I met Valerie Fitzgerald over the weekend as the gracious hostess of a Spirited Woman event, and I was so inspired to hear a tiny piece of her life story.  I can't wait to read her upcoming book "Heart and Sold" when it is released next year.  In the meantime, you can learn a little bit about her journey right here.

"You need to have the dream of how you want your life to be, and then you need the heart to go and get it." -Valerie Fitzgerald 

Art and Letter - the beautiful online magazine devoted to art, design & architecture - has just be re-vamped and is up and running!  Visit this site for inspiring interviews and other goodies.

I just ordered What It Is by Lynda Barry and I can't wait to get my hands on it.  Here's a great article about her from a recent edition of the New York Times. 

 “The fact that anybody knows what I do and likes it feels surreal to me.  It feels like the Make-a-Wish Foundation.”  -Lynda Barry

I have been on a bit of an inspiration binge lately, attending the Elizabeth Gilbert/Anne Lamott lecture a couple of weeks ago and then the Azar Nafasi/Marjane Satrapi lecture last night.  I read Reading Lolita in Tehran a while back and saw Satrapi's Persepolis last year, and both of them impacted and inspired me for very different reasons.  The questions posed to both of these extraordinary writers last night were not so much about their books as they were about writing, popular culture and the media and I left feeling like I had just taken a bath in glitter and light.  These are two passionate, feisty women who had a lot to say about the state of the world today and I feel honored to have heard them speak.

I tried to find information on other speaking engagements for Nafasi and Satrapi but google did not help me, so the best I can do for now is to encourage you to keep an eye out for them in your area.  If you have the opportunity to see them, you won't be disappointed.  In the meantime, here are some goodies to inspire you right now...

Azar Nafasi :: Reading Lolita in Tehran

Interviews with Nafasi are here, here and here.

"You need imagination in order to imagine a future that doesn't exist.” - Azar Nafasi

Marjane Satrapi :: Persepolis 

Interviews with Satrapi are here, here and here. 

"And when you draw a situation - someone is scared or angry or happy - it means the same thing in all cultures." -Marjane Satrapi 

Need some quick art prompts or projects to get you going?  Nita Leland's website is chock full of bite-size morsels that are perfect antidotes to those pesky potholes that prevent us from picking up a paintbrush or pencil.  Check out her Art Projects page in particular; my other favorite pages have inspiring quotes and artist interviews.

[The Confidence Woman :: Liza Corbett]

I came across the incredible work of illustrator Liza Corbett today and had to create a post about her immediately!   To see more of her intriguing work, visit her website.  For more work and an interview, visit servicio-ejecutivo (click on her name under "2008" on the bottom of the page), and to buy her work, visit her Etsy shop!

"Liza Corbett is a New York-based illustrator and designer. Liza draws angular women sipping champagne by the pool, dark forests full of bizarre predators, and rotund mermaids in churning seas — primarily with pen and ink. She is influenced by Bellocq's photographs of Storyville prostitutes and Brassai's photos of Parisian streetwalkers, yet finds herself easily flustered in lingerie shops." -Flavorpill, Issue 265

"Walton Ford’s life-sized watercolors of animals could be mistaken for 19th-century natural-science illustrations or British colonial paintings. Except they’re not. Something strange and usually sinister is happening in each of Ford’s works, whether it’s a turkey crushing a small parrot with its claw, a collection of monkeys wreaking havoc on a formally set dinner table, or a buffalo surrounded by a pack of bloodied white wolves… in the middle of a proper French garden."  -Introduction to Pancha Tatra on Taschen website

To learn more about Walton Ford and his work, read an interview with him here and listen to one here.

Remember reading about the amazing Mati Rose?  Want more?  There's another wonderful interview with her over at SFgirlbybay - who I'll be interviewing here very soon.  We're just going in circles here, aren't we? 

I found out about this wonderful, inspiring, easy-to-get-lost-in website - Inspiration Boards - this week and I can't get enough of it!  Here are just a few of the colorful glimpses into some of the creative spaces shared on this blog.

What's on your inspiration board today? 

The lovely and spirited Nancy Mills of Spirited Woman - interviewed here - returned the favor and interviewed me for her March newsletter.  Thank you Nancy! 

The inspiring and delightful Kristen Fischer.  I am so honored to be in her book Creatively Self-Employed:  How Writers and Artists Deal With Career Ups and Downs.  Kristen's Creatively Self Employed website and blog are both filled to the brim with advice, tips, resources, links and other inspiring and helpful bits & pieces.  She's a GIVER!

[January 25, 2008 Interview]  

Happy New Year Kristen...It looks like you are off to a great start!  Tell us about your new book - what is it about and when can we get our hands on it?
Happy New Year, Christine! My new book, Ramen Noodles, Rent and Resumes: An After-College Guide to Life, will be out this spring. I am so excited. It’s a bit different in topic than the first, but certainly a useful book for 20-somethings. I’ve always enjoyed being in my 20s and this is my last year as a 20-something—so I figured I’d wrap up a decade with a book.

Your first book was self-published, and your upcoming book was picked up by another publisher—talk about the pros and cons of each of these experiences.
When I was working to get Creatively Self-Employed: How Writers and Artists Deal with Career Ups and Downs with a publisher or agent, I had submitted another “fluke idea” to another publisher. Super College LLC was looking to expand its line of college-related reference books into more real-world applications. They loved my idea, and boom—there was my first book contract. I had been trying to promote my book idea for so long that when the college book was accepted, it just seemed so ironic.

