How to get your groove back and interviews with artists

 I was initially attracted to Kim Roluti's art because of the soulfull faces looking at me. The colors are lush yet gentle at the same time. When I see an artist among 300 who's work I want to take home, I stop to see if they are also welcoming.
That was definitely the case with Kim ( Link to KimRolutiArt) I ask questions like what is your process? how do you come up with ideas? inspirations? studio? overcoming down times? I must summarize her answers as it's been a week

 Her work looks like regular paintings but they start as a sort of collage of paper and laces on canvas. She then paints over with acrylic and oil. This explains the texture and text, two components I LOVE. She is inspired by life and like me starts with a concept she wants to convey.
I was drawn to a piece where two women are together, yet looking away. It was drawn from personal experience, that I related to, and in a gesture captured the feeling of separation while together.
When asked how she deals with those times when you don't feel like working, she said she has work going in different stages, and one of them will prime the creative pump. She works through it. I liked her!!

The next artist to really catch my eye was Ashley Kriehn (link here) who's booth was titled Metallist

 

  I started our talk with the question of how she came to label herself that way as I'd never seen it done.

She was quiet and unassuming, yet very friendly and open to a chat. I was drawn in to the wonderful shape and texture of her work.
It reminded me somehow of my work, full of texture, cool graphics, and oh! The three dimensional birds so reminded me of mine done in fabric (see the post here! )
Again, she is inspired by nature and her graphic designs are inspired by microscopic images of algae ( I think) In person they are dynamic designs. She chemically etches sheets of metal with the design then shapes it into the birds.  Her family is very supportive of her artmaking,.

We all experience times where we might not feel like working. Ashley doesn't let that interrupt her process. She just goes in the studio, and starts making a component that she has made before, an element that doesn't require as much creative decision making, so her hands are going on automatic until she finds the groove again. I LOVE that.
 I do that by mindless sewing. I just start sewing something together, so my hands and mind get back into the groove, and the Muse doesn't want to be left out so she joins me in the studio. Happy creativity returns. Hilarity ensues! Creativity is never too far away, but it hides. I think this is what other creative people have described as "just do the work" For me, sometimes it's sorting fabric, clearing the studio table of components, just being in a space where I've created before.
There is a kind of kinesthetic memory of your hands.
I hope this was enjoyable, the connection between different art forms. I have interviewed at least one artist at every craft show I attend for years. I love to hear how they live the creative life, and hope you do too.
LeeAnna