52 mini interviews: Courtney Chelo

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Name: Courtney Chelo
Location: Somerville, MA
Age: 24

Website(s):

carbonmade (getting a makeover!)

flickr

How would you describe your work?
Maps, anatomy, birds, paper planes, old books, and some paint. Mixed media on paper, sometimes some needlework tossed in for fun. Most of what I make is at least half recycled or thrifted and made new again.

What are you currently working on?
Getting my studio space set up again! I was renting a studio with friends and that dissolved after a year, so now I'm working out of my house. It makes for a bit of a tight squeeze in terms of storage, so it has also been a good incentive to destash before getting any new materials. I've been so focused on making lots of small stuff lately than I'm looking forward to spending some spring afternoons on the porch altering some larger thrifted paintings. I'm also excited to do some more three dimensional stuff with boxes.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?
All over the place. I've been reading a lot for the first time since college and that helps with inspiration. Plus I try to keep a lot of fun-to-look-at stuff around my house, so when I'm feeling uninspired a little lap around the apartment or a flip through an anatomy textbook helps.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :
Cassandra Warren is not only an amazing artist, but a wonderful friend.

Victoria Statsenko is my newest artcrush. Keep an eye out for this young lady!

Louise Bourgeois... "one of these things is not like the others," i know, but i had to include her. her work has always struck a chord.

3 things that make you smile:
This cat. This lady (and that wall of hers). This lamp.

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:
My work is on display for the first time for the month of March at BUOY Gallery in Kittery, ME. It is part of a large group show for the ArtPM Challenge. For New Englanders, the opening is Saturday, March 13 from 7-11 pm!

52 mini interviews: Patrick Gildersleeves

Name: Patrick Gildersleeves

Location: Brighton

Age: 24

Website: www.wowoutrageous.com

How would you describe your work?

Very good

What are you currently working on?

A book, lots of small drawings, my first solo album and some secret things

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Old photographs of people from far away places in strange clothes, kung fu films and in my dreams.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :

Hokusai, especially his manga. Everyone knows his waves and mountains, but his drawings of people look so free and easy but real.

Susumu Katsumata, I read his Red Snow book recently and the stories in it are great.

Mary Blair did some lovely illustrations, especially in I Can Fly.

3 things that make you smile:
Singing, dancing and people being stupid

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:
Pick me up graphic art fair in Somerset House in London.

52 mini interviews: Gail Mason

Name: Gail Mason

Location: Bristol Spike Print Studio

Age: variable

Website(s): www.gailmason.co.uk


How would you describe your work?
painterly silkscreen monotypes that are concerned with the positive impact of colour, and charting the journey through emotional landscapes.


What are you currently working on?
Ongoing series of silkscreen monoprints as above, together with an investigation into flat colour markmaking and stillness in semi abstract landscapes. I have also recently been working in black and white portraiture and landscapes as a counterbalance to the hectic world of abstract colour


Where do you find inspiration for your work?
I don’t actively search for it, it just arrives- probably through allowing whatever needs to be explored at the time, and through the process of mixing colour on the day. I think we absorb so much through reading and visual research, and just being, that its hard to pinpoint where the starting point of something began.


3 artists/designers you love and why! :
Barbara Rae for her use of colour, Alison Lambert for her passionate portraiture and Gerry Dudgeon for his sense of space

3 things that make you smile: pussycat pounces, sunshine, and my daughter.

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:

solo show ‘Moments of Clarity’ Spike Print Studio, Bristol
1st March – 8th April,
www.spikeprintstudio.org.uk

Black Swan Open, Frome
20th March – 1st May
www.blackswan.org.uk

Spike Spring Sale, Spike print Studio Bristol
Sat 20th March 11-5pm
www.spikeprintstudio.org.uk

Sarah Wiseman Gallery, Oxford
Easter Showcase
30th March –25 April
www.wisegal.com

Micro Art Project
Spike Print Studio Bristol Early May

Bristol Tourist Centre
March/April
www.visitbristol.co.uk

52 mini interviews: lou lou and oscar/Lisa Aaron

'catching up'

Name: Lisa Aaron
Location: Edinburgh/Jersey UK
Age: 39
Website(s):
blog
etsy
flickr

How would you describe your work?
Someone described it as haphazard recently, I think I will go with 
that. Perhaps throw in eclectic too.