CSE wasn’t getting much love at the time, so I had decided to self-publish it. I was already finishing that up when the new book contract came along. But there were a few months overlapped when I was writing two books. Honestly, I still don’t know how on earth I did it. Two books at one time. It was like being told I was having twins—a double blessing!

Honestly, I never wanted to self-publish CSE. I really wanted a publisher who would at least open up more promotion avenues. But I wholeheartedly trust God that CSE was supposed to happen as it did—a self-published effort. I’m open to it getting picked up by a publisher, but I’m okay if it doesn’t. It’s certainly opened doors for me and provided valuable insight for all who are courageous enough to read it! I would like to write another book on the topic some time in the future. Right now, I’m not writing any books and it’s very weird, I have to say!

In addition to writing wonderful books, what else do you do?
I’m a copywriter and editor. So my typical day is working up some content for a website or a brochure. I write resumes, too. Most of my work isn’t writing—it’s marketing. Staying afloat as a freelancer is tough so I am always interacting with others (mostly over the Web) to build my little empire.

What was your inspiration for Creative Self Employment?
I had actually been working on a memoir during my early 20s and I was so sick of it. I wanted to write about what I knew. At the time I was working the 5 p.m. to 1 p.m. shift as a copy editor at a newspaper on a part-time basis while I was building my business. I knew that being creatively self-employed was so hard. I knew a lot about dealing with it, so that’s when I decided it would be easy to write the book since the topic was so innate to me.

I think it is incredibly important for us creatively self employed people to have practical tools that keep us focused on the business side of our work as well.  What piece of advice would you give to help a right-brained individual strengthen their left-brained skills?
Keep marketing! I am recently coming out of a little slump because I was so busy working for a few major clients that I didn’t come up for air. When you lose a regular gig as a freelancer, it can hit you like a million bricks. I always want to make sure I have enough work so if I lost a huge client, I would still land on my feet.

By marketing, I mean getting out there. Approaching businesses with your service. Sending out resumes. Networking. Sending out a direct mail piece. All of those things you were taught to do. Devote time to marketing—your leads will reappear when you least expect it, and probably need it most!

How did you go from an environmental science degree to copywriting?
That’s a good question. I always say that I didn’t want to be in the mud. But that’s true!

When I graduated college, all of the jobs were for techs, which is why I flocked to being a journalist. I was a strong writer, and had a few people take a chance on me. Even though I did “use” my degree for two years in the environmental industry, it was as a communications consultant—so I was still writing. After that, I knew that I was meant to write—and that I still didn’t want to get dirty doing field work!

What do you love most about being creatively self-employed?
I love doing things during the day. If I’m out between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., I am always thinking of my days stuck in a cubicle. That makes me feel so grateful just to be out in the middle of the day. I mostly like to be able to go get tea, drive to the beach or workout during the day. It still fascinates me that all the world is at work and I am living the dream, yanno?

What inspires you most?
Honestly? Blogs like yours. I am very much into design and find anything visual a pleasure. Seeing others’ lives through blogs is very inspiring. I also love to keep up with the creatives that were featured in the book. Hearing about somebody getting a huge job for a major company or hosting their own art show is inspiring. In fact, when Claudine Hellmuth was on Martha Stewart’s show a few months back, I was bragging about her like she was my kid. And tearing up when she was on TV. I was so happy for her and so honored she was in my book.

When I’m non-hermitlike and leave the house, the beach always inspires me. I can return there time after time and I find it a constant inspiration in a busy world. It helps me connect spiritually.

Thank you again for “chatting” with me for Sparkletopia, and good luck with the finishing touches of your next book!
It is being printed as I type!

Thanks so much for having me! I adore your new blog!

If I am remembering correctly, I think I first met the divine Sunny Schlenger in 2006, and since we first connected she is someone I have come to rely on for guidance, wisdom and grounding.  Even though we do not talk very often, the conversations we have always stay with me, giving me food for thought and wise insights into whatever particular part of my journey I am in the midst of.  She has two wonderfully inspiring books - How to be Organized in Spite of Yourself and Organizing for the Spirit.  I know a new book is in the works and I can't wait to dive into that when it is published.  Until that arrives, you can keep up with her latest endeavors & ideas here.

[January 25, 2008]

Happy New Year Sunny! Like me, I know you are very excited to be in one place after a serious moving project last year. How are you settling in?
Deeply. Very deeply. It’s wonderful not to be running back and forth constantly. I love nesting and Sedona is a marvelous place to nest.

Tell everyone about the work you do.
These days I’m combining organizing and coaching to assist clients who are going through life transitions, i.e., helping them to “re-size” their lives to the core things that matter to them at this moment in time. Too many people, I’ve found, have outgrown the systems they were using and need to look at their lives from a fresh perspective – especially if they’re going through challenges and changes that affect their environments (e.g., growing a business, moving, living/working with different people). 

Tell me about the space you have created just for you in your new home – the space you go to in order to be with your thoughts and your creativity. What makes it all yours?
Ah, I can tell that this question comes from someone who knows the value of personal space! For me, my own space makes everything else possible. This knowledge may have originated when my parents decided that they didn’t want the responsibility of a house any longer, and we moved to an apartment the summer before I entered college. The new apartment had only 2 bedrooms instead of 3, and since my brother was still in high school at the time, I was given the den to use whenever I came home from college. Most of my belongings that I didn’t take to college were stored in the hall closet. This set-up might have worked OK for someone else, but my creativity felt all locked up with my stuff in the closet. I moved out as soon as I could. Now I know exactly what I need in order to function happily and productively. My room has warm colors and lots of books and music. The things I have around me make me smile, relax, or feel inspired. And of course it’s organized to match the way I function. (This doesn’t mean it’s always neat, however!)

