You almost feel as though you were right there, don't you? Standing under the tree looking at the bright afternoon through the branches and leaves?
"Summer Sycamore" is an oil painting by artist Li Tyler of Winchester, Kentucky. I've never been to that state but it is on my 'bucket list' because I'd like to see the Kentucky Derby in person. Sigh. Someday before I'd have to attend using a walker!
Li consented to share her thoughts about her work and her life as an artist here at Mosaic Mandalas. I find that I share many things with her.
Q: On your website, in your bio, you state that you “returned” to an interest in art…can you talk about when “art” first became an interest for you? And then, why you decided to pursue a degree in fine arts? Can you also speak to the advantage(s) of studying Art on the college level?
Li Tyler: I always loved drawing as a child. When my first son was born, I started drawing again in order to entertain myself. My mother bought me some paints and I started painting. As my son grew to the toddler stage, I put away the paints fearing oil paint would end up all over the house. I remained busy raising and homeschooling my sons and I also had a beauty shop in my home, so for years I did not practice art. When my sons grew up, I started to paint again.
Eventually, I tried to market myself. When I would get juried into shows, there was a German man who would ask where I studied. I would tell him that I was self-taught. He would go into a tirade about how I shouldn’t be there, which I found to be embarrassing.
I would tell him that since I was juried in I had every right to be there. Still, it bothered me and I was finished raising sons, so I made the decision to go back to school and pursue a degree in fine arts. I hoped it would also add to my credibility as an artist.
*Okay, I have to insert a thought here. Yes, I, too, have a degree in art - mine is a combined fine art and lit degree. Having said that, I hold to the idea that all artists are, to the greatest extent, self taught. Why do I think this? College courses, workshops and seminars can teach 1) the way the instructor does it/sees it; 2) how to use the tools and 3) basic techniques. However, it takes daily practice and experimentation for the individual artist to discover their own personal take on their chosen medium...their own vision and ways in which they direct the passion for their vision. The "German man" Li speaks about above I obviously don't know and won't speak negatively about except to say that in my humble opinion he was very, very wrong to criticize her. An artist is an artist if he or she believes they are and who is anyone else to say otherwise? Whew...just had to get this said.
Q: How long have you been painting in oils? What is it about oils that intrigue you as a medium? On your website you say you work in “traditional techniques;” would you describe your techniques? Have you ever tried water-soluble oils?
Li Tyler: I had painted for a couple of years before going back to school and of course while I was going to school and I’m still at it. It’s been about seven years now. I just love the look of oils and I love the fact that they are easier to blend with. I usually, though not always, begin with a sketch on my canvas. Once in a while I go directly to painting. I use any technique that works, wet-in-wet, dry brushing, scumbling, etc… I have tried water soluble oils, but I prefer alkyd oils.
Q: I noticed in your Etsy shop that your subjects are varied [and you do say you enjoy variety in your subject choices]; you have still life, seascape, landscape and trees…which are you currently enjoying the most and why?
Li Tyler: I am currently painting a landscape on a water barrel. I do like a variety of subjects. I feel it keeps things lively and fresh. I would like to eventually do more figurative work as well. I just reflect the natural world around us and variety is a part of that natural world.
Q: Your project for 9-11, how did that come about?
Li Tyler: I was horrified after 9-11, why would anyone kill a lot of innocent people? I wanted a way to help out - I tried to give blood, but there were no blood drives. I heard about a truck that was going to Walmart to collect bottled water and other donations to help survivors, but it was canceled as NYC asked people to quit helping as too much help was flooding in. I tried to go buy a flag to support my nation, but I couldn’t find one to buy. I went home deflated and upset.
That night I dreamed about my painting and the next morning I started painting it.
My family was very excited about my project and helped me out; they took over all house work so I could work on it. When it was finished, I had no idea what to do with it. I showed it to my friend, who also happened to be our mayor here in Winchester and he asked if he could display it in City Hall. I said sure. Then the newspaper did a write up about it. When the paper came out, I sent the article to out-of-state family members and the next thing I knew, the Pentagon called me asking for the painting. Who would say ‘no’ to the Pentagon, so we packed up and drove it to the Pentagon. They had a ceremony for receiving it and we were allowed to park in the interior courtyard, at a time that the Pentagon was closed to the public. They gave us a tour; it was really a most amazing memory for a lifetime.
