Tuesday, February 26, 2008

A CONVERSATION WITH ANDREA!

This is a conversation with Andrea an artist who lives in Paris with her husband and Oscar, the cat. I think you will find her a fascinating, beautiful person and a brilliant artist. She has graciously shared some of her art with us today and even drawn one especially for this conversation. As always, these images, words and ideas hold a copyright by Andrea.



Andrea, you have a lot of creative interests and your background is quite interesting, too. You have some exciting projects before you and are a very busy artist. I am so excited you have chosen to share your work and life here in this interview.

K: You are fluent in 4 languages, is that right?





A: „Yes, almost, my mothertongue is german, and I’m fluent in french and english and speak spanish quite well.



K: You understand as an American that is quite remarkable.


K: Do you have a web presence in each language or publish any trilingual blogs or web sites?






A: „I have french website at http://www.cestandrea.book.fr but no trilingual blog or website. Maybe in the future, for now this takes too much time from my already restricted studio-time.






K: I understand that. I have read an artist needs to spend 50% on art making and 50% on marketing. Then just today I read where someone said 20% on art making and 80% on marketing. Can you imagine? Time, if we could only have more.



K: Would you consider a multilingual web presence?



A: “If I were to put up a website, yes, sure.





K: Will you give us a brief history of your creativity?



A: “I have been drawing and painting my whole life, but decided to follow my second passion and study languages, when I was young. I then worked international as a translator and trilingual assistant for almost twenty years. I painted and created in my spare time, taking evening courses in oil painting, etching, drawing, watercolour, and nude painting and was part of a woman’s artist group in Germany. In 1995 I moved to Strasbourg, France and in 2001 to Paris, where I decided to go “back” to studies. Thanks to a scholarship I took evening courses in Photoshop and Illustrator design for a year and in 2003 enrolled in a full-time private artschool in Paris where I got my diploma as a textile designer two years later. Since then I have been working my way through many different creative activities, mostly related to textile design, in order to make a living with my art. I have worked in the fashion-fabric industry as a pattern designer, have hand-painted T-shirts and crocheted fun-bags.
At the moment I have a parttime job at a non profit art-photography association where I work from Monday to Friday in the afternoon. The mornings and weekends are dedicated to the creation of a collection of designs for the textile industry and to my sacred idea-sketchbook.”



K: What a fascinating journey. I have always felt as though the journey is so much a part of the art I create now. It sounds as though that is also true for you. Actually, I can see that in your work.



K: What inspires you to create?



A: “Everything. Nature, thoughts, people, colours. I commute a lot and I’m taking in everything that is happening around me. I sketch a lot while “metroing”. I’m also very much inspired by all the friends, artists themselve[s], I found through blogging in Internet.”

K: I can see that in your sketchbook work. Yes, you are very much a people person and a huge doer.



K: You have a new and exciting project before you. Will you share that here?







A: “I became very fond of playing around with a little creature I invented recently and which I’d like to publish in a magazine and later in a book. At the moment I spend every free minute illustrating because I just feel well with it. It is one of the media which I need right now to fully express the feelings I’m experiencing when I look at the world around me. “





K: I think it is wonderful to go with what feels right for you. As you have been told by many people, there is a great future in your new project. I am so eager to watch your journey. I am sure you have also sparked the interest of others who will be eager to watch how this progresses.



K: You have a very strong sense of the joy life and that shows in your work. How do you maintain that each day? Do you have a secret?







A:“I think that I have no secret, I only try to enjoy what I do, to bring joy and love to myself and such to the others. Also to have fun with what I’m doing, if I must do it anywayJ or else try to change the things I have to do and which bother me.



K: Yes, the secret is living an authentic life! I think that means everything! Good for you.



K: You are a very generous person and that shows on your blog and with your work. Have you always been accused of being generous in the other parts of your life?







A: Generous with love and colour yes, but not in a material way cause I’m known to have a very careless relationship with money:) But as I have lots of love, I may as well be generous with it!



K: Well that is the most important generosity - Love!…because, as is said, that is what makes the world go around and it is no good unless you give it away. And you are so very generous with your colors! So very true! As far as a careless money relationship, I think that probably comes from generosity, too, although it is something we all must be careful about.



K: What materials and mediums do you enjoy working with the most?







A: “Acrylic paints on fabric and canvas and paper, watercolour, ink and brush and pen, pencil, fiber, thread, coloured pencil, photography.”



K: What do your days look like? You seem to manage your time well.



A: “I get up at 8 (in winter, at 6.30 in summer). Then I exercise, sometimes inside sometimes outside for half an hour, have breakfast with the cat, then work on the computer or in the studio before taking off to parttime job. I have to leave home around 12.15 and get home at 6 in the evening. When I come home, I paint or draw a little hour, prepare dinner and watch TV movie with my husband. Or read, when there is no interesting movie. But when I read, I sleep”



K: You are very busy! And such a good woman to be getting your exercise in daily. You do work your studio/drawing time in any moment you can. When you read you sleep because you have been so busy.



