Scribble Town (ST): With us is Joel Garten, an artist, composer, writer, and entrepreneur.  Joel says, “I have so many different things that I do, and the thing that unites them all is a sense of flow and creative energy.  I use that sense of flow and intuition in everything I create, and try to have a sense of flow in my path through life.”  Yes, you do Joel and it is seen in your colorful, vibrant, and musical paintings.

Joel, where are you and what are you up to these days?

Joel Garten (JG): I am working on a series of large scale paintings. These paintings are 4 feet by 8 feet, really long scrolls of paper that I paint with many different type of media.  I also compose music on the piano regularly.

ST: When did music enter your life and was there somebody that encouraged you to compose?  I wonder what came first- music or painting?  I say this because I can see the music in your paintings!

JG: The music certainly came first in my life.  It came very early, I started playing piano when I was eight or nine, and I began composing music very soon thereafter.  It is something I took to very naturally, and I have been composing for more than 20 years.  Interestingly, I have a lot of difficulty reading music – almost like music notation dyslexia – which meant that I devoted most of my musical output to improvising music.  This means I write the music as I play, it is all one artistic creation of the moment.  My music is very personal, and an expression of my sense of intuition and rhythym.  My music has also always been influenced and inspired by visual art, such artists as Jackson Pollock, Giorgio Morandi, and Richard Diebenkorn.  It is meditative, soulful, dissonant, and repetitive; but repetitive in a good way – the way that repetition can unearth deeper truths in the music as it unfolds.

Here is an improvisation from a recent concert I did in Toronto: joel-garten-live-in-concert

"Untitled" 22x30 inches, mixed media on paper by Joel Garten

ST: And with painting- how do you feel the two artistic elements support each other?

JG: Creating visual art myself is something that happened only recently, and has really increased in intensity in the past few months.  I was inspired to create art by seeing works by Jean-Michel Basquiat.  Just like Basquiat, my work has a lot of bright, joyful colors, but also works at deeper level, what the Abstract Expressionist called “the sublime”.  Abstract expressionism is an influence on my art, as is the work of Cy Twombley.  Yes, there is a lot of music in my artwork, and a lot of people say they can really see music in my paintings.  It is because there is a lot of energy, vibration, and that sense of flow that I talked about earlier in the paintings.  The artworks have rhythm.

ST: When did you start composing, playing the piano and painting?  You play improvisational music- do you ever paint in that manner?

JG: The artwork is definitely improvisational.  I start with no preconceived plan or sketch, I simply start in, and follow my intuition.  I let the painting tell me what to do.  And recently I have been starting to use acrylic paints to do essentially finger painting – except using my whole hand, and sometimes my whole arm.  I also use both hands to paint, sometimes at the same time, just like using my right and left hand to play piano.

ST: What have you been listening to when you paint?  What kind of music do you like?

JG: I have a number of different things on when I paint, sometimes it is Stevie Wonder, sometimes it is jazz by Keith Jarrett (a big influence in my music) or Bobo Stenson.  I like classical music, jazz and Motown, as well as new music.

ST: Where do you find yourself feeling really inspired to create?  If there’s a process you go through to spark the creativity, please let us know.

JG: I usually get most inspired at night.  I don’t really need daylight to paint, I like to paint under incandescent lighting. I put on some music, take some supplies and start painting.

"Untitled" 22×30 inches, oil pastel and oil stick on paper by Joel Garten

ST: What are some other forms of art you practice? Do you ever mix other mediums with your oil pastels?

JG: Well, I have a plan to do a number of other types of art.  The next thing I would like to do is use my artwork to create fashion.  Yes, I use oil pastels, oil stick (oil paint in stick form), and acrylic paint.

ST: I can’t wait to wear a piece of your art!  Do you ever play with other musicians?  Please let us know of your next show.

JG: I improvise music on my own, it is a very personal, and maybe even spiritual experience.  I do have interactions with other musician though.  When I was younger I was invited by the rock musician Bryan Adams to play a concert at his studio in Vancouver.  I am also doing a series of artist profiles of musicians, which is being published on the Huffington Post.  Right now I am focusing on doing small scale studio sessions-concerts of my music, and I want to turn those into a CD.

"Untitled" 22x30 inches, mixed media on paper by Joel Garten

ST: You are up to all sort of creative happenings. Definitely keep Scribble Town posted on all your adventures! Just hearing about how energetic, active, and open you are is encouraging in itself.

