INTERVIEW
conducted by Aaron B. Jackson (6/30/06)
How did you go from studying engineering to a career as an artist?
I think people in general have many talents and a plethora of avenues to pursue in life. I have always loved math and the sciences and I excelled in these subjects throughout my entire education. Because of this, my high school Calculus teacher encouraged me to pursue a career in engineering and upon following her advice, I did a little research and considered it a valuable career path. However, my love for math and physics did not naturally translate into a love for engineering. The specifics of that career field neither excited me nor stimulated my creativity. So I reevaluated my goals and future plans, and decided to pursue another love of mine, the arts. I am just fortunate this one stuck.
What are the connections (if any) between the world of math and science and the world of visual art?
Concepts of symmetry and abstract patterns freely cross the line between math and art. The study of geometry, of complex shapes and lines, reach the canvas or marble or animation of any artist. I believe the disciplines are by nature, intertwined. Particularly in motion graphics, we find the same graphs and curves and calculations in our animation programs as you would find in any math textbook. Principals of 3D space and time are the very foundations we use to create what we do as visual artists working in motion graphics. I believe the connections are endless.
What are some of the awards that you have won?
Every project I’ve worked on has been a collaborative experience. And any award I’ve won has been the direct result of everyone’s hand who has worked on those projects. With that said and with extreme gratitude, I’ve won an Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Emmy Award, an AD&D (Art Directors and Directors Award), 2 BDA (Broadcast Designers Award) 1 gold, 1 silver, 3 Promax Gold awards. I was selected as a winner in Communication Arts 2004 Design Annual and as a prize finalist in Print Magazine’s “Best of Show”, coming in second place to Stefan Sagmeister, an artist I greatly admire and whose work has inspired my own as an artist/designer. Aside from design awards, I was also a selected as a finalist in Los Angeles County Museum’s Public Art Show, which showcased my Untitled piece.
What artists have influenced you and your work?
As I just mentioned, Sagmeister has been an inspiration, Tibor Kalman, Bruce Mau, Paul Rand, and David Carson to name a few. My work has been influenced by my fellow designing peers, architects, fashion designers, furniture designers, and product designers. I’m influenced by painters such as Brice Marden, Botichelli, Jochen Klein, Laura Owens, and Dmitri Gutov. Photographers such as Lars Tunbjork, Joel Sternfeld, and Walker Evans.
How would you describe your creative process?
Every project begins with ideas. I then gather as much visual stimulation as possible that relates to the ideas within the project. From these initial ideas, I build concepts and then link these concepts to images. Much of my work is intuitive conceptually, and then I use the tools and knowledge behind design to flush out those concepts.
How has being a mother changed you as an artist?
That’s a great question because I believe I made up my mind to pursue art when I became a mother. There is a huge perspective shift in your life when you become a parent and in order to teach my son the importance of following your heart and doing what you love, I first had to pave the path. I think parents in any field need to be more efficient in their lives due to the demands of raising children. Being a mother helps me to balance my work with my life.
What projects are you currently working on?
I am currently working on a branding project for a film editing company and designing a show package for a Brazilian Music Television series.
What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing young people who are pursuing a career in the arts?
I think the biggest challenge facing young artists today lies in finding their own voice. The world is full of artists, so one must create that which is their own. Young artists need to develop the tools necessary to effectively market themselves in this competitive world.
What is your favorite animal and why?
My favorite animal is the whale. They seem other worldly traveling the scope of the earth under water. They move gracefully, are gentle and powerful.