What organizing advice do you give others that you have the hardest time following yourself?
I tell people how important it is to make time to keep up with their filing, but that’s a tough one for me to do regularly. I think it has to do with creativity vs. detail work. I apparently like my clients’ detail work better than my own! Follow-up is not my favorite thing, but I do it because I don’t really have a workable system unless I follow-up and follow-through.

I have a funny habit of getting my studio in perfect order after I finish a new series of work or other project, even if I know I will tear it all apart the very next day…what is an organizational task you do to kind of re-boot your creative hard drive?
Christine, I’m with you on this one. When I’m in the middle of something I can tolerate chaos, but when I want to get back in control, my space has to reflect the serenity I need in order to think clearly and get in touch with “the spark”. If I still feel stuck after that, I’ll go to a website like Sparkletopia to get the creative juices flowing. (Thank you for creating such a beautiful one-stop re-charging station!)

Is there an area of your life or home where you are purposefully unorganized…maybe as a way to rebel against your title as Organizer Extraordinaire?
What’s funny about the title is that people are always apologizing to me for the state of their home or office, even when I’m on a social visit! The truth is that I don’t notice things like that unless I’m there professionally. As for my rebel mode (you know me too well it seems) I would have to say that I resist scheduling, except for appointments with other people. When I’m in my office, and experiencing “flow” (which happens much more than it used to), I naturally move from project to project and between administrative tasks. If I’m resisting something, I’ll set aside specific time for it, but otherwise I operate as the spirit moves me.

If you walked into the most unorganized space you’d ever seen, what would be the first thing you would do to get it in order?
Before I’d do anything, I’d have to learn whose space it was. I don’t believe that someone’s space can be organized separately from that person. I’d want to know about their needs, preferences, responsibilities and problems managing space or time. Solutions would be custom-tailored to the experiences of the person living or working there. Even in the area of organizational products, not all products work well for all people. For example, some clients function better with storage that keeps things visible, while others prefer out-of-sight.

To many people, I think the words “getting organized” are only applicable to things like our desks, our files and our closets. How can we use organizational skills in other areas of our lives, such as creative or spiritual?
Great question. This is actually the path I’m on at the present time – integrating the concepts I’ve developed, and am currently developing – into our creative and spiritual consciousness. I believe that everything in one’s life is connected, and it’s important to understand the connections in order to tap into the “higher self” we each have. This is not a “being neat” kind of organized. It’s having a larger, proactive view of your life that encourages moments of special awareness and insight and true comprehension of your personal power in relation to the larger world around you.

On your website, the link to your Personal Coaching information has an image with the words “If you could change one thing…” on it. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
I’d be able to find a restaurant that serves Fettucini Alfredo with no calories or unhealthy ingredients in it. Seriously though, if I could change one thing, I’d be less hard on myself. I’d remember all the positive things I’ve done instead of just focusing on what I haven’t gotten to yet. I’m working on it!  ☺

Thank you Sunny!! 

Indigo Soul Kelly Barton has been inspiring me for a long time now, and I am the proud owner of the above creation.  I get to look at it in my studio everyday, and have also sent out dozens of her beautiful greeting cards.  See her work over at Camp Indigo Soul, enjoy her creative musings here and buy her vibrant work here!  Without further adieu...

[January 18, 2008] 

Hello my dear...I'm so happy to be interviewing you for Sparkletopia!
….hello to you miss swirly, i am blessed by your kindess

Tell me about your moniker - "Indigo Soul" - what does that mean to you?
…..indigosoul is a lifeline.  it allows me to fly free.  it means happyiness,
it means some days I have to really push myself  and that is good.  i need to do that more.
i am a bit of a hippy, and apparently there is a society of “indigo soul’s, but i just love those two words.

Lately you have been working on a series of work around the theme of Home (I have one hanging in my studio). What is this series about?
…..h.o.m.e. is so many things.  i guess most would think of their physical home.  it truly
is where you soul allows you to be, it is where you are meant to be,when you find comfort and peace. it is when i am happy within myself.

You have also had an ongoing Girl Series - are these two related in any way or are they two very different creative explorations for you? 
….hmmmm – the answer is yes!  just a different spin.  each comes from deep in my
warped and silly psychie.  the girl reflects moments in my life.  she has allowed me
to go through therapy at a really cheap rate.  she is the girl in each one of us.

For me, moving from commercial illustration and design to collage and painting was a difficult process because one is so technical and precise and the other is so wide open, but you seem to move between them effortlessly. How do you balance these two types of work as an artist?
…..oh my gosh, the word “effortlessly” made me laugh out loud! does dr. jeckyll – mr. hyde mean anything!  i rarely feel like am balancing either and i never see myself in that way. so if it appears that way, i am happy.  my design tends to be extremely crisp and clean and balanced.  but my artwork is just plain crazy.  its messy and sometimes until i take the very last swipe of the brush – not at all balanced.  people tend to ask me where my ideas come from.  they come from a warped dark, colorful mind.  things that scared me as a young girl, things that meant the world to me as well.  i love to tell people….”you don’t even want to know what goes on in my head!”

When did you know you wanted to be an artist? 
…..well i would love to have you all sitting on the edge of your seat anticipating the big bang answer, but really not until late in my life.  i remember sitting in the back seat of our car, as a young girl,  doodling in the back window.  [ that’s right!  no seatbelt, facing backwards drawing in the window ] and i loved to color and draw, but honestly i never had the courage to take any art classes in high school.  once i decided to go back to college to my degree in graphic design, my love for art and design just really grew from there.  and i cherish my creativity, it is a blessing.

