Art Talk with Allison J Bratt.

Welcome to Art Talk on Inkless Magazine.com.  In this article we will be talking to Allison J Bratt of Portland, Oregon about her art, and to learn a little about her own creative direction.

(I.M)  Allison, growing up in San Jose, California what types of influences persuaded you to further your education in the art fields?

(A.B)  As long as I can remember, I have been interested in art. At a young age, both my mother and father exposed me to different art classes, and my mother enjoyed drawing as well. With encouragement from family and friends, I continued to push my talent, exploring different types of art. My high school art teacher became a big influence because he opened the door to the possibilities of the art world, and helped build my confidence to apply to art school.

(I.M)  We understand that you relocated to Savannah, Georgia to obtain your Bachelor of Fine Art degree in painting, what were your attractions to the Savannah College of Art and Design?

(A.B)  Even though I had applied to several schools in state, I was pretty set on going somewhere outside of California. My high school art teacher was madly in love with the Savannah College of Art and Design.  When I visited Savannah, GA., I fell in love with its beauty and history.  The school was getting good marks, and continuing to grow.  I felt that if I was going to be going to a good school, and I could have the opportunity to be in a city that was rich with scenery and interesting people, then I shouldn’t pass that up.  I feel very fortunate to have studied there.

(I.M)  After four years of college what led you to relocate one more time to Portland, Oregon? What were the attractions for this move?

(A.B)  I enjoy living in new places and exploring the options around me. Originally, I was potentially going to move overseas, but that fell through. Oregon seemed like the next option because it wasn’t far from home, and seemed to fit best with my ideals.  Portland more specifically, because of its large art scene, sustainable way of living, laid back attitude, and lots of trees.

(I.M)  How does your educational experiences and current surroundings impact your creative process?

(A.B)  Even if my degree is not getting me a job currently, I do not think I would be able to make the art I am now, if I hadn’t have pushed and challenged myself in school.  Since high school, and since college, my work has gradually grown and improved because of the learning experience and exposure I obtained there.  The tools I learned inspire and challenge me in the work I am making now.  Being in Portland, Oregon, I am influenced by nature, my desire to progress and evolve, and the artist community that I live in.

(I.M)  You previously taught at the Marvegos Fine Art School for children, how do you feel art impacts your students who range from ages 4-1/2 to 17?

(A.B)  One of the main goals of the program is to build confidence in children.  The founder feels that everyone is creative, it just needs to be brought out.  The facilitators of Marvegos helpguide the children and allow them to explore different types of media, in a secure environment.  I think it impacts them tremendously, because they are able to “let go” of themselves and feel free with the materials.  We show them a different way of looking at the world around them, and this influences what they see, and how they portray that in their art.

(I.M)  In your class how many of your students (on average) enjoy practicing your lessons at home?

(A.B)  I do not know whether the students perform the same kind of assignments at home as they do in the studio, but I do hear feedback that they are more excited to draw or paint.  They have more of a desire to explore at home, once they have been exposed to different types of art- making in the classroom.  Parents often ask what materials we use in the studio, so that they can purchase them for their own home.

(I.M)  Do your students share a personal excitement when having their works judged?

(A.B)  We have never judged our student’s work.  Marvegos feels It makes the children too competitive, and that it is not what art should be about for children.  It is better to have them focus on their own creative process, and not worry about what others are doing.

(I.M)  Are your students receptive to being critiqued?

(A.B)  Yes, they are receptive to constructive criticism.  We try to give positive feedback, commenting on the colors or composition they used, or finding a strong point in what they have created.  We then see where there might be need for improvement, such as bringing out specific features, providing contrast, or having them fill all of the paper.  Most of the children take what you say into consideration and work longer on their piece until it is more completed.  Of course there are the children who like it “just the way it is,” and that is fine, too.

(I.M)  As an artist, how often do you create on location vs. from your studio?

