What do you do? How do you define yourself as an artist?
I am a children’s book illustrator, I create people and pet portraits and an illustration series I call fArCiCaL fOlK aRt. A humorous form of the old standby, usually hand painted on wood or hand drawn and digitally colored.
I love to take life in and redistribute it through the feel of the line, the flow of the paint and the scratch of pastel.
What is your message?
It depends on the project. If it’s illustrations for a book, obviously the message is to convey the story of the book through drawings. In portraits I want to reveal the soul of the person or animal. I strive to have personality and feeling come across in my portrayal of the client's subject. In my personal work, folk art series and contemporary art, I try to convince the viewer to understand how the subject might affect me or my surroundings.
Your biography in four lines.
I’ve always created as a way of escaping. My sister was the very first to encourage me and prodded my parents to purchase a drawing table for me for Christmas when I was very young. When I was in elementary school, I used to write and illustrate stories and my friends would buy them from me with their lunch money. As I got older and had to make a real living, I realized that working at something I did not like was not going to satisfy me in any way, so I went to art school, then started working as a graphic artist for a law book publisher, then for a couple of print houses and started freelancing after that. From then on it was a plethora of freelance work (and my understanding and supportive husband) that kept me going, from residential/commercial murals and finishes, to commissioned portraits, illustrating, hand painted furniture, floor cloths, lampworking, jewelry and children's books...ok...that's more than four lines... but I'm a big talker, Betty Crocker.
Do you upload your work to the web? If so, where could we see it?
Yes I do, my website which includes my portfolio, can be seen here: www.donnapellegata.com
How is an idea born? For you, what is inspiration?
For a book it’s through a story line, for portraits, it’s through the eyes, action and personality of the subject, for other works it comes from a thought, an influence, family, friends, current events, thin air, etc.
What role does technology play in your creative process?
Can’t live without it. It’s one of the best ways to create, network, market and submit my work.
What is art?
Yeah right…best answer here:
When do you get your best ideas?
What time is it? Middle of the day to middle of the night.
How do you evaluate whether an idea is good or not?
If it’s good, I see fireworks, bells ringing, rockets in the air…wait…what were we talking about?
Three creative ideas that you would have liked to have created?
hmmm…I’ll get back to you on that…I’m not sure I could narrow it down to three, or even a million.
When and how did you begin to see yourself as an artist?
The moment I realized the happiness I felt when I could render a subject and have it turn out the way I envisioned... and others could see and appreciate it too.
Why do so many artists and creators have such volatile personalities?
WHAT?*#! WHY@!&WHAT MAKES YOU ASK THAT!*?#@?!!!!!
How should a work of art be evaluated?
To name only a few… color, balance, light, perspective, movement, texture, contrast, overall design, yada yada yada...but mostly by the viewer’s appreciation of the work.
Must an artist reinvent him/herself everyday?
Who’s to say…to each his own...personally, I think it's a good thing to step outside the box on a daily basis.
Which artists do you admire and how do they influence your work?
I LOVE the illustrations of Lane Smith a.k.a. Stinky Cheese Man, I LOVE the work of Tim Burton. I think texture and mood is how Lane Smith influences my work, but mostly the illustrative eye candy does it for me. Tim Burton has that eye popping, on the edge of your seat, how does he do that, insane imagination that I just can't get enough of. Those two always come to mind first, but I run across artists that influence me almost daily such as, Jeannie Paske, one of my all time favorite heros Jim Harris...and THIS guy...Juan Carlos Federico .
What do you think about public funding for the arts?
The Arts is a business that promotes talent and creates jobs in the state of Michigan and elsewhere. Public funding is needed even more now in this broken economy and is good business for the livelihood of any state.
Is art necessary?
Of course, is that question necessary?
Does it pain you to let go of a piece you have sold?
Usually I don’t let a piece go until I’m over it or if I see that it will have a special meaning to it’s recipient...or if the price is right...there's always that.
Is a work of art purchased, or is it better said, that it is the artist who is bought?
Both...A work of art can be purchased for many reasons, but no matter, because whoever purchases that piece and for what ever reason they purchased it, they are always buying a piece of the artist too.
In art, there is no guide. How do you know what the next step is?
I never know what the next step is, I just run with it. An idea comes up and I can’t let it go until I get it done, whether immediately or days, months or years later.
How do you feel about the fact that the pieces exhibited in contemporary art museums are often of artists already deceased?
It makes me want to kill myself
…juuuust kidding.
What role have the figures of art dealer, gallery owners, representatives, and intermediaries in general played in your career?
The will to learn more, create more, take rejection with a grain of salt, succeed and have a great time enjoying the company while doing it.
What types of jobs do you usually do?
Freelance…mostly children’s books, but also portraits, fArCiCaL fOlK aRt and some contemporary works.
Which of your jobs or tasks do you most enjoy?
I most enjoy illustrating children’s books. The whole process is completely fulfilling. I am dedicated to everything about it, from conception to illustrating to marketing.
Do you personally collect any items?
Children’s books, pop-up books, art books, art supplies… my thoughts.
Which websites do you frequently visit?
ArtQwerks- duh
What advice would you give to those just beginning?
Draw, paint, create, work hard, keep at it, don't fear rejection, network, network, network!!!! Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life!
Interview