What does success as an artist mean to you? 
…..it means sitting down, picking up my brush

At what moments in the art-making cycle do you have the biggest bouts of doubt and fear? How do you move through them?
….i hate to even admit this, but it is when i see others success.  believe me – i am cheering you all on.  just like so many do for me.  but i do let the doubt creep back in.

when i see that others are being published and making lots of sales, in my head and sometimes outloud i am saying, “holy crap!  how do they do it!” and since i am being honest i would have to say that my biggest fear is that i won’t be able to continue my freelance career.  it is a financial roller coaster. i am so lucky that i have bryce. he is supportive and does an outstanding job of keeping me off the ledge, so to speak.  i move through the doubts and fears [some days slower than others ] because i have to.  i know i am on the right path.  i have to i tell myself to suck it up.  my dad used to always say….”are you bleeding?  no? then quit crying”. stern – but it works!  i have to remind myself daily….that this path that i am on is simply mine.  it is mapped out just for me.  we are all at different walks and the bends, curves and forks. it is just where we are.

When, as an artist, do you feel the most courageous?
….when someone stands back, looks at my artwork, smiles and gets it.  i also get sick
pleasure from those who stand back, wrinkle their noses and say what is going on in that
chicks head.  i don’t know which one is sweeter.  the last few months have really
helped me grow as an artist.  i had all these paintings sitting in my studio and then i
got to have a little show, which gave me a huge shove forward.

Thank you so much for sharing a little bit about your creative process. I am so excited to see what comes out of you in 2008!!
…..2008???? are you serious?  it is 2008!  holy crap, i better get busy. 

thanks christine….you always know how to sprinkle your sparkles my way.

peace!
 

I met Trevor Watkins last year when I hired him to hang a rather monstrous work of art in our house, and after talking to him a little bit about his work, I couldn't resist asking him to be interviewed for Sparkletopia.

[early January, 2008]  

Hi Trevor...Thank you so much for letting me interview you for Sparkletopia.  Tell me about the work you do.
Hello Christine. It is my pleasure.  This is one of those questions that could have many different answers. But, I will tell you what I do in my day to day working life. I own an art service company, which means we deliver, install, curate, and even represent some artists. I work with many different gallery owners, interior designers, artists,  and personal collectors. We deal with many different aspects and people involved with the art world. I have always been interested in the arts throughout my life, so to be able to continue to surround myself with it is always a pleasure for me to get up in the morning.

I always find these various "worlds" fascinating, as there is always some kind of slightly hidden support system in place to keep things moving and shaking, like the work you do.  What do you enjoy most about working with artists? 
I enjoy their ability to look at the world in an interesting and creative way. I like to be different, I don’t like to follow the rules all the time, and I like to think out of the box as much as possible. I think many artists share these same thought processes.  

You also mentioned something about set building to me...tell me about this.
I have been blessed and cursed at the same time with a balanced and organized eye. I get it from my mother. Working in the set world, there are a wide variety of things that you end up doing. One day you may have to assemble 2000 cardboard boxes, the next day you’re making a sling shot out of a tree branch, and the next you may be setting up furniture on a stage somewhere. It is always something new, exciting, and different. One of the things I love to do is make a space or area have a certain feel or vibe. So when the opportunity came to work on photo shoots and I was able to utilize my skills in creating this atmosphere, I was thankful. I have also done music videos, commercials, and some film. It’s something that I will continue to do as long as it will permit me to.  

Describe one of your favorite installation projects?
I was fortunate to be involved with , which is a place up near Lake Hughes that was founded by the Paul Newman Foundation. This is a camp that was created for children who have life-threatening or terminal illnesses to go and spend time with their families, free of charge. I would encourage others to read more about it.  It is really a great place and one of the more gratifying installs I have done. It wasn’t a typical installation, because we had so many different things to put up, like hand-made quilts on the bedroom walls that were donated from many different people. I was really thankful to be involved in something like that.

How did you get into this kind of work? 
This is always a favorite question for me to ask others. I love hearing how random or destined people’s paths have been. My story is simple - I’m handy. When I moved to LA I started doing maintenance work at a bar. One of the owners also owned an art gallery and asked if I knew how to patch and paint walls. I’m not sure if I really knew how to at the time, but he wasn’t going to know that. It was work and I needed it. That was the seed that blossomed into where I am today.

Are you an aspiring artist yourself?  If so, what kind of work do you like to do?
I went to school for theatre in Minnesota. Yes, acting. I know, kind of weird for someone in Los Angeles, but through all the ventures and outcomes I took notice where my thought process was going everyday. It was towards design and spatial creativity. I also have always loved to play with furniture, so I sometimes will re-do a piece of furniture or make a specialty picture frame. I just love to create. 

Where did your interest in art come from?
I think my interest in art stemmed from my mother. She always played around with designing the house and with crafts. She even had her own little craft room in the house that I would often find myself in, creating stuff with the popsicle sticks I would collect or the plastic pieces from the orange ice-cream push up pops. Both of my parents were supportive in whatever I chose to pursue, which I think let my creativity flow even more. I have always had a fascination and appreciation for art in general.

