Please introduce yourself.
Hi, I’m Jessi Brooks, a metal artist.

Tell us about your favorite art medium.
I love metal, probably from growing up with mechanics in my family. I love the smell & feel of the medium and how any idea I have I can bring to life from a pile of scrap material! 

Who/what is/are your biggest artistic influences?
I have several influences starting with the world around me. I also love, love, love color and mid-century modern design.

What motivates you to create?
I think my desire to create comes from somewhere deep and wanting to express myself in a way that words can’t express. It’s a messy process but the results are worth it!

When is your favorite time of day to create? Any time of day… my mental alarm clock gets me up at the crack of dawn so I can start early and most likely you’ll hear me in the studio til 1 or 2 am. It’s quite a lovely obsession. 

Does art help you in other areas of your life?
Most definitely.  Not only is it meditative, but it also brings a sense of community since I show my art at fine art shows. It gets me out of my shell, helps me make the most amazing connections not just with fans of my work but other artists as well.

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Read Jessi’s previous interview here

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Please introduce yourself.
I am Jane Welles, and I am a plein air painter. Plein air means painting out in the open, setting up the easel on the spot. I will do small studies outside and take those into the studio to paint larger paintings.

Tell us about your favorite art medium.
My favorite medium is oil. I also like to use gouache when painting outside because it dries faster, is lighter to carry and cleans up faster.

Who/what is/are your biggest artistic influences?
Because I like to paint landscapes, the artists I like are the early California impressionists like Edgar Payne, Hanson Puthoff, and William Wendt.  There are many contemporary artists I look to for inspiration like Clyde Aspevig, Josh Elliot, Katherine Stats, and Scott Christensen.

What motivates you to create?
I love the landscape and all I need to do is go outside to find something to paint. Something has to grab me about the scene to get me excited to paint it. I look for big shapes, contrasts in light and color, and composition. I always do a sketch first to work out values and composition. Sketching saves time in the long run because it can help to see problems before the commitment to paint. It is also a good way to try out small changes that can make a big difference in a painting.

When is your favorite time of day to create?
Lighting in a landscape painting makes all the difference. The best times to paint are early and late in the day. Lighting in the middle of the day tends to flatten out the subject.  

Does art help you in other areas of your life?
Painting for me is a way to communicate how I feel about the landscape. For me, I think it reduces stress because it feels like meditating, and I get lost in the process of painting. I enjoy getting out with my painting buddies, painting can be a solitary profession and getting out with friends adds important socialization.

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Read Jane’s previous interview here.

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Please introduce yourself.
Hello! I am Diane Tharp.

Tell us about your favorite art medium.
I paint in watercolors. I’ve tried other mediums, but I always return to my favorite medium, watercolors!

Who/what is/are your biggest artistic influences?
I have a huge appreciation for all kinds of art and styles! The artists that think outside of the box and create truly unique and creative artwork always impress me!

What motivates you to create?
Most always its experiences in nature that motivate me! The outdoors is my happy place! I’m grateful to live in the country in North Auburn where I’m immersed in nature!

When is your favorite time of day to create?
I’m a night owl and I find I enjoy painting late into the evening! I’d rather be out enjoying the day!

Does art help you in other areas of your life?
Painting is a grounding and meditative experience for me! Having this creative outlet is a positive and fulfilling part of my life, and I think I’m a better person for it!

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Read Diane’s previous interview here.

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Please introduce yourself.
I am Susan Stoll. I am a photographer.

Tell us about your favorite art medium.
Photography allows me to share up close observations of line, color, light and shadow found in nature with others.

Who/what is/are your biggest artistic influences?
Nature provides endless inspiration. The world around never ceases to amaze me.

What motivates you to create?
Art is at the heart of who I am as an individual. Taking the time to really see the world around me provides motivation to create.

When is your favorite time of day to create?
For photoshoots, I love overcast or cloudy days. Although shooting in bright light or stormy conditions can still yield interesting results.

Does art help you in other areas of your life?
Creative thinking and the ability to adapt to unexpected challenges are tools that I find useful in various ways.

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Read Susan’s previous interview here.

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Please introduce yourself.
Hello, my name is Christina, and I call myself a jewelry artist.

Tell us about your favorite art medium.
Metal design, from jewelry to sculpture, is my favorite art medium. I love the many ways it can be manipulated.

Who/what is/are your biggest artistic influences?
My biggest influence was my father. He always said it is good to express yourself. I express myself through art. Along the way, the more I was outside, the more nature influenced my designs.

What motivates you to create?
Nature motivates me to create with its unique shapes, sizes, textures, and images.

When is your favorite time of day to create?
My favorite time to create is in the morning. As the day starts, so do my visions of new designs and ideas.

Does art help you in other areas of your life?
Art makes my life feel calm and complete. It makes those 8-hour, 5-day-a-week office workdays go smoother.

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Read Christina’s previous interview here.

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Please introduce yourself.
Hi, my name is Suzanne Himmler and I’m the creative force behind Riverwoman Design.

Tell us about your favorite art medium.
Color and cutting big things into small things and putting them back together, first as a seamstress, then stained glass, quilting, bead stitching and finally and best metalwork with fine gemstones.

Who/what is/are your biggest artistic influences?
Life is my influence, finding beauty in everyday things, hoping to be able to translate large ideas into small and precious things.

What motivates you to create?
I am driven to create, it’s not a choice or a diversion, but the fabric of my life.

When is your favorite time of day to create?
All day, every day and when I cannot sleep late at night, I spend that time imagining new pieces for the next day.

Does art help you in other areas of your life?
I am enriched by the community of artists I am surrounded with, each of them supports and sustains me in friendship and creative exchange.