Art Interview2003

Where were you born? Are you a native of New Jersey? Have you moved around a lot?

I was born the small seashore town of Point Pleasant, NJ and lived there until I moved to Matawan,NJ closer to NYC and have been here for 10 years. I plan to move back to the seashore soon. Water figures prominently in my art due to my deep spiritual connection to it. I miss being close to the ocean.

What was your family experience? Were they supportive of your desire to become an artist?

Like everyone, my family had challenges, but almost everyone in my family had some artistic or creative talents in music, art or athletics. And not just passing talent but well above average. So when I showed artistic talent as a child it was not a surprise to my family. I was encouraged to pursue art as a career, but not in a way that actually gave me some direction as to where to take it. So I would put my art aside very often during my life to pursue other paths. This would explain my late bloomer status. I do believe, however, that the creator gives us the gifts that are for the purpose of making our way in the world, paying out bills, etc but also what we are to use to be of service to others as well as find fulfillment in. Artistic talent was that gift to me. I feel blessed in that.

My parents gave me gifts at Christmas such as easels, crayons, etc. All creativity tools. In fact, they fostered that early on due to their own fond memory of getting enjoyment out of such things as artistic children. My parents also made sure I was well stocked in sketching paper, etc. and showed great delight when I would win awards for my art throughout my school years.

What made you want to become an artist? At what age did you know that you were an artist?

I loved to sketch as a child. I never got into other media until recent years.

I loved to sketch women especially, and today women in all aspects of their power, femininity and all faces and attributes of the “goddess within” figure prominently in my work today. I just loved faces and form. I used my art to escape into another world, to be other people. I was “different” as a child, and therefore had a difficult childhood. As a child, I drew women I would like to become. I think I knew I was an artist when other children drew my attention to the fact that they could not produce out of their fingers and hands, what I could. I remember them peering over my shoulder in art class to see what I was doing, and asking “How do you do that? Can you teach me?” I was at a loss because I didn’t understand why my fingers could produce it and theirs could not, but began to realize that it was something I could not teach them. It was something inside me that set me apart, that was special. It was at that time I knew something bigger than I, God as some call it, had given me a special gift not everyone had. That was about the 5th grade.

What kind of training did you undertake?

None, I have had no formal training. Everything produced comes through from an unexplainable inner wisdom that seems to know how to get the results.

How long have you been practicing your craft?

I suppose you could say since I first began my love affair with finger-paints in Kindergarten. Lol But I turned “professional” in the early 1990’s

What is your inspiration?

I suppose my inspiration still, is beauty and happiness and the healing that comes from experiencing that.. It begins by feeling an inner urge to create a world of beauty in some form and transform it, or transcribe it onto canvas. Something bubbles up from within, a longing and an urge to put a feeling, a thought onto the canvas. My fingers tingle.

Do you look at any other artists for inspiration?

Early on, I was fascinated with Thomas Gainsborough and wanted to follow in his footsteps. At 16, I had the romantic notion of going to Europe and learning how the Masters painted portraits. I loved the way his backgrounds seemed to be blurred with energy. Like they were a-fire. And the colors that were reflected in the faces of his subjects. Then I was introduced to the artists of the Art Nouveau, as well as the Pre Raphaelites movement. I think these have influenced me greatly.

What got you interested in the type of art that you compose?

I have always been reclusive, and rented a small old Victorian cottage (that was haunted) on the water one year. Complete with stone fireplace and claw foot tub. In the spring, the lily of the valley, wisteria and violets carpeted the area around the house. I just felt so inspired in that cabin. I could hardly contain it. It spilled over and found release in art. (But I didn’t know that yet.) Looking back on that time now, I can see I was being “set up” for the events to come. This is the first time I ever painted in oils. I had just gone through a rather traumatic time. Much loss. The dog that spent most of my life with me had to be put down under traumatic circumstances too painful to revisit even now. I had an old easel my mom had given me as a gift as a teen. That I never used, as I never painted, only sketched. One day, I began to get messages from what seemed like came from inside me, yet outside me, to get the easel out and buy oil paints for I was to begin to paint to heal myself and others. I have always been rather psychic, have been receiving “messages” and channeling from a young age, so this is not abnormal or odd for me and so I learned early to listen to these messages. I began to paint, mixing and what not and producing finished art within a few days, sometimes mere hours, and I had never painted an oil before.