(A.B)  I do not have a proper studio, so I usually just paint or draw at home. As far as on location, I have done that a few times, and enjoy it, but most of the time I just paint at my house, unless I am sketching or working on something specific.  I do enjoy painting with watercolors outside though, and have done this in various locations in Savannah, Georgia, and in Lacoste, France.

(I.M)  Referencing one of your oil on canvas paintings titled “Vineyard View,” was this one completed on location?  If so, where?

(A.B)  No, Vineyard View was not completed on location, but rather from a compilation of photographs from Napa Valley and other various reference pictures.  The painting did not come from one photograph though, so the picture does not actually exist, except for in painting form.   Vineyard View was actually a piece I was commissioned for by a man in San Jose, CA.

(I.M)  In our experience, it is common for artists to stay away from close ups on a subjects eyes, for fear of branding their art with an assigned character or soul. However, your painting titled “Allison Jo” comes to life because of this.  What is your story behind those eyes?

(A.B) This painting was done from a combination of a photograph and real life.  When I look at this painting of myself, I think about what kind of state of mind I was in at the time.  I was living in Oakland, California, and was going through a rough time.  When I look into my eyes of the painting, I see someone sad and longing for something else, something better than what I was feeling.  I think there is hope though, too, lurking behind the solemn face.

(I.M)  Referencing another of your works titled “Trompe L’oeil Collage,” what would be the best way to explain this piece?

(A.B)  In French, the word Trompe l’oeil means “to fool the eye.” This assignment was given to me in my first quarter of college, where we were to create a collage on paper, and then both paint the collage, and draw the collage, almost exactly as it is, to look as if it were real.  The items I chose for my collage do not have much specific meaning, but I chose the quote “no matter where you live or how old you are, you can decide to change your life.  That’s amazing” because I thought that it had a positive message.  The stick with color on it is actually carved into the wood and inscribes “Alli” on it, which was made by a good friend of mine in high school.  The other items I thought just looked visually interesting.

(I.M)  What are some of the advantages when working with oil rather than acrylic?

(A.B) Oil takes longer to dry, which could be a disadvantage if trying to work quickly, but can be an advantage when wanting to go back into a painting and make changes or blend the paint.  Oil paint is better for blending in general, allowing for a smooth transition between colors.  Oil is very luscious, and one of my favorite things about it, is that it is great for mixing color.  I could spend an hour mixing my palette, based on the range of color I can obtain and the voluptuous qualities that make it rich.

(I.M)  What are some of the disadvantages when working with oil rather than acrylics?

(A.B)  Like I mentioned before, oil takes a while to dry.  Unless wanting to do a painting in the style of alla prima (meaning “at once” in Italian,) it is difficult to finish oil paintings quickly.  Other disadvantages of oils are that they are toxic, harder to clean up, and more expensive than acrylics.

(I.M)  As an educator of the arts, what advice would you give to an aspiring artist when deciding what format or direction would be best for them?

(A.B) Follow your heart and do not give up.  If you know what you enjoy creating or working with, go for it, but do not stop building up your techniques.  Always challenge yourself.  If you are not sure which direction you should be going in, try a bunch of different things, play around with styles, techniques, materials, or invent your own.  If you need inspiration, look at an art magazine, book, gallery, etc. and allow the creative juices to flow.  And really, a lot of it is about confidence.  Be confident in what you are creating and do not be afraid to put it out into the world.

(I.M)  Are there any books or websites you would recommend to an aspiring artist?

(A.B) I look at websites like artdeadline.com and artcalendar.com for new exhibitions and current calls to artists.  Websites like that are great for submitting your work for a fee, or free, and finding various artist residencies.  There are also magazines like Artnews, that help with that kind of thing as well.  Artbusiness.com is also a great website with some very interesting and educational articles about marketing your art and helpful hints about how to make it in the art world.  As far as books, any book that is a about a specific artist, with biography and photographs of works, is always fun and informative.  I would also recommend online social networks like Linkedin.com, that can get you connected to other artists and people in the business, all for free.

To know more of Allison Bratt click here.