Featured Member: Linda Poche

What inspires you to create?

Anything. Everything. My mom is an artist, so I’ve been surrounded by art all my life. I took art classes in junior high school and was an apprentice for my mom my senior year of high school. I love exploring any kind of museum, in part because I am fascinated with public spaces and how we communicate through form and display. Nature has endless beauty and man-made structures can be amazing in either their complexity or simplicity. We live in a visually stunning world.

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

I’ve played with art all my life. I’ve enjoyed photography exploration, hand building ceramics, being arts supervisor at day camp, building sets for educational theater groups, designing layouts for poster art (before computers!), and doodling on all my notes through two and a half degrees in English. I grew much more serious about it after I married my amazing husband who said I should “go for it” and see if I could start my own arts and crafts business.

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

I don’t know how to answer this question. I can’t imagine my life without art.

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

Working as a merchandising manager for Barnes & Noble Bookstores let me use my artistic bent to design wild and awesome window displays. As a day camp counselor, I had to post schedules for our activities and I drew all kinds of illustrations on them to make them more interesting. (And the kids loved it!) And I volunteered time with an educational theater group and ran two university film groups: both of these interests gave me experience at creating visually appealing advertising materials to draw audiences in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

There are sections?

 

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

What would you like to teach me? I’m willing to try almost anything (although needle arts are probably at the bottom of that list).

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

I designed a one-woman installation show ages ago that would have all interactive pieces and fill an entire gallery space. It would include so many of the cool things I’ve seen in museums and galleries. It would teach important ideas to kids and make adults stop and rethink preconceptions.

 

Featured Member Interview: Iris Musselwhite

What inspires you to create?

Everything is an inspiration.  When I was 12 years old, my Mother signed me up for

art lessons across from my school. I started in drawing and progressed to watercolors.
From the moment I walked into that house and saw the art supplies, I was totally hooked.
I have been taking enrichment classes ever since and you guys know that is quite a while
ago.

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

Art pretty much took me over.  It was my dreamy place to go where no one else could be, I thought.  Then over the years I have found great friends who liked to do the same things I did. 

If you weren't an artist, what would you be?
I cannot imagine not painting and drawing.  That means everything to me. I have had many vocations but only one career that has lasted me a lifetime.

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

The Day Care that I had for over thirty years afforded me the opportunity to share and teach and affect the lives of many children.  One of my big jobs was to be the main person to touch

each child with art.  My kids were so creative that on many occasions they would totally amaze me.

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

In the art store, the most fantastic place there is, there is everything to make your creativity come alive. I am like a kid in the candy store.  I am always checking out the art books for new techniques and new ideas.

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

My latest new technique is creating ocean water with watercolor and acrylic inks.  I am working on it now and hope to have it perfected by September and I can add it to my demo.  It is a great new technique.  Wish me luck.

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

To be honest, I am truly where I want to be. Working three days a week and making art four days.  Who could ask for more than that?

You're right, Iris; that does sound ideal!  Thanks so much for the interview.

 

Featured Member Interview: Lucy Shupe

What inspires you to create?

Everything - of course!  Nature; photos - old & new; other people's art - old & new; family history - old & new; patterns; old things and odd things; sometimes even the art materials themselves.

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

I can't remember a time when I wasn't doing something 'creative.'  Some of my earliest memories are of making paper doll families and clever things for my Barbie dolls.  I received my first camera in fifth grade and have rarely been without one since.  I often feel as though I see the world through a viewfinder - whether I have a camera in my hands or not.  I also started making cards early on.  Of course it was just folded construction paper and crayon flowers back then.  The older I got the more things I tried: sewing, painting, knitting, embroidery, making miniatures, baking. writing, jewelry, rubber stamping, and scrapbooking (to name a few!).  If I'm not making something and expressing myself I'm not happy.  I can never decide which is my favorite art form - I love it all.  In the more recent past I have added digital art, altered books, and now - art journaling.

manila folder

folder inside

   

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

Frustrated.  Perhaps I would be a baker.  I used to be quite the cookie baker, but now everyone is watching their figures!

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

Most of the jobs I have had were so boring that they pushed me towards the creative things in my free time.

altered book

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

Where I head first in the art store is totally dependent on the day, but I rarely walk out with only one medium.  It's all good.

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

I'm always up for new things!  At the moment I'm exploring different forms of art journaling.  I would like to learn more about art quilting.  And I'm always wishing I had time to learn more digital art techniques.  My list of future projects is quite long.  If only I had the time and energy.

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

Achieve world peace...  Save the planet...  Spread the joy of art!

Thanks for this peek into your creative world, Lucy!

Cape Cod Flowers