Featured Member Interview: Maureen Seltzer

Maureen Seltzer

Web site:  www.seltzersart.com

Facebook:  Maureen Seltzer's Art Studio

The Loft web site:  www.WFartistsloft.com

The Loft Facebook:  The Artists Loft @ Wake Forest Coffee

What inspires you to create?

Sometimes it can be as simple as a pattern that I see in my day or a splash of color that I catch out of the corner of my eye that gets into my mind. I often listen to music as I work and find that a song will trigger an image. In my play list I have a song called Mother Earth by Natalie Mac Master every time that song played I would see this wild horse in my mind. I did not collage it right away but waited until it came in focus and then grabbed a sheet of paper and got the sketch down.  I also often work in series so if I’m working on a bird I will get the idea for another bird painting. It is also fun to see how I can take the wildly abstract printed papers and turn them into some not so abstract. Sometimes it is the paper that will inspire me like when I was eating a burger at Char Grill and it was like I should use their slips and collage the Char Grill. I’m still working on this one.

When did you decide to pursue art or did art pursue you?

I believe that art pursued me. One of the memories I have back in school was around second grade and I was getting a lot of attention for my art. This was good because I was having trouble with everything else; it was not much later that I would learn that I have Dyslexia. If it had not been for art and a wonderful High School that let me follow that path I’m not sure that I would have finished school. I also believe that my parents gave me permission to make a mess with all kinds of art stuff and helped to feed that creativity.

When did you begin to call yourself an artist?

It took a long time for me to call myself an artist, it was much easier to call myself a craftsman. But with time and the help of wonderful friends I can say yes I’m an artist, I might not be the best, my art might not hang in a museum but I’m an artist nonetheless.

If you weren't an artist, what would you be?

I would be an archaeologist because I love history and the study of how people from the past lived. I watch a lot of the history channel I know it might be boring for some of you but I love it.I love to see then dug stuff from the past. 

What other jobs have you had which have aided you on your artistic path?

I have a two year degree in Industrial Photographic Science. I have worked in many places like R& D research for Polaroid and in the graphic arts department as a darkroom technician for SAS. I also was the last darkroom technician for the local paper in town The Wake Weekly. With each of these jobs I was able to develop my eye to see things better which helped me with my drawing ability. With my job at Polaroid I was able to ask what if we did this or that and I use this in my art all the time. I also have worked with children from preschool to high school for a long time. They have taught me to enjoy the process of creating and not the end product. I feel that the kids have taught me more than I have taught them.

At the art supply store, which section do you gravitate to first?

As my most used supply is what most people throw out like hand written shopping notes, old phone books, old maps and the like about the only thing that I go to the art supply store for is paint and something to collage on. I do get lost sometimes looking for any thing that I can use to make the texture on my printed papers.

What new technique or art form would you like to learn?  Do you have plans to do so?

I’m trying so hard to keep blinders on right now and not lose focus on building a body of work in the collage field. If I could I would run to try cold wax painting and might just have to give it a try in the future.

If you could do anything, and knew you could not fail, what would you choose to do?

I have been blessed to see one of those things come to pass in my life time. I have always had a dream of having a place for artist to come together and work and sell what they have produced with their hands. Three years ago I was able to see this happen and opened The Artist Loft & Gallery @ Wake Forest Coffee. Albert Barneto the owner of the coffee shop runs the money end and I run the art end. It has been hard work and has pushed me to new level of learning so much of the business of the art world.

I have had the pleasure of working with a great group of artists that all work together for the good of the studio. I do have another dream that who knows it could happen. I love children’s picture books and would love to illustrate one someday.