JG: A lot of children are natural artists, and famous painters like Basquiat and Jean Dubuffet were inspired by children’s paintings.  It is hard for people to hold onto to their child-like talents as the get older, and marry those instincts with experience.

ST: Thank you Joel for all your insight and inspiration!  Joel has also given parents and teachers tips on how to talk about art with young artists.  To read more about that please go to the Scribble Shop Inspirations page: http://www.scribbleshop.com/content/artist-joel-garten-shares-how-create-and-talk-about-art-your-child

Check out Joel Garten’s website www.joelgarten.com!

"Untitled" 22x30 inches, mixed media on paper by Joel Garten

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Scribble Town (ST): From a distance what looks like a beautiful volcano of color and texture turns out to be an ingenious technique of rolled paper and paint. Amy Eisenfeld Genser has mastered the art of creating an organic effect by using mixed-media. Amy is also a mom of three sons from West Hartford, CT.  She says, “I’m a tad obsessed with paper and paint, color, patterns, and texture.”  You’ll soon see why!

Let’s start with, what does a day look like for you?

Amy Eisenfeld Genser (AEG): I am usually in my studio, on the third floor of my home. I work about five hours a day while my kids are in school. It is a juggling act. My typical day is to get the kids off to school, hit the gym for an hour, and then come home to work. Because my studio is in my home, it’s sometimes hard not to get “mess-tracted” as I call it (starting to do laundry, clean dishes, etc…) but having the studio on another floor helps. Going up the stairs is like crossing a threshold. I also listen to books on tape while I work. Time flies when I’m working on a piece and into a great story, but when I see the bus coming down my street at 3:45, my work day is over.

ST: I’ve never heard that term “mess-tracted” before, but I like it because I can completely relate to you! When you do get to your work, how would you define your art?  It seems to be a peaceful combination of craft and fine art.  I have never seen anything like it before.

AEG: I refer to it as mixed-media. I’ve been able to live in both the fine art and craft worlds. It’s nice to be welcome in both places.

ST: I can see how your artworks really settled nicely in the two worlds too. How did you discover this artistic process of paper quilling?  Was there somebody that encouraged you?

AEG: Technically, my process is not quilling – I will outline my process below. I first started experimenting with paper during a papermaking class while studying for my MFA in Graphic Design at RISD (Road Island School of Design). My professor Jan Baker encouraged us to test the limits of what paper can be.

River Run by Amy Genser

ST: Where do you find yourself feeling really inspired to create? On your website (About page) you mention, “The sources of my work are textures, patterns, and grids. I look for forms that can be repeated to create a pattern when they are joined.”  Please expand on that and if you have a story we’d love to hear it!

AEG: Most of my inspiration comes from nature because it is perfectly imperfect. I love all kinds of organic processes. They are visually intriguing and engaging. We spend a lot of our summers on the beach in Rhode Island. I love watching the water, the rocks, and the light. Our beach has rocks with these really neat barnacles and seaweed. Their colors are always changing. Sometimes there’s a lot of it, and sometimes just a little. It’s neat to watch the progression. One day when the seaweed was purple, brown, yellow and green, my husband made the awesome observation that nature never clashes. I love that.

Mineral Violet by Amy Eisenfeld Genser

In reference to my latest “mineral series”, I have always been drawn to gem-like colors. My mother is a jeweler who works with a lot of gemstones. I’ve grown up peering into tourmalines, garnet,diamonds, opals, citrine, etc. We always talk about how juicy and “lickable” the colors are. I have recently been looking at a lot of agate and geodes. The colors are simultaneously vibrant and translucent. Pretty amazing. I thought I’d take a stab at my own interpretation of them.

ST: So how do you turn your paper to look like gems, minerals, and other elements of life? What is the process?

AEG: Using Thai Unryu, I treat the paper almost as a pigment, layering colors one on top of the other to create different colors. My pieces are about a foot wide. Then I roll one layer on top of the other in all different thicknesses. I seal the roll with acid-free, archival glue stick, and then cut the long piece into sections with scissors or pruning shears. I have pruning shears of all different sizes to accommodate different widths.

ST: Wow! What a laboratory of processes! What forms of art do you include in your mixed-media paintings? What are some tools you like to use?

