As an Artist...

Artists that inspire me usually use a lot of heavily saturated color. I love the glamourous, the juicy, thick overworked and use of excess.

An artists who provokes and uses many of these devices is Marilyn Minter. Minter uses photography as well as paintings to create images that are overly glamourous and excessively suggestive and even sexual. Her paintings are made by combining negatives in photoshop to create a new image. The image is then turned into paintings created through the layering of enamel paint on aluminum. What results in a luxurious glossy image, that you can't help but stare at.

I admire this artist for her boldness, and her fearlessness in creating artwork. I also am transfixed by her materials and application of materials.

Check out her Website

Top: Bazooka, 2009, Enamel on Metal

Side: Quails Egg, 2004, Enamel on Metal

I'm also attracted to patterns, weather they occur in nature or are man made. I work well in 2-d and my brain works flat. Patterns for me combine a need to organize as well as a need to create shape and form.

Mai-Thu Perret

One of my larger patterns, "Push"

"Push" Detail

As an Artist... The environment I choose to work in is typically flat, on a table, usually in my own home. I feel most comfortable there, because I can play my own music, or just have silence. Most of the time I like to work alone, and only like feedback when I'm ready for it. I often will be plugged into my ipod and completely in a zone. I tend to play more repetitive, electronic or mixed music with a lounge or dance type tempo.

As an Artist... my Process is the most important part of my work. It is where I derive my love for art. The final product needs to look a certain way, but it is not necessarily the important part. I work very repetitively, I like doing the same thing over and over. I move into a zone where I am listening to music but not necessarily hearing the music, I am thinking, processing and meditating over thoughts and feelings. This does not necessarily manifest itself in my artwork, but the feeling is important to me when I'm creating.

As an Artist... my Motivation is derived from wanting to be in that zone. It is also derived from the art and ideas around me. Sometimes I'll have such a great conversation with someone, it makes me want to go make something. This is similar to when I go to an art museum, or even look at a friends artwork. Seeing all the possibilities is inspiring and gives me the urge to create.

As an Artist... I probably don't read as much as I should. Being an art educator requires me to read up on books such as The Skillful Teacher and Yardsticks. I'd like to get more involved in art publications, blogs and magazines. When I can I like to pick up Art in America. Personal reading usually tends toward good stories. I like to hear what people have to say, and their personal stories. I recently read A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. I also enjoyed Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez.

My Most Inspiring Person changes. I derive inspiration from many different people, because they shine in different ways. My best friend Nicole has shown me how to find wealth and richness through personality and conversation. My dad has shown me that shit can get really shitty, and you CAN keep going. MassArt faculty have shown me that I am in the right place. And I, myself, hope to remain an inspiration to myself and create for ME.