*another thought - when I first began looking at Li's website and saw what she had done as her personal response to 9-11 I was deeply touched. The whole idea of needing to do something is so understandable. I'm a firm believer that 'art' has healing properties and find it so compelling and totally appropriate that the response from an artist to this horrendous tragedy was art. It took me a long time to process that event...I'm still not sure I have completely. In fact, so far, the only movie about the event I've been able to watch was the most recent "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" movie. Last year I attended the California State Fair and in my post about it included my reaction to a special exhibit that included a portion of steel beam from one of the towers. I wrote:
The effect of seeing this steel beam in person brought tears to my eyes as it was a very real reminder of how awful we humans can be one towards another. There is a line in the Tim Burton remake of "The Planet of the Apes," where Capt. Leo Davidson [Mark Wahlberg's character] talks about caging apes and the female ape Ari [Helena Bonham Carter's character] responds about how horrible that is and he replies, "We do worse to our own kind." [paraphrased].
Now back to Li...
Q: Tell me about the horse mania project…Would you ever do something similar again?
Li Tyler: The Chair of my Art Department just called me and asked me if I would be interested in painting it. The president of the university had acquired one for the art department to do and told the Chair he needed to collaborate with a student. He chose me. Yes, of course, I would love it if projects like that just flew my way, it’s a guaranteed commission. Painting is fun, but getting paid for it is even better!
Q: What is your approach to “color?” In your work, is it about the paint, the color or the subject?
Li Tyler: I usually just try to reflect what I see in the subject. I may take some very slight artistic license, but not usually, I try not to veer too far.
Q: As an artist, what inspires you? Is there an artist, past or contemporary, whose work inspires you?
Li Tyler: Wow! That’s a hard question. It’s more like who doesn’t inspire me? There are so many artists I find inspiring: Jean Baptist Camille Corot, Sargent, all of the Impressionists, the Hudson River School - just to name a few. A lot of contemporary artists inspire me as well. Even just seeing paint or a subject that interests me can inspire me.
Q: Will you ever branch out into other art media? What about acrylics or watercolor?
Li Tyler: I admire watercolor artists, because I had to do some watercolor in school and, well, I’m not very good at it. Kudos to those who do beautiful work, I think it’s hard to do. The Horse Mania Horse was painted in acrylic as well as a door that I painted for Dynamic Doors in Lexington, Kentucky. I am currently painting in acrylic; I am painting on a water barrel. I love oil the best though, I just find it is easier for me to blend in oil. I have also done some charcoal drawings, graphite drawings and pen &ink. Oils really rock for me though.
Q: Describe your work space…many artists derive great inspiration from having a defined space of their own within which to work. Where do you paint and what about your space makes it personal to you?
Li Tyler: I wish I had a great work space, maybe one day. I can dream right? My kitchen is my current work space. It works, but I’d love to have a super cool real artist studio. Painting mess is not seen as a mess in a studio, but it looks like a horrid mess in your kitchen.
Q: This year is at its halfway point…what are your art goals for the remainder of the year?
Li Tyler: I plan on applying for the Kentucky Artist Guild - please wish me luck. [Luck!] I also plan on showing my work during Pioneer Festival this year. I am applying for some other venues as well, but I have yet to hear from those. One such venue is Clark Regional Medical Center’s “Art for Healing Program.” My goal is to get my work out there in any way I can.
I do not yet know if the economy still being weak will make a rougher go of it or not; I hope not, but we shall see. Maybe we have seen the worst of it and maybe we’re turning a corner, at least I hope so.
I was hoping that even just having my website and Etsy Store would lead to some sales, but that hasn’t panned out, so I’ll have to get serious and find venues. I’m also creating a new web site - apparently a lot of Mac users won’t download Silverlight, so I need a new web site that they will view. I’m not the best at marketing and I feel wholly unprepared for our new social media world. If you’re on social media all the time, when do you work? It’s a whole new world that I have to learn how to navigate. I need to learn more about business and marketing all together. Right now I’m trying to finish painting my rain barrel; I’ll take it to Al’s Garden Center and see if they can sell it for me.
Thank You! Li for taking the time for this interview. Li makes some very good observations in her final response about artists and marketing. It does take a lot of work and time and it can indeed seem overwhelming. Most of the artists I know who are actively marketing their work do a variety of things on and offline:
- joining artist organizations in their local communities
- entering local shows and exhibitions
- entering national and international "calls for artists"
- doing commissioned work
- finding gallery representation [brick and mortar]
- having a blog and/or website [best to have both...blog can be the website]
- presence in social media for 1)exposure as an artist and of your work, 2) be part of a larger global community, 3)marketing your work - includes sites such as Facebook [here have an artist business Page as well as a personal account], Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest
- online sales venues that include sites such as Etsy, Zazzle, Imagekind, Fine Art America, Deviant Art...there are a great many
Being a working artist means you plan - there has to be time for creative energizing [sometimes you simply have to take a day to recharge the muse], time for actual art creation and time for marketing and time for maintaining your business [accounting et al]. But then, doesn't any type of business require these four building blocks?
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