremely talented writer writing winning poems as early as sixth grade.
If I faced no limitations, financial or otherwise, I would purchase a home in Lydbury or some section of South Shropshire, UK, and commence to writing and learning how to paint. I found I could sketch and complete outlines (i.e., if presented with a blank template, I could choose colors and fill them in to create a beautiful painting; not sure what that is called) without even focusing my full mind on it and this talent stunned me. I had fervently denied any artistic talent always and here it was staring me in the face.
I decided to accept its existence and wait for the opportune time to let it burst forth.
Artella: What advice do you have for people who think it's too late to follow creative dreams?
Dr. Ni: My mother, a trained, diplomated, registered nurse, wanted her bachelor's of science in nursing. She went back to school at 35 with a five-year-old, two angry teenage boys, and a messy divorce--and completed her BSN at UCLA of all places. I watched her and learned you can do anything at any age IF YOU TRULY WANT TO and make sure you have a good support system around you. My mother had her mother, her girlfriends, and her also single-mother classmates. Everyone worked together and one of my happiest, proudest memories is of her graduating in 1975.
Artella: Is it important to be in a good mood when you're creating?
Dr. Ni: No, it is important to be in a receptive mood. Mood really does not matter; your attitude about the work that is coming across the pike is what matters. If you are receptive to the work coming through you into life, that is all that matters.
Artella: Do you plan ahead when you're creating, or does your art unfold more spontaneously?
Dr. Ni: When the Muse knocks, I open the door, sit down and pick up my pen. She runs the show.
Artella: How do you find the time to create, and what tips can you offer for busy people to help them find time for creativity?
Dr. Ni: You find the time for what feeds your soul, and you find the courage to feed your soul, or you live a very barren life filled with unabated longing.
So not necessary. Leap! Leap for Christ's sake!
Artella: If you could apprentice with any artist (past or present) who would it be?
Dr. Ni: Vincent van Gogh, hands down.
Should my desire to act rear its little head again? Vincent D'Onofrio and Meryl Streep with maybe Redford, Streisand and Morgan Freeman thrown in.
See Dr. Ni'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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