K: How do you think you were able to find your creative voice?







A:“By getting rid of all the other voices, this took time and age!”



K: Oh, how I can understand that! A beautiful answer.



K: What other artist inspire you (living or not)?







A: The great and famous: I simply adore Picasso, Oskar Kokoschka, Paul Klee, Rothko, Pollock yess, Paula Modersohn Becker, Käthe Kollwitz, Wilhelm Busch and I could go on for hours, the living ones: the artists that I meet via Internet!”



K: You are right, there are so many wonderful artists, both long past and alive.



K: What is the most difficult creative project you have faced?







A: “The present one, find a way to bring my creativity to the people”



K: True! That is a HUGE challenge.


K: What are you looking forward to now?







A: “I’m looking forward to a publication of my Miss Doodle’s Day drawings, and to my next meeting with a canvas, the easel and my acrylic paints, I miss them.”



K: It is difficult to miss old friends and to be making news ones, too. Give yourself a gift soon of your time with the easel and paints. You deserve that. Miss Doodle is a wonderful character, and I am sure she is going to make as big a sensation in the print world as she has in the blog world! It is a very exciting thing for an artist to have their work published and Miss Doodles is clearly heading in that direction.



K: What other things would you like people to know about you, your art, Miss Doodle, etc.?








A:“I’m happy about the comments I get from people about my art, they keep me going and help me to focus on what I’m good at.”

This picture perfectly illustrates my personal and spiritual development as a typical aries:



From age 19 to 33 I road the motorbike, from 33 to 43 the bycicle. Since 2001 I walk:)




K: And you are so good at the things you do! I love this sketch so very much. It is just wonderful how you reflect on your own life on a daily basis as well as a life basis and can so successfully share that with others. It is like the novelist who writes about everyday things which is so appealing to others because they can identify with it immediately. I want everyone to see all the lovely things you have said about them and about your work, Andrea. You are an inspiration to so many artists and non-artist, alike. I appreciate the time you have given to this interview and the time, inspiration and love you have given to so many artist…myself included.



Andreas work can be found at: http://www.cestandrea.blogspot.com/ and you can find Miss Doodle’s Day at: http://www.missdoodlesday.blogspot.com/

[note: Tomorrow's post will be a little more on this project]


36 comments:

Lynette said...

Kim, what an outstanding interview with an amazing artist, bravo!! I am now looking forward to visiting Andrea's blogs!

Unknown said...

Dear Kim, it has been a joy to be interviewed by you. It was fun to answer your questions.

Thanks so much for all the work you put into this project, I love the outcome and your idea of sharing our feelings and experiences with our blogfriends in this way!

Have a wonderful day, I'll put a post on my blog with a link to here, we are all connected...

Anonymous said...

I have been following Andrea's work for a while now and I think she is just brilliant. Terrific interview, thanks for sharing it!

human being said...

Brilliant job!
Good questions bringing up a good discussion.
Thanks a lot.

Andrea and Kim said...

Lynette! Thank you! Andrea is amazing and quite wonderful. I know you are going to enjoy her blogs so very much! Do go and visit and have a delightful time!

Thanks for Visiting!

Andrea and Kim said...

Andrea! The joy was all mine to be sure. You are so wonderful to work with and I feel honored to be able to have this conversation with you here. I am glad you are pleased with the outcome. As always I am irritated with the spacing issues I have with blogger, but one day I will have that worked out.

Thank you again for the honor and opportunity to do this.

Andrea and Kim said...

Thank You, Sue! Andrea is fantastic, I agree! I am glad you like the conversation...she made my part very easy, I can tell you that!

Andrea and Kim said...

HB...thank you so much! As I said to Sue, Andrea made my part easy!

Thanks for visiting me today!

sukipoet said...

Hi. I have been reading Andrea's blog since its beginning I think and I love it and her art and she is an amazing and wonderful person. Thank you Kim for doing this interview which is wonderful. Be well, Suki

Andrea and Kim said...

Suki, thank you for your kind words here. Andrea does have a lovely, gentle blog which is so personal, yet professional.

It was very much my pleasure to have this conversation with Andrea. As you can imagine, she made it very easy, indeed!

Thank you for stopping by today, Suki.

~Babs said...

Fabulous interview, Kim and Andrea! Great artwork too!
I adore Miss Doodle!!!
Thanks to you both!

Andrea and Kim said...

Babs! I am so glad you were able to visit today! And, I am glad you like what you saw! Doesn't Andrea do some wonderful art? Miss Doodle! Well, we have to visit her each day...or at least look to see what she has been up to! :)

Thanks Babs! Have a Fun Trip!

Mary Richmond said...

Thanks so much for a delightful, insightful interview of a charming artist and human being! Nice work.

Cathie said...

What a delightful concept - interviewing and posting about artists like this. I think you're on to something here Kim. Your questions were thoughtful and thought provoking and, of course, Andrea's answers were enchanting.
I can't wait to see who is next!
Great job.

