Forgive me for this late post my Internet connection has been less than stellar these past few days due to the rain and thunder and lightening. So Artsy Monday is now Artsy Tuesday for this week at least...
I heart Mel Stringer.
Her artwork makes me so happy. From her cheeky comics and journal pages to her quirky colorful characters, you get the feeling that Ms.Stringer looks at life with an open heart and an open mind. Her portraits are truly one of a kind, and she's even cool enough to do commissions :) Get yours here .
I adore her attention to detail. You feel as though she takes her time to notice the important things like freckles and flushed cheeks and allows her characters to be imperfectly perfect.
I follow her on Tumblr (click the pic below to go check it out) to see her inspiration and latest creations. I love looking at her sketchbook photos and seeing what goes on in her mind.
Mel took a break from creating to answer my questions;
1-What made you want to be an artist?
My Dad had been drawing since he was a kid and went on to do daily comic strips for newspapers, graphic design and self published a collection of books full of comic strips. So naturally I was influenced and encouraged by him to draw and scribble and just generally be creative. But I really started to take things seriously during Art School, during the time I met the artist, and my muse, Ben Constantine and a lot of other really great, young artists doing great things in Brisbane.
My Dad had been drawing since he was a kid and went on to do daily comic strips for newspapers, graphic design and self published a collection of books full of comic strips. So naturally I was influenced and encouraged by him to draw and scribble and just generally be creative. But I really started to take things seriously during Art School, during the time I met the artist, and my muse, Ben Constantine and a lot of other really great, young artists doing great things in Brisbane.
2- What is the most difficult about being an artist?
Self promotion, definitely. I wish I could hire someone for that. It's so exhausting. I wish I could just focus on just entirely making art.
Oh and I also wish I could hire someone to take care of my online orders for me. That is sooo time consuming. But it is fun.
3- What is your favorite piece that you have created?
I'm always creating new things that become my favourite piece. But at the moment, my favourite is probably the mantra wrote for 2011.
4- Which piece of art would you like to own and put up in your own home?
What a nice question! At the moment, maybe something cute and colourful and happy by APAK!
5- Who are your biggest influences as an artist?
Ben Constantine, Gemma Correll, Amber Seegmiller, Caitlin Shearer, Danny Brito, Sarah McNeil, Devon Smith, Maddy Young, Moosekleenex, James Jean, Laura Park, Helen Jo, Yoshitomo Nara, Dan Clowes, Robert Crumb, Wes Anderson, Bill Murray, Steve Martin.. um there are too many now o_o
5-What are your goals for your art?
Be happy! Do things I like to do. To have my art lead me to living somewhere nice where I can be happy and have a puppy and have enough space to do bigger projects. To be able to afford my own quality printing machine and all that other nice stuff. And to have my art never let me work retail again. I'd like that very much.
6- What is your favorite colour?
I honestly think it must be all shades of grey. And then pink! An all-grey outfit with bright pink nail polish/lipstick and shoes sounds rad to me.
7-If you were stuck on a desert Island with only 5 albums of your choosing what would they be?
Aaron Roche - anything of his!
Ben Folds - Whatever and Ever Amen
Coldplay - Parachutes
Jeff Buckley - Grace
Third Eye Blind - Blue
Holly Throsby - On Night ( I added a 6th one, I'm sorry :( )!
8- What is your favourite drink at a coffee house?
Iced chocolate coffee!
Thanks Mel, you rock!
Click on the picture below to go to Mels Etsy store and treat yourself to something lovely :)
