Why are you an artist and when did you become one?
Hmmm, I guess I am an artist because I can’t not be one. I believe that we are all artists in some way. For me, the visual arts have always had a place in my life. I have been drawing from the time I could hold a crayon and I am very fortunate that my family is full of creative and encouraging people. I was very lucky that my parents found a way for me to take formal drawing and painting lessons when I was a kid and as I got older it was just understood that I’d go to college and study some field of art. I started out majoring in Drafting and then moved on to Art History. I finally settled on Photography and received my BFA from the University of Hawai’i. Even if I had never gone to ‘art school’ I still feel like I would have found a way to incorporate creativity into my life wherever I ended up, because really isn’t that what being an artist is all about?

How would you describe your style?

I’d like to say something profound about style here, but, honestly, I don’t really feel like I have a distinct “style”. To me the best art is multi-dimensional and I try to incorporate that into the things I create. My favorite work marries obvious mainstream imagery with personal imagery creating art work that anyone can view and understand but that holds special meaning, a sort of secret meaning, for me. I love almost all mediums but particularly love art that is done with paper and paint and of course, photography.

Can you explain what inspires you?

Everything! There is so much going on in the world today…and in my own world. I have a four-year-old son who doesn’t let a day pass without being 100% in the moment and that certainly has changed my perspective on time and getting things done.
I am also in awe of the connectivity that we as artists share via the internet. There’s no limit to what you can see and learn these days. I can remember going to the library in our little town and pouring over books just wishing that I could find a picture of this or that. Now all one has to do is type a query into the Google search box and whatever you want pops right up on the screen. It is amazing.
I am in love with flickr and blogs, too.

What kinds of interests do you have outside of this form of expression?

I try to run at least 3 times a week. If I can’t go I get sort of fuzzy…like I have one of those little squiggly lines above my head. I have found running to be the best way for me to clear my head and get back to center. I always feel better after I have gone…even if it was a hard run.

I also enjoy reading. It is nice to lose yourself in a book every once and a while!

I also own a small scrapbooking company called Story of My Life. We sell monthly scrapbooking kits and running the company and website definitely fuels my love of personal documentation.

How do you keep motivated when things get tough in the studio?

I keep journals. I have tons of journals that are full of ideas, photos, pages ripped from magazines, napkins…you name it. It was a hard adjustment for me to make once my son was born. I went from being able to just drop whatever I was doing to work on a project to being responsible for this tiny little human. I learned that if an idea presented itself I had better store it somewhere safe and then when I had the time I could break it out. The problem is not inspiration…it is time management! I will say that having time to work is not as much of an issue now that Hunter is older, and especially because he wants to make art of his own, but the all-nighter is a thing of the past!

What advice would you give to some just starting to explore their creative side?

Don’t be intimidated—just go for it. Journals are your friend…you never have to show them to anyone unless you want to and that safety is wonderful for truthful self-expression.

In celebration of Digital Scrapbooking Day, myTego, a producer of custom skins for all kinds of electronic devices, invites you to participate in a design challenge. If your design is chosen, you’ll win a gift certificate to order your own skins using your design and the opportunity to have your design included in their catalog.

Go here to get more details on the contest.

I found this little book (and it is tiny) in my basket of mini books the other day and I realized I had not filled the envelopes with any faith messages. When I did the book, I did not know what I wanted to put in it. I only knew that I wanted the book to be full of hope. I am at a point in my life where I am filling up with hope.

This weekend, create a Book of Faith for yourself and fill it with encouraging messages. We all need a little sunshine every now and again, so why not give it to yourself.

In her words: Did you ever do the latchhook kits when you were young?  Well, I am using the latchhook canvas material for my piece. You don’t have to buy a kit to get the material; you can purchase it by itself.  My favorite technique is the faux rusty wire where I used a rust solution on it.  My finished piece using the faux rust wire. I love it since I don’t like dealing with real wire and bending it or rusting it. The material is very flexible, so it bends around like a canvas.

Audrey says the white paper behind the transparency of Montana is textured wallpaper.

This is an exercise in appreciating your own talent. We all have it, we just forget sometimes. I tend to use earthy tones and this page goes completely against that. It is bold and in your face. I love that about it.

I promise to share how I create my digital backgrounds. I have not been one to record my process, but I would like to start. I enjoy sharing and encouraging others to make their own designs. It is easier than you think.

One of the first things you have to do is be in a creative frame of mind. You have to believe you are creative. Without this simple and critical step, you will not reach your full potential. Don’t wait for others to tell you how good you are, KNOW how good you are. One of our biggest problems is we compare ourselves to others. You are uniquely you and can not be like anyone else. Comparing yourself and your artistic skills to someone else’s is a waste of your time. So, start off by believing with everything in you that you are creative.

Secondly, make a commitment to create everyday. If making art is your chosen creative area, art does not have to mean a 30′ x 40′ canvas. Your art can be small, playing card sized, in fact. I have done a series of fabric postcards that were no larger than 4” x 6”. I would create all of my backgrounds one day and work on another layer as each day went by. By the end of a week’s time, I had a set of completed postcards ready to mail to my writing buddies. When I scrapbook, I do not always finish a page the same day I start. Again, I may select my images or do my journaling first, then pick the papers and elements I plan to use and by the third day, start assembling the page. I make time to be creative, even if it is only 15 mintues a day, it is still time I commit to growing as an artist.

Third, create an environment that nurtures your creativity. Dedicate a space, no matter how big or small, to be creative. My creativity spot is mobile most of the time. Since I work a lot with the computer, I have a favorite area on my living room couch next to a large window. I set the mood with some music, my journal and all of the materials I need to work with. If I am being more organic, like painting or working with paper, I have a dedicated area in the basement where most of my materials reside. It is not a big space and I have been known to grab what I need and work on the dining room table instead (hence all the paint and ink marks on the table). I am flexible about my environment, but where ever I am, I make it work for me.

Next, start a creativity file. You never know when you may need some inspiration. I have a morgue to store just about anything that inspires me. My morgue consist of quotes, pictures, color palettes, words, ephemera, blogs and so on. You can read more about starting a creativity morgue here. I read a lot, so I am always finding something new to add to my files.

Finally, surround yourself with like-minded people. If you are serious about building a creative life, one of the best things you can do to help sustain it is build a creative community around yourself. There is nothing like having a support system when you are in a creative slump or having an, “I completely suck at this!” moment. I have a variety of kindred spirits around me who give it to me straight and encourage me to follow my heart and my dreams. We share techniques, uplifting words and empower each other and ourselves with our friendship.

Having a creative life is a lot easier than it may seem. We are all born creative; sometimes we forget that, but we are. Taking the time to nurture and grow your creative life is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Give yourself permission to play, learn and grow. Give yourself permission to just be. I wish you much joy on your journey and wild, free ­spirited creativity on the way.

She presented me with some thought provoking questions that made me think and I must say, it is my most authentic interview to date and that feels pretty good.