If you had the keys to a huge museum and could curate any show you wanted - money no object - what would it look like?  What artists, styles, pieces, etc.?
Being that I work in two worlds, the art world and the set world, I have always wanted to incorporate the two of them more. If I had keys to a museum, I would pick a few of the most well known artists in history, for example Van Gogh, and create a timeline and an experience with each artist to try and educate the public on what it may have been like to be in that artist’s world. The idea would be to try and experience what it was like in their era, what their surroundings were like, what their studio may have been like, what paint brushes, or whatever media they were using was like, to experience their world at the time. For example, with Van Gogh, re-creating his bedroom and have the Starry Night painting in the corner, like he had just finished painting it. All of the artists I would consider would be those that we think of as the “greats”, for example: Davinci, Van Gogh, Picasso, Dali, Cezanne, Monet, Warhol, Matisse, O’Keeffe, Ansel Adams, Renior, Pollock, and so many more to be named. I enjoy art, but I think I enjoy the way artists use their art as a release of their own life and the way it is expressed through that, just as song writers do, or poets, or any medium that artist may use.

What inspires you most?
People: good, creative, encouraging, uplifting, outgoing people. Also, Mother Nature is the most creative thing of all. Any creative inspiration stems from Mother Nature.

Thank you again for taking the time to be interviewed.  I am very excited to feature your interview! 

I am pleased to share a recent interview with one of my favorite artists Mati Rose McDonough. See some of her gorgeous work here, read about her work here and buy her work here!

[January 18, 2008]

First off, congratulations on your gorgeous new website. There is a certain delicious, almost edible quality about your work that really comes through in the new site. Tell me a little bit about how that design came to fruition.
Aww, thanks so much Christine! That means a lot to me because I am in love with your new blog! I’ve been checking it daily and it feeds me both intellectual and eye candy inspiration, and of course I’m honored to be part of it. I was dying (dramatic yes!) to make a new website, after 3 years of painting growth reflected on my old site, because as a visual artist it is such an important window to the world. In terms of the process of building the new site I had a lot of hiccups. I went back and fourth about the idea of making it on my own and began to learn various programs and then I hired someone and ultimately it did not work out … so it dragged on. Finally I met my current web site designer, Christine Wong Yap, who was an MFA student at my school and I liked the idea of working with another artist. It was a collaborative process whereby I came up with the look and the feel of the site and she implemented the design and made it better. It took a couple months and she was very professional and I highly recommend her.

Last year was a big year for you - finishing school, getting married - any grand plans for 2008?
Indeed it was! I am in love with 2008 so far because all the growing pains, anxiety and excitement of 2007 catapulted me to a more centered and motivated place. So far, I have a couple shows underway, a magazine article coming out and a great illustration gig underway. I also just started a new part-time job as a textile designer and I’m excited to learn and grow creatively in this role and someday make my own line! It would be dreamy to be able to design my own bedding, wallpaper, apparel… you name it… as a painter I always wish I could paint my own quilts, but imagine they would get crusty. Other than that I would love to travel to Italy for our honeymoon and plan a show or creative retreat while we’re there. I also have these kid’s books I’ve been working on for years that I feel like now is the time to send them out to publishers!

On the homepage of your website, it says 'Hold on tight and don't unravel' - what does this phrase mean to you?
Ha! That homepage came about very intuitively and was a quick collage of patches of colors I like, some of my favorite photos and the sketch of a beehived girl with the accompanying text. It’s cut off, but her arms are wrapped a few times around her body (she’s gumby in the arm department). What does it mean? I suppose I was sketching that as a message from my drawing to myself so go figure! My drawings certainly talk to me and often reassure.

Animals are a recurring theme in your work - birds, deer and your intriguing pink elephants. Is there any specific symbolism you are working with there?
I imagine part of it is living in the city of San Francisco in a very urban pocket and feeling very removed from nature and therefore craving a connection to it and its inhabitants! The real story is that I started my path as an illustrator interested in children’s books and wrote several stories where I anthropomorphized animals for the purpose of the story. Then when I started art school I took an amazing Narrative drawing class from an influential professor and now friend Jason Jagel and began expressing my personal story via animals that tapped into feelings of childhood and loss. I’m not sure if anyone else would gather from looking at my work that I use these stories as a starting point, but it has been a surprising and healing way to explore this emotional territory. Anyway, I hope it adds depth to my paintings that may on first glance come across as light hearted and cute. Yes, so to answer your question the animals are symbolic and a stand in for my feelings and other folks. I had this revelation while writing this that when I was a kid I was trying to navigate the world with these adult emotions, and now that I’m an adult I’m reverting back to childhood to try to understand life through a child’s viewpoint in my paintings!

What do the pink elephants mean to you?
The pink elephants could represent the elephant in the room where you’re not saying the obvious, which was interesting because they were created during a hard time for me towards the end of art school in the midst of the most difficult critiques and friction with the very idea of being in art school… feeling like it was squashing my desire to create. I decided to embrace the thing that was the furthest from what I was being encouraged to do: doily elephants silk-screened in hot pink. It was my inner-rebel saying F*&% off art school. I really identified with them for a while. They reminded me to play, to embrace femininity, childhood and girly colors… debuting at the The Girly Show you organized in LA.

Which artists do you turn to again and again for inspiration and ideas?
The books of artists that I keep in my studio that I consistently turn to are Kiki Smith, Margaret Kilgallen and Beatriz Milhazes. If I could combine the likes of those three disparate artists I would be happy as a clam. Kiki does not have a specific medium, but tells stories with her work using materials that run the gamut from glass to embroidery. Margaret reminds me of using character, line, color and font, while Beatriz is a wild pattern maker and Brazilian painter who reminds me that big paintings can have that lusciousness and be taken seriously by the capital “A” art world. I think the combination of all three equals art that I am currently trying to make which is folky, feminine and decorative with a story running through it.