AEG: The actual rolling and cutting process is pretty quick. At this point I could pretty much do it in my sleep. It’s the composition/editing process that usually takes the longest. I paint my surface, either canvas or paper first, with acrylic and a lot of gel medium. Then I place my paper pieces on top and manipulate them until I have a satisfactory composition. It’s like putting a puzzle together, only I don’t know the final picture until I see it. I roll my pieces accordingly as I develop and build the piece. It’s a back-and-forth process. The paper and the piece lay on different tables in my studio. I attach the paper onto the canvas with PVA once I have the pieces where I want them.

Tall Tower by Amy Eisenfeld Genser

ST: Is there a song that moves you at the moment?  Perhaps you can place a song with one of your works.

AEG: I can place a piece with a book on tape – one of my favorite- Prince of Tides” by Pat Conroy. I usually listen to books on tape while I work. My head is usually in the story, and my hands are free to do what they need to do.

ST: The titles of your pieces are very revealing and help the viewer guide how they can look your work.  How do you come up with these titles?

AEG: Usually it had to do with the inspiration for the piece. I just look at the work and figure out a title. They always feel a little uncomfortable and arbitrary to me. It’s hard for me to give words to something that is visual.

ST: Amy, what’s a piece of advice you can give our Scribblers?

AEG: Have fun! Do what feels good. Keep your hands busy and the work will follow along. There’s nothing like getting rid of creative energy through using your hands. I was that kid who was always weaving potholders on the plastic loom and making complicated patterns in woven friendship bracelets.

ST: Thanks Amy for sharing so much with us! Amy has shared an activity for us to get started on our own artwork.  Check out Scribble Shop for more details:
http://www.scribbleshop.com/content/roll-it-your-wonder-amy-eisenfeld-genser

Portrait of Amy Eisenfeld Genser

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Scribble Town (ST): The first time I spotted Adrienne Moumin’s photo collages I was stunned by their design and beauty.  And then curiosity hit!  How did she do that?  Where are these images coming from and how is it so that from one concrete image it is perfectly cut and spliced and then re-contextualized all to have it’s meaning turned upside down.  Adrienne is here with us to share with us her creative story!

Adrienne Moumin (AM): I was born in 1961 in Brooklyn, NY. I work in film-based, hand-printed, B&W photography, and hand-cut-and-assembled, mixed-media photo collage.

Sculpture Garden Hirshhorn; 33” x 33” Hand-Cut-and- Assembled Gelatin Silver Photo Collage; 2009 by Adrienne Moumin

I am best known for my Architextures series of handmade photo collages.  My favorite photographic subjects are NYC architecture and urban landscapes, and store window mannequins.

This is me (with a selection of my Architextures photo collages) in my booth at the Architectural Digest Home Design Show, Pier 94 in NYC, March 21-24, 2013. I made a great many contacts in the architecture and interior design fields, as well as directly with people who buy art for their homes and offices.

My photography and collage have been exhibited in New York, and nationwide, for over fifteen years.  My work is in private collections in the US and internationally.

ST: Your photographs and collages have been on the move for quite a while now!  Where are you and what are you up to these days?

AM: I am based in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD. I split my time between the two cities: showroom in NYC, and studio and darkroom in MD. I am continuing to work on my Architextures series, as well as coming back to the surrealist mixed-media collage style that I have dabbled in for years. I recently sold one of those pieces to someone who is wildly enthusiastic, and has encouraged me to produce more work in that genre.

ST: I like the name of your series, Architextures.  It gives a tangible feeling to the photo collages, but also a sense of having a strong structure to the series.  When did you start making collages and taking photographs? Was there somebody that encouraged you?

AM: I began working in cut-paper collage starting at about 8 years of age, using magazines and catalogs that would come to the house, to decorate whatever I could find.  A major project in childhood was decorating the top of a castoff bookcase with hand-cut magazine pictures. I began photographing seriously, and studying film and darkroom processes, in my ‘20’s. I have been completely self-propelled in my artistic endeavors.

Snippetree; 19" x 13 ¼" x 1 ½” Deep Hand-Cut-and- Assembled 3-D Gelatin Silver Photo Collage; Made from over 300 pieces cut from 10 duplicate prints; 2011 by Adrienne Moumin

ST: That’s great to hear that you have been making collages since your were 8 years old!  Where do you find yourself feeling really inspired to create?  I really like your stories on your website especially the one under Architectural Detail.  You write, “Someone told me once that I was an architect in another life. I love the curves and the lines, the reflections and the tonalities, the solidity and transparency, and the man-made striving for esthetic and functional perfection, of architectural forms.”  To read more of Adrienne’s stories please go to http://www.picturexhibit.com/index.html.