Fantastic as it sounds, that was what happened.

What responsibilities do you have as an artist?

As people, we are responsible for ourselves. We are responsible for our choices that they are good and of service to others but that we must be of service to ourselves first and foremost. Only in healing and making our own lives joyful can we affect the lives of others in a positive way, and perhaps create joy in theirs as well. But first we must look to our selves, and that is our first responsibility and all good works come, or flow from that. I carry that belief into all that I do, include my life as an artist. If our cup is empty, none can drink from it, and what may be in it will not be of the highest quality for others to partake in. Our health, of mind body and spirit is reflected in our work, in the energy it carries out to the viewer, to those experiencing it. If that energy lacks, because we are unhappy, unhealthy or empty spiritually, it carries forth. To give negativity out to the viewer is never a good thing for them to experience. So the artist’s first priority is to live a positive life. Again, in saying, our first responsibility is to ourselves, and in that way we give to others.

One may say, couldn’t the creation of negativity be a service? And I would say no, not for me. My art is created to heal, uplift and bring happiness to the viewer. It is my belief that Life is not meant to be suffered through.

As a spiritual artist, I do however; feel that I must represent what I do accurately. When I say your painting has been channeled from a higher source, it has. There are many “spiritual” artists out there right now who are producing work some crystals, dolphins or some such “new age symbology” . Very pretty, and healing in it's own way , as art reaches into the psyche of others,but I am not convinced of their accuracy in calling it an intuitive work. I am averse to spiritual artists calling it such under false pretenses so as to make a good living at it.
Pieces that are not channeled I will put in my Magic Realism, fantasy art line.

It is not how you appear to the human eye, but to the Creator’s eye. Your true self. In my soul portraits, you may never see your face. It is not meant to stroke your ego but to touch your soul. The painting should reflect your spirit, touch your soul and remind the viewer who they really are. In fact, I only do about one soul portrait every 5-7 years. I will not do them to make a buck, but only when told to do so by Spirit.

What is your favorite medium to work with? Why?

I am more accurate in created the face of someone via pencil, but I would say oils has and will be my favorite. I love the look of watercolors, and so have tried to re-create the watery, drowsy, softly blurred effect of watercolors with oils. I use my fingers, even objects around the house in creation of my art. For example, at this time, I am doing a piece for Jimmy Page, of Led Zeppelin. To create his portrait, I have used my thumb, a makeup brush, a feather and various other oddities to get the oils to move the way I am feeling the painting wishes to be produced on canvas.

Do you plan your work or do you work from intuition?

I use my intuition. Weeks, sometimes months can go by before I paint. I am not one of these artists who get up every morning, goes into their studio and paints. I will receive a signal from my guides or a “higher power” that it is time to begin a painting. I will then prepares the artist’s tools, creates the sacred space where the paintings are done, go into that familiar state where the guides and information are accessed, the channeling state and then my work begins.

Do you do more than one type of work?

In regards to art, no. In my life as a healer, yes. I still use these gifts for private readings and healings.

How do you feel when you are creating or making a work?

I feel as if I am in a different time and space. I feel peaceful, but that I am on a mission with a purpose to it. I do not feel that I am me, but someone else, someone wiser, more loving, all knowing. Hours, a day can go by, it has become dark and there are no lights on and I haven’t eaten and I am unaware of it.

How do you show or sell your work?

As soon as a painting is finished, interestingly enough, the person who it is meant for will see it in my studio or on the website and it will go to them. It is like being a surrogate mother, giving birth knowing it is for someone else, to fill their heart, give their life new joy and healing and having the child given to it’s parent, that is the happiness that comes over me when one of my paintings is sold to the person it was intended.