I have read quite a bit about how art school is supposedly the best gateway to gallery contacts and success...any thoughts on this?
I think everyone’s experience is certainly different, but I do feel more informed and connected having gone to art school. I remember curators walking through the school hallways and occasionally it would lead to a landmark show for someone, but that seemed rare. It calls into question what is your definition of success as an artist: peer approval, the ability to make art regularly, to have a prestigious gallery, to live off your art? These things don’t necessarily go hand in hand. I think the struggle for many artists is to find the balance of these factors and your art niche. Having just been to one of the biggest money making art fairs at Miami Basel I feel simultaneously inspired and cynical about the levels of success and what it takes to get there. For on the one hand it does seem opened up and accessible, and then like any other business it seems a lot about who you know and schmoozing.

Tell me about Compound 21...
Compound 21 is an art studio started by my landlord, upstairs neighbor and artist, Andy Diaz Hope. It’s located behind our home in the former garage that has been converted to studio spaces with gallery quality walls and lighting for about eight artists. There are individual rooms within the studio that we have, which some of us share. For example, My husband Hugh and I share our studio space, where we can shut the door and play our own music with out interfering with the other artists and vice versa. We just added a bridge that connects the apartment to the roof of a studio and have a burgeoning garden and art parties there now too! I feel so lucky to be part of this amazing community of artists and to have a space outside my home to paint.

When do you feel like an ARTIST? (All the time? Only when you are painting?)
Great question. I believe I have finally gotten to the place where I feel like an artist fairly consistently. To the point where I was interviewing for jobs recently and was told that a primary concern was that I was “too heavy on the art”! If I had heard that same thing five years ago when I was working at a law firm I would have been floored! Because at that point I could hardly call myself an artist, I mean I physically could not get the words out of my mouth along with my name! Oh the irony!

Thank you so much for letting me pester you with questions for Sparkletopia. I am fortunate enough to be inspired by your work everyday since two of your paintings are hanging in my studio!!
Thank you Christine! It’s been my pleasure and I’ve honestly learned a lot about myself in the process! I look forward to reading more of your artist interviews here.

"Writing is solitary, obsessive, and prickly, and that makes literary friendships all the sweeter. Here is a new series that celebrates affection and loyalty between solitudes."

Garrison Keillor hosts this series of conversations between American writers whose work shapes their friendships and vice versa.  Get a glimpse of what happens when writers become friends by listening to Literary Friendships.

I am pleased to present my second interview for Sparkletopia with independent filmmaker Taegen Carter.  As a passionate film-goer, it has been a real treat to learn so much about the filmmaking process from Taegen over the past couple of years.  When I started Sparkletopia, he was at the top of my list of people I wanted to talk to!

All images are from his most recent project, The Shiftling.  To learn more about his work, visit his website Mythmaker Entertainment.

[January 15, 2008] 

Hi Taegen...I'm so excited to interview you for Sparkletopia.  Now when you win your Oscar for Best Director I'll have proof I knew you when...
Thanks, it's really a pleasure for me to discuss filmmaking with someone who is also passionate about it.

I met you through my husband's son Justin - an actor - because he starred in your first full length film, The Shiftling, which you wrote, produced and directed, correct?
Yes.  I first met Justin when I held an open casting session for The Shiftling.  There were over 1,500 submissions for the role and I thought he had a great look so I invited him to read for the part.  He almost didn't show up because it was a Saturday and he wasn't feeling great that day.  Plus, my producer had picked a super cheap community center to hold the auditions at.  It was a total disaster because there were bums walking around and it was incredibly noisy and out in the open.  Justin almost left immediately when he saw the location, but lucky for both of us he gave it a shot.  I've never met someone with a better attitude I offered him the role.  He was a real asset to the film, and for him, it's been an incredible experience.  We've since become great friends and are planning to shoot another feature film together.  Amazing to think he almost didn't audition.

When did you know you wanted to be a filmmaker?
I knew I wanted to be a director since the age of 10.  For me, the experience of going to the movies was visceral.  It was something I really connected to and felt passionately about.  The decision to pursue directing was an easy one to make.  I especially enjoyed films with a fantasy element to it.  James Cameron and Steven Spielberg have been tremendously inspirational and I've wanted to make films like theirs.  It's funny though, because watching films is one experience and making films is a completely different experience.  My goal now is to make films that I'd like to see.  It's a lot harder than it would seem, but I'm working hard and have made a lot of progress in a relatively short amount of time, so I'm sure I'll get there eventually.

What is your favorite thing about the filmmaking process?
My favorite part of filmmaking is when I'm in the editing room.  The moments that I've captured in individual shots come together and you can really start to feel the story, character, and film coming together.  It's incredibly exciting because it takes so much work to get to the point of editing and you never really know how it's going to turn out until you put the film together.

Least favorite?
Directing.  This is by far the most stressful time of my life.  There's a lot of satisfaction to directing and I'm good at it, but there's nothing else in the world that comes close to bombarding you with problems like directing.  At every second there's a decision to make, a decision that can have a very large impact on the film.  It's not something anyone can really find fun.