AM: So many things inspire me!: Walking around the city, looking at architecture and urban landscapes; fashions worn by passersby; and store window displays.  And, of course, looking at the art of others, in galleries, museums, and online.

ST: Inspiration is one thing, but skill is another.  How do you hand print silver gelatin photographs?  What is the process?  I’m sure we are all interested in the magic of the dark room.

AM: I use an enlarger, which is a device that shines a light through the photographic negative, and projects it below onto the light-sensitive paper that I place there.  Then I put the paper through a series of chemicals in trays, to develop and fix that latent image. This is all done under a reddish-orange “safelight,” which provides just enough light for me to see what I am doing, yet does not affect the paper.

ST: What forms of art do you include in your mixed media photo collages?  What are some tools you like to use?

AM: I always start with the photograph, and what it suggests to me in terms of feeling and mood.  There is no limit to what I will attach to the surface of a photograph. Paper cutouts, glass or plastic beads, sequins, Swarovski crystals, metal stampings…the list never ends!

ST: What kind of music do you like?  Is there something you are listening to at the moment while you make art?

AM: Music is very important to me when I am printing in the darkroom.  In keeping with the analog nature of my work (and my refusal to replace a perfectly functioning technology simply because something new comes out), I have a little boombox in there which plays cassettes and CDs! Two of the CDs I nearly always listen to during printing sessions are the first album from Counting Crows, “August and Everything After,” and The Band’s “Greatest Hits.”

The Victory Arpeggios; 25½” x 25¾” x 3/8” deep Hand-Cut-and- Assembled 3-D Gelatin Silver Photo Collage; 2012 by Adrienne Moumin

ST: Adrienne, you have given us a great start to create and how to look at things differently!  What is a piece of advice for parents and their little scribblers?

AM: For the parents: Look at some collage sites on the internet, and google different search terms, to find age-approriate project ideas for children; many require little or no money.  Talk to your children about what they would enjoy; you never know when an idea will spark a fire that lasts a lifetime.

For scribblers: Just do what you feel. Because art has no rules.

I found this on Pinterest, and followed the link to this ingenious project, posted by art teacher Sherri Schultz.  It is simply using our imaginations to expand on an image.
http://artmommie.blogspot.com/2012/03/young-explorers-class_10.html

ST: You are right- art has no rules and now is the time to explore and create!  Thank you, Adrienne!

To find the tools to get started on your own collage please have a look at Adrienne’s suggested art activity that expands your image  http://www.scribbleshop.com/content/exploring-expansion-your-image-and-imagination

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Scribble Town (ST): Hi Ernest! To me, your work is very playful so I wonder how do you describe your own artwork.  Especially in the portrait of you I can see the play oozing out of you as you play at work on your One Cloud painting (see below)!

Ernest Concepcion (EC): Hi! My name is Ernest Concepcion. I’m a Filipino visual artist and currently live in Brooklyn, NY. My works usually depict opposing forces engaged in ridiculous battle based on the nostalgic references of childhood and adolescence.

One Cloud, work in progress by Ernest Concepcion

ST: From the Philippines all the way to Brooklyn, where are you and what are you up to these days?

EC: I still live in Brooklyn, and have been here since moving from the Philippines in 2002. I do go back often to my home city of Manila and was just there for 6 months last year. It was probably my most productive trip so far. I was only scheduled for 1 solo show and then when my friends found out I was coming home, they invited me over to participate for more shows. In half a year, from February till August 2012, I ended up having 2 solo shows and 4 group shows, including exhibiting at a prominent museum in Manila. It was pretty crazy.

Gerana (The Wrath Of), ink, acrylic and colored pencil on paper by Ernest Concepcion

All the works were made there. For the first three months I was cranking it up doing 6 x 4 feet paintings. My sleeping habits changed. I started doing the UBERMAN cycle. Have you ever heard of that? You’re basically awake and work for 4 hours then take powernaps for 30 minutes to an hour and then work again for 4 hours and so forth. I tried it – I wasn’t exactly successful. Haha. Nah, I took it easy and still hung out with friends. I found out it’s better that way. But when I do work at the studio, I’m like an unstoppable freight train. I’m going back this year on August 2013 for more art projects.

ST: Your friends sound so great! So supportive of you and your art. I’m sure they were also just so happy to have you back home. When did you start drawing?