I sell them by client’s word of mouth and via my website. Some clients that have been “celebrities” have seen my art in another’s “celebrities” home and have been struck by it. I call it "The Calling”, or "The Pull". Nothing is a coincidence. I have been asked many, many times over the years to do galleries and shows, and once had a Hollywood movie studio contact me to feature my art in the background of their movie, but I never have any art in which to gather. It goes as fast as it comes. I have been blessed in that when a painting is painted the person whose life it is meant to be in purchases it right away. I would rather have my art in the lives it was intended to touch than to gain prestige in a gallery. I have been asked to hold off putting them up for sale so as to have a showing, but I seem am unable to do so. I am uncomfortable in the spotlight and as said before, have been called a hermit, so this has suited me well. To gain more recognition would be welcomed, but I always hope to keep a humbled heart. To be proud of oneself, to like oneself is actually something to strive for as an artist. We are so very hard on ourselves aren’t we? Always thinking, “WE are not really any good”. So I welcome to be filled with good thoughts of myself in such a way, but to think myself above others, is elitist and that should never be.

What are the problems/ occupational hazards associated with your work? How do you work through them?

We can be our own worst enemies. We are our worst roadblocks to success and happiness in our work. As artists, we tend to be different to begin with. To think, feel and see things on a different, some would say, a deeper level. Sometime the woundedness inside of us can fuel our creativity. Being addicted to that woundedness to create is a downfall I have seen in other artists. “I cannot create when I am happy” is a saying I hear often. To me, to live life of depression would be a major pitfall and not something nature intended for someone to experience to create as an artist. It is not why the gift was given to them. Also, despair at rejection, art not selling, other wounded souls such as peers and teachers seeking who can be cruel and seek to create doubt in yourself and your abilities. I believe there is room for everyone who works within the art field and this kind of behavior is unnecessary. Those who are meant to get something from your art will be sent to you, and others will be sent to them. So, to avoid both scenarios, I believe self healing and nurturing of the self is very important. Surrounding oneself with positive people who uplift you as well as positive work environments is important. I also am a strong advocate in those who teach art being supervised so that they are supportive and nurturing in their intent and not harmful to the psyche of their students. I once had a art teacher so abusive to me I had to drop out of art in high school and did not pick up art in any form for 6 years after that.

Artists should take care of their mind, body and spirit, for it truly is their instrument.

I get regular body work in all forms of massage and energy treatments. I seek out counseling if there is something difficult I need to work through, or a life challenge I am struggling with. No man is an island unto himself, and seeking out each other to keep our life and our art flowing, is important. Others have something to give to us, just as we have something to give to others.

What are the best and worst qualities of being an artist?

The freedom I experience of being the captain of my own ship, so to speak. The ability to experience the hours of my day working in such a way, and to be able to gain monetary rewards to help others and spend my day painting, what could be more a reward than that?

The worst is what I spoke of above in the pitfalls, as well as the sense of isolation it can create. If your work is not selling, that can be very difficult as well.

Do you make your living entirely from your artwork?

No, I also make my living as a hands on healer, but I know that I can make my living entirely from my art if I so choose, and have been told so by Higher Guidance. I could do much better if I did devote myself entirely to it. But I have not been able to leave my one on one healing practice as of yet, especially the animals that I work with and am able to help. I know some day soon I will though, and devote myself entirely to my art, and in that, do much better financially. I have t o be ready to face the masses in a more public less private larger capacity, is my belief. Which would require more of my persona time, and I have not been ready to give that up thus far.

How do you know when your work is successful?

When I receive a written note, a phone call or someone comes up to me and tells me how much the painting has affected them, or changed their life. I know it was successful.

On an average, how many pieces do you produce a year?

It varies, some years I can produce 15-20 works, other years 3 or 4. Since I do not awake with the purpose or the discipline of working on a piece everyday like other career artists, it varies greatly.

As an artist, what type of gratification do you receive?

The gratification of touching someone’s life in such a profound way, that if you were not in the world, someones life would not have been made the better for it.

Have you received any awards or other recognition for your work? If so, what are they?

Yes I have. As a child, I received many town and school awards. Also had the yearly “Best Artist and Most artistic, that sort of thing.

As an adult my art has received awards from other artists and other sites. In my area, I have been invited to be a speaker at many public events including radio and television, but I have found that I tend not to like doing such things and have retreated from public life more so. In recent years I have become more reclusive in the public eye. I have a feeling I will pop my head out again though, I am receiving the message that more people need my art, and so I must paint more and “get out there more”.
Copyright Oct.2003