 What are you currently working on?
Some pieces for a show, I can't be too explicit but there will be a 
large hand embroidered wall hanging, a plush creature and a small 
installation piece. The show it titled Lost at Sea so that may offer 
up a few clues!

Where do you find inspiration for your work?
All over the place. I visited Deyrolle in Paris last autumn, the 
collections of insects and butterflies, the tiny animals in cases 
impressed me, so, natural history of course. Cold, cold places, the 
Arctic, pointy mountains, lines of poetry, song lyrics, books I have 
read, the embroidered collages made recently are pretty much homages 
to the writers and artists I love.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :
This is the hardest question, to pick three !
 Bela Tarr  : Made me fall in love with cinema again.
Caroline Gaedechens :Old magic.
Rachel Ortas : Colour

3 things that make you smile:
Bed picnics with my husband & son
Opening a surprise parcel
Drawing a new creature

 Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:
I have just released a plush exclusive with Schmancy 
I am taking part in a group show at Gallery Hanahou called Lost at Sea in May.
Plush You L.A. in August.
A show in Wales, UK much later in the year.

52 mini interviews: Peskimo

Name:  Peskimo

Location: Bristol

Website: www.peskimo.com

How would you describe your work?

The first word that springs to mind is ‘fun’, we aim to create work that makes you smile. It’s illustrations of monsters, rabbits and all that lies between the two. Its often character based but also often food & cake based.

What are you currently working on?

We have a new screen printing studio set up in our spare room, which is causing us a great deal of excitement as the myriad of possibilities start to take shape in our brains. We are also working on some toy projects and looking into tropical fish.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

We get inspired by all kinds of things, from the ordinary to the unusual. Particularly around the local streets of Bedminster where you couldn’t make up some of the things you hear. Ideas are usually born out of silly things we’ve said or dreamt up.

3 artists/designers you love and why! : 

Noferin – We love the simple characters designs, who all have a rich background story. They embrace strong ethics in their process, the wooden toys are beautiful!

Charley Harper – Again, we love the way his illustrations reduce the subject to only what is needed.

Tom Gauld – the subtle sense of humour that carries through all of his work.

3 things that make you smile:

3 cakes.

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:

We have a tea and cake themed exhibition opening on March 19^th called Tease Made. It’s a joint exhibition with our illustrator friend, Chris Dickason. It’ll be the first show at a new Bristol venue, called Start Space. On until April 11^th.

52 mini interviews: Genevieve Dionne

Name: Genevieve Dionne

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Age:29

Website(s): just flickr for now

How would you describe your work?

surreal

What are you currently working on?

woodburns of dogs and drawings of obscure history

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Stories, conversations, found ephemera,

3 artists/designers you love and why! :

(if possible please provide links to websites/blogs)

Henry Darger; because he created an entire reality just for himself

Shary Boyle; because her imagery is so different from anything in this world

Hieronymus Bosch; because of all the fantastic and ridiculous details in his painting

3 things that make you smile:

Cooking

Walking

Dog Watching

52 mini interviews: Lisa Solomon

how fantastic! a taster of the work will actually be recieving for the show!

Name: Lisa Solomon
Location: Oakland, CA USA
Age: 36
Website(s):
website :: http://www.lisasolomon.com
blog ::
flickr ::


How would you describe your work?

I think one unifying factor in my work is the notion of hybridization. I’m repeatedly try to fuse materials, or concepts, or formal aspects that may at first appear disparate. I’m also interested in the domestic and domestic practices [and by default how this relates to gender] - and how to celebrate or monumentalize them. I consistently use thread as a drawing device and as a means to enhance the dimensionality of my work.

I’m interested in patterning and repetitive behaviors. How recurring imagery can alter our view of something – perhaps re-framing and re-purposing our relationship to something we may usually overlook.

I am also supremely interested in the intersection of art and craft.

What are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on a series of doily drawings depicting viruses. I’m also about to start working on a series of commemorative pieces – using color and embroidery stitches to represent important dates of loved ones.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?
practically everywhere.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :
currently I’ve been obsessing over Lauren DiCioccio, Victoria May and Mung Lar Lam

3 things that make you smile:
my daughter on a swing
my husband emerging from the kitchen with a fantastic dinner for me
my dog and cat spooning in front of the fire

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:
my work is currently in these two shows
Depth of Surface
By a Thread

I’ll be having a solo show at Angels Gate in the Fall and a 3 person show at Art Stream Studios at the end of the year

Don't forget to keep checking back for news about the show, interviews and more!