Andrea and Kim said...

Thank you, Mary! Andrea is indeed charming!

I am glad you liked the conversations shared here. Like I said before, Andrea made it quite easy.

Andrea and Kim said...

Thanks Cleveland! I am glad you like this idea. As I said yesterday several people have been asking me about doing this, so we will see who's next. You seriously didn't think I would tell you, did you? :)

Seriously, I am happy you felt it was a positive decision for both Andrea and me!

Again, thank you!

soulbrush said...

very interesting, and informative to read.

colorspeaker said...

This is great work,inspiring,generous, and artistically minded. It is a perfect forum for you-full of inciteful questions and the artist's work as well. So proud of you!
julianne
http://www.colorspeaker.com
http://www.VisualSalon.blogspot.com

Andrea and Kim said...

Thank you , Forever! I am glad you enjoyed it! I know you follow Andrea's work. Thanks for stopping by here to read a little more about her.

Andrea and Kim said...

Julianne! Thank you so much for all of your inspiration. You are the catalyst for me to move this idea forward! Thanks so much!

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

Kim this was wonderful. I so enjoy Andreas Art and She's also is a very special person in/of herself. I think you captured that very well. Thanks for doing this for all of us who so enjoy her work. It was very inspiring.

Andrea and Kim said...

Cris, believe me when I say the pleasure was all mine! I am glad you enjoyed peeking in on our conversation. You are right, she is very special.

San said...

Kim, thank you for introducing me to this most intriguing artist with an impressive range. Your questions were quite thoughtful and invited her to open up--great job!

Andrea and Kim said...

San, I am glad you were able to meet her here. She is a wonderful artist and a beautiful person. Thank you so much for your kind words about the questions, too. This is a new adventure for me, but I enjoyed it very much! You know anytime I can talk about art and the people who make it! :)

Thanks so much, San, for visiting today!

Daphne Enns said...

Hi Kim.

Blogger ate my comment!

I enjoyed your first interview. Andrea's scope of work is broad and all of it is so strong. I always feel a certain sense of affirmation when I read that there are other artists out there learning new things and processes from time to time. And the fact that Andrea speaks four languages is impressive too.

And you are a very gracious interviewer by the way.

Anonymous said...

Kim,

Sorry I am late looking at this fabulous interview - I was painting hard yesterday...

You are a great interviewer!
It give us the chance to know Andrea a bit better....
What a wonderful and generous person she is.
Thank you for your gift.

Danielle

Andrea and Kim said...

Hi Daphne, I am so sorry blogger did that to you! I have had that happen, too! Sometimes I get wise and copy what I have typed before I hit "Publish".

Andrea is truly awesome! I am glad you were able to meet here here, too. Do visit her blogs as they are a delight!

I also appreciate your very kind words to me! Thank you!

Andrea and Kim said...

Ohhh Danielle, I can't wait to see what you have to share! I love it when you say you have been painting as it always means a treat!

I am glad you liked the interview. As you well know, Andrea is an amazing artist and an amazing person.

Also thank you for your kind words to me.

The gift is all my pleasure, I can assure you.

Diane Widler Wenzel said...

I am sick with dissapointment. Blogger has blocked the link to your blog. I just couldn't believe your surprise was to delete your blog, so finally I went into Internet Explorer and was able t bring up your blog. Although I must go through some obstacles toread your blog I will stay tuned in. You are a hub of creativity.

Andrea and Kim said...

What do you mean? I am here and going strong! I can get to it, but you can't. I can even get to it through other web pages. Hang in there and keep trying with the link. I will see what I can learn about all of this. In the meantime if you, or anyone else, have/has any ideas let me know!

Thanks for the heads up, Diane!

Anonymous said...

an absolutely outstanding interview with an absolutely wonderful artist! Thanks for drawing out all this information - it's always fun to learn more about out friends!

Andrea and Kim said...

Thanks Tammy! Andrea really is a wonderful artist, you are so right!

I appreciate you stopping by to see what she had to say and to leave such a nice comment!

Come by again!

Chris Bolmeier said...

Kim,
I wanted to interview Andrea but you beat me to the punch. Great interview, she's a very talented lady.
Chris Bolmeier

Andrea and Kim said...

Oh Chris! I am sure Andrea would speak with you about another interview! You would probably get different information from her. You can ask!

She is very talented and such a beautiful person.

Thank you for visiting me, though!

Carla said...

What a wonderful interview with Andrea. Now I even know here a bit better. It.s such a nice person. And on a high creative level. If everyone has just a little of Andrea, the world would be a better place. But this is a start.
You did a wonderful job.

Andrea and Kim said...

Thank you, Carla! I am glad you feel the conversation with Andrea helped you know this fine artist a little bit better. She is an incredible person, you are so right. I like your idea of if everyone had a little bit of Angela the world would be a better place.

Thank you for your kind words. I hope you will visit me again, soon.