We have had quite a few discussions about all the different ways you can market your film.  I think most people - like myself - are under the impression that the goal of all indie filmmakers is Sundance or other well-know film festivals.  Tell me about the other avenues and options for indie films.
Today there are more ways than ever before to get your film out there.  It's a double-edged sword because it gives you a lot more opportunity, but at the same time can be overwhelming.  I have no talent at marketing, and yet as an indie filmmaker I've got market myself and my film on top of creating the film.  It can be incredibly exhausting.  Film festivals are still the best way to get discovered, and there are film festivals now everywhere.  The internet offers a lot of places to post short films.  Feature films still haven't made a foothold on the internet, but short films can do well on sites like youtube and revver.  Revver actually splits ad content revenue 50/50 with filmmakers, so a film with a lot of hits can generate a lot of income.  For my feature, I will be using a company called createspace.com.  It's great because it allows you to sell your film on amazon.com and will burn a copy of your movie any time someone places an order, and you share revenue with the company so there isn't any cost to the filmmaker.  Additionally, you can self publish your movies to companies like netfilx, but there won't be many viewers unless you can find a way to get your film known.  Makers of the Blair Witch did a fantastic job of self-promotion by creating a website made to look real about the Blair Witch.

What director - living or deceased - would you love to sit down and have a beer with?
Steven Spielberg, although he doesn't drink beer so it'd have to be a coffee or tea.  I know this is a boring answer because every other person says it, but he really is incredible.  I'd like to meet him and find out what kind of person he is, what feeds his passion, what makes him do what he does and find out more about his past.  But I think it's pretty safe to say he's one of the greatest, if not the greatest, filmmakers ever.

Are there any particular artists or writers who have inspired you as a filmmaker?
There are plenty of artists and writers who have inspired me.  I think that you can find inspiration in all sorts of places, including books, paintings, sculptures and in everyday life.  When something comes across my path and really strikes me, I make a mental note of it and hope to try and use it in the future.  As a filmmaker, I think one of the goals is portray a world that people can latch onto.  The way you do this is by showing truth, and as a filmmaker it's important to keep your eyes and ears open to everything because you want to be able to infuse your films with as much truth as possible.

If you weren't busy becoming the next Steven Spielberg, what do you think you would be doing?
I've spent so much time and energy on filmmaking that I really don't know.  Maybe a writer, maybe an investor or real estate guru.  Who knows?

On your greatest days - the days where everything is clicking and you feel like you're totally in your groove - what do you envision in your future?
The best days I have, in terms of directing, are the days when I'm especially creative.  Some days you find yourself more creative than others, and for those rare days where your brain seems like a lightning rod for ideas, it's really fun because you can shape each moment of your film in a special way and you get footage with a lot of special stuff.

What gets you through your toughest days?
I try to keep my head down.  It's important to stay positive at all times, but sometimes even that is impossible.  At that point it's important just to get through a bad day and to always try your best even when spirits are down.  On The Shiftling, I remember the first day we shot in the desert.  The last 3rd of the movie takes place in the desert.  We were way behind on shooting by 5 months.  I had to get up at 4am to pickup actors at 6am, then we had to drive 2 hours to the desert, and then setup shots to be ready to shoot by 9am.  It was 115 degrees on our first day and my car got stuck in the desert sand while a flash flood was headed our way.  By the end of the day I was destroyed, but I knew I had to finish the film and it only got easier and better after that.  The desert footage was the best footage in the movie and really looked great.  It all worked out.

Share one snippet of your life as a filmmaker...an experience when you found a new source of strength and/or creativity within yourself.
I remember when I made my first film in college.  I really poured everything I had into this film.  After spending nearly two weeks working day and night, I finally finished it for a film festival that my college was hosting.  It was a tremendously nerve-wracking experience because everyone in the film program attended - something like 200 people - and of course these were all people who were really into film.  The experience of a film festival can be enlightening and traumatizing.  It's a weird experience because you can actually feel the audience and feel their thoughts.  When I sat at my computer editing, I thought the film was gold.  And yet when I saw my film playing in front of everyone, I instantly saw all of its flaws and realized how awful it was.  I remember vividly thinking that I was done as a filmmaker.  I thought, I'm a hack and I need to look for a new career.  At the end of the festival an actor who I new of and who I respected came up to me and told me how much he enjoyed the film.  He was genuine in his comments and I realized how cool it was to get something across to people, even if it was just a little moment that worked.  It also dawned on me that you have to start somewhere as a filmmaker, just like any creative-oriented career.  It never happens over night and with a lot of hard work you can be good.  I believe that, and it was all from the experience of the film festival that really put that into perspective for me.

Thank you again Taegen.  As a film geek and wanna be director myself, I consider it a great privilege to watch your process. 
Thank you Christine.  The pleasure was all mine.  I'm a fledgling filmmaker, so it's great to feel important with these interviews.

A wonderful woman named Amy sent me a link to a speech by Isabel Allende about passion and inspiring women.  Beautiful, funny and inspiring, it was worth carving 18 minutes out of my day to listen to her stories and wise words.  TED: Ideas Worth Spreading is the home for this video and I am incredibly grateful to learn about this website, which is a catalog of inspired talks by the world's greatest thinkers and doers.  An Inspiration Jackpot!

Photo taken by Denise Andrade, October 20, 2007, Santa Monica, CA 

Presenting my first in a series of interviews entitled Sparkling Stories, all created especially for Sparkletopia.  I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Boho Girl herself, Denise Andrade, in August 2007 at a creative retreat in Berkeley, and then spent an extraordinary weekend with her again a few months later.  I can't wait to see what adventures await us in 2008, and I am honored to share this interview with her.  Here's where to find her words, her work and her incredible vision:

Bohemian Girl Designs Blog

Boho Photography

DeniseAndrade.com

Bohemian Girl Designs Boutique

 January 3, 2008 Interview:

Hello Doll...How are you right now?
You know…I am surprisingly calm after our long holiday trip to see my family and friends in Northern California.  I think the simple act of removing yourself from your every day environment can be so healing at times.  It seems by the time December comes around, we can all get so far into our heads when reflecting on the past year.  Getting away helped me focus on people and places that are important to me but are not with me each day.  It also rekindled a fire within in so many areas of my life:  my marriage, friendships, family relationships, my writing ideas and my art.  So, as much as I am spilling over with ideas, I also feel a calm and appreciation for all that lead me here.  

