The Third Tribe Artist Interviews feature a mix of creative, yet very business minded artists. Artists like this are worth getting to know. In this series of artist interviews I hope to introduce you to some fascinating people and give you a glimpse at what it’s like to be an artist, which is a tough call since no two artists have the same experience. Enjoy!
Montreal – the hometown of this week’s featured artist, Fanie Grégoire, is a place full of romance, old world charm and wonderful art. Talking with Fanie brought back a whole bunch of impressions of the city where people seem to truly love surrounding themselves with beautiful stories. A perfect setting for an illustrator, don’t you think?
What is your favourite thing about your studio/workspace?
I currently am using the second room in our 4 ½ apartment as a small “studio”. When we first got in, 2 years ago, I decided to use a bright orange so it would bring in the creative energy. It’s a fun little place but it does get lonely and there are so many distractions all around me.
So, recently, I signed in to get a spot in a studio with 9 other artists, so we’ll be 10 in total.
What is on your Ipod lately? What gets you going creatively?
This may sound funny, but I listen to a lot of creative and self-help podcasts, lately. I love hayhouseradio.com for those. And I love Diane’s Gilleland Craftypod podcast (www.craftypod.com) about crafts.
As for the music, I’ve been listening to M (Mathieu Chedid)’s latest album Mister Mystère and Daniel Bélanger’s Nous. I’m Québecoise (french-canadian), so I listen to a lot of francophone artists. But I also have a thing for jazz music like Pink Martini or world’s music like Lhasa. I’m rather curious in the music department, so I’m always happy to discover new artists I’ve never heard of. It really depends of my mood and what I’m drawing. :-p
How did you first get into art?
Like many artists, I’ve been holding a pencil in my hand since I was little. I would draw in the children books I’d read and communicate with drawings the things I couldn’t manage to say. I was a little shy and liked to be alone, so it was a great way to express myself.
It’s been said that all art is self portraiture – what’s your take on that idea?
There’s always a little bit of ourselves into what we create, that’s for sure. To what extend this goes, I am not too sure. But the more I grow and the more I tend to believe that there is a lot of ourselves and our experience in the art that we do.
What drew you to illustration and what is your favorite thing about it now?
First off, drawing is a very inexpensive and accessible hobby. You don’t need a lot of equipment if you want to start drawing, just a pen , some paper and a lot of passion and patience!
I don’t come from a family where there were lots of artists, I had entrepreneur parents who were busy and were more than happy to give me some leftovers papers and pens from their business to let me draw with. I was lucky enough that drawing came easily to me.
My favorite thing about it now is that I love how it embraces traditional tools and new technology. What’s great is that there is now a mix of traditional and new techniques. You can’t really do one without the other, yet, it’s always possible to choose either one.
Do you have a favorite course or teacher that really made a difference to you?
Back in high school, I had an art teacher named Jean-Marc Abrieu who had a great influence on me. He was very creative and thought we should always have fun with art. He encouraged me in drawing more and that I needed to be as good with the pencil as with the mouse. (We were in 1995, back then.)
He had a guitar that he would bring during art class and sing us some funny songs. He’d put on some of our music on as well.
Now that I think about it, he was very different from the usual high school art teacher!
If you had a class full of brilliant emerging artists what one thing would you teach them?
Don’t be too harsh on yourself and, instead of feeling some kind of “competition” between artists, get inspired by what they do and collaborate together.
How would you describe yourself as an artist?
I’ve been studying art for some good years, so I’m trying to be less “cerebral” and nearest of my feelings and guts. I want to open myself up to the wild women inside of me and let this shine through my art. I wish to think less and feel more, as an artist.
How would you describe your art?
There’s a lot of “funny” into my work, yet a lot of sarcasm, as well. It’s fresh, simple and efficient. I draw very quickly so there’s a lot of “movement”, as well.
Who inspires you?
Since I’m a blogger, a lot of bloggers do inspire me by their way of thinking and writing. The main character of The Crafty life cartoon was inspired by the many crafters on the blogosphere.
Great digital and traditional artists will always inspire me with their color and drawing work.
People who have found peace within themselves inspire me a lot, as well.
Do you have themes, visual influences or recurring ideas in your work?
I do draw a lot of women in my sketchbook. I love mermaids a lot and I hope to do something with them, eventually.
I also always had a thing for fantastic worlds and its creatures.
What is it like to be an artist? How do you stay motivated?
By looking at others work and by taking time to make art.
What’s your no-fail creativity booster?
Reading books and magazines with amazing artists in them. It gives me the kick I need to go back to my drawing board!
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