Tell everyone who is fortunate enough to be reading this interview with you about the beautiful work you do.
Oh Swirly…I am humbled by your kind words.  At this time in my life I am really nurturing the photography side of my business.  It has taken me time but I feel I am finally coming to a place where I am able to create a style that I hope people will be able to recognize and resonate with.  I am really jazzed about the connections that deepen during my photo sessions.  When I first started my company Bohemian Girl Designs, I was selling jewelry and my pastel art only.  Photography was something I was passionate about but it eventually evolved into a way of life for me.  I still sell my jewelry, a few pastels pieces and photography prints on my Etsy because they were my first love and I want that loving energy to be out in the Universe for others to enjoy.

When you are preparing for a photo shoot, what is going through your mind?
To be honest, I get a bit nervous right before a shoot.  Something that I have learned from other photographers I admire is completely normal.  I imagine it is similar to what an actor feels before going on stage.  Nerves are healthy.  It means your art is so very important to you.  I actually need at least a few hours of meditation before a photo session.  Sometimes I am fortunate enough to do this in my home.  If I am on location, I take time in my car or walking on the beach when waiting for them to arrive.  I want to be in a peaceful, Zen place so that I can help my clients to feel equally calm and connected to self.  It is important for me to spend my time giving to them in a way that creates a safe, free-flowing environment.

What was one of your favorite photo sessions and why?
This might sound silly because you’re the one interviewing me but in all truth, it was the one I had with you.  I was honored that you chose me to celebrate a new phase in your journey.  I felt really inspired and immediately imagined the vibe, the backgrounds and the essence I wanted to explore with you.  I kept envisioning lots of trees, grassy hills for you to walk up and a forest nymph type of vibe.  I was amazed that we discovered a place like this in the middle of Los Angeles and created exactly what we had envisioned together.  It was other worldly to watch so many beautiful parts of you unfold during that session.  It also was nourishing for our friendship.

List three words to describe how you feel when you are working (maybe these words are different for the photo sessions versus the editing and formatting.  If so, share all of your lists!)
Photo Sessions:
Inspired
Sexy
Gentle

Editing and Formatting:
Inspired
Focused
Playful
 
What is your deepest mission as an artist and photographer?
Well, the whole idea behind my brand name is what the definition of “Bohemian” is:  “Unconventional, unorthodox, avant-garde, off-beat, artistic.”  I am not a traditional photographer.  I prefer to capture moments that are unrehearsed. Those times when my clients have no idea I am capturing a special moment.  I have a deep desire to connect with each of my clients on a level that will help me draw out their roar, their sexy, their pure joy, romantic love of self and others… and their juicy~ness.  If I know that a client walks away feeling completely alive, present and beautiful…then mission accomplished.

I also want to present to them a portrait that they wouldn’t expect as far as my style and design.  Adding depth and texture is something I feel can bring out a funky side to them and the moment where they can look at it and feel like a rock star.

If you could go anywhere in the world for your next photo shoot, where would it be?
Hmmm…loaded question because there are so many places.  I would have to say Paris, France because romance really inspires me and I know I could discover it there quite easily.  I am not just talking about romance between couples.  I also mean romance with self.  I love to capture this when photographing a person alone.  I have heard most people find themselves in Paris.  Perhaps I could be part of that process for them.

Name three people - living or deceased - you would love to have a photo session with.
Stephanie Dosen
Imogen Heap
Sabrina Ward Harrison
I have a special place in my heart for musicians and visual artists.  I would love to work with more.  These three women embody a mystical, feminine, bohemian, faerie vibe that I am so attracted to.

Any advice for budding photographers out there?
Play.

With photography, it is easy to be overwhelmed or to feel intimidated. There is a huge technical part of it that if you allow it to, can feel paralyzing. I've never been the type of artist that goes from A to Z or read manuals front to back. Trust me...I've tried and I've always felt the creativity pulled from underneath me. For me it’s always been freedom and playfulness and sometimes I'll get to a place and not remember how I got there when people ask me what I did. That's how I work. There are a lot of brilliant photographers out there that are very keen on the technical bits, which I think is amazing and a gift. Perhaps this is also they way you work, which is beautiful.  I suppose I want to encourage those souls that are similar to me to just play, read manuals or tutorials when necessary but play first.  This playfulness will be key when it comes to finding your own voice.

I have also learned that fabulous lenses help.  ; )

Thank you so much my dear.  I really appreciate you taking the time to let me pester you with questions.
Thank YOU, my friend.  This was such a treat and has inspired me to remember all the reasons why I love my job so fiercely.

T52 designed by Dieter Rams in 1961 for Braun.

I came across an interview with Dieter Rams recently and was excited to learn more about someone whose passion for design has found its way into millions of homes throughout the world for more than four decades now.  He was recently a guest editor for Wallpaper magazine, and in this issue they had a special feature highlighting his Ten Commandments for Design.  Read more about his life and his work here, and be sure to check out his portfolio for a peek at just a few of his most influential designs.  If you are curious to see more beyond this, do a google search for Dieter Rams and more than 15,000 photos will be available for you to peruse in his image gallery.