EC: I would say I started drawing when I was real young mostly because I was inspired by my older brother. He would draw these fantastic cars based on the 80’s movie Mad Max and I totally got into and started copying him. Later on I started drawing my own little stories with pictures on notebooks similar to the CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURES books. Comicbooks and Saturday morning cartoons have been a major influence as well. Come to think of it, my drawing style has not changed much at all. It probably has changed technique-wise in terms of perspective, anatomy, linework – but I would say it has retained its childlike qualities that harkens back to young Ernest. I was trying to think if art school changed my drawing style at all, but I think not that much. Undergrad in the Philippines was more about theory for me and my drawing process went into a dormant state because I got heavily into conceptual art and video. But when I moved to New York, it almost seems like that hibernating child-general woke up all of a sudden ready for action.

Life In A Hidden Valley by Ernest Concepcion

ST: Between all the traveling, is there a favorite place you like to create?

EC: Well, I currently work from home and do my oil paintings in my own apartment. Oftentimes I couldn’t believe how I managed to do this but I guess I was able to adapt and develop my organizational skills in paintings. So I would say this is my favorite place right now. I did have a studio in Gowanus, Brooklyn for 3 years and that used to be my favorite place to work. I would spend countless hours there and was able to produce a ton of work. But alas, I had to move out in 2009. However, when I fly back to Manila I work at Mom’s house and she has prepared a space for me to work there, which I would say is probably the best. Its right beside her garden and there’s a sense of calm and serenity in the studio – a perfect contrast to my conflict-ridden works. I’m not exactly the type who draws in the subway, in a café, etc. I don’t usually carry a sketchpad at all even. Just a notebook to jot down ideas and that’s it. I make art at the studio. When I’m at a café, I drink coffee.

Queens 2020, Ernest Concepcion

ST: What other forms of art do you practice? What are your favorite tools you use to create?

EC: I also practice installation art and I collaborate murals with my friend Mike Estabrook as the Shining Mantis. I’ve been getting more and more into comicbook making and that’s definitely something I would like to develop soon. I was a big fan of the Sharpie for my drawings, I still am! But I’m totally getting into drawing with a brush these days and India ink tends to stay longer and seem more vibrant in the long run. Also, I could make entire fields of black with an ink-filled brush and that saves a lot of time.

ST: I’m seeing and hearing a theme of childhood in your artwork, but is there something in particular you want to say with your art?

EC: In my works, I would like to express what it’s like to be a kid again. The joy of expressing relentlessly.

ST: Is there a piece of art that speaks to you?

EC: There are so much art that speaks to me, but the ones I really appreciate are the works that I could feel express a certain vibe of ferocious expression – I don’t know, I can’t explain it too well.

Pajama People vs. Apparitions, ink on acetate, watercolor on paper by Ernest Concepcion

ST: Where do you get your inspiration from and who inspires you?

EC: Right now I’m getting a lot of inspiration from independent game designers. Haha. Seriously. I’m an avid gamer and seeing the works of most indie game developers and feel the years they spent on coding, designing, beta testing and perfecting these games via patches and downloadable content never fail to inspire me. I recently attended a festival about Andy Kaufman and it ran for 2 weeks. I was there almost every day! It was amazing. For me he’s a real inspiration, and he’s true to his craft. And when I mean ‘true’, I meant he doesn’t care what he was doing really, he was totally just having so much fun at the moment. And to me that’s awesome.

Kangarok 1 and 10th, Ernest Concepcion

ST: Your work does look fun and Ernest, you have done so much!  Any tips for us?

EC: I would advice to everyone to just keep making work and expressing without boundaries. I am also an art teacher myself to kids and I have always been open in encouraging my students to constantly experiment and explore. Breaking rules are great, but it will be futile if you don’t know the rules first. So learn the basics, the parameters, the limitations, the rules, and then transcend them.

ST: Thank you Ernest for sharing so much with us!  And don’t forget to play Ernest’s Shooting Stars game, http://www.scribbleshop.com/content/play-shooting-stars-game-ernest-concepcion

Kangarok III

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Scribble Town (ST): Pedro Mena, a person of multiple trades and interests, is here with us in Scribble Town!  Pedro is an artist, teacher and a first time dad. He likes NY Pizza, Spanish Soccer, and the History of Rock and Roll!  Pedro, where are you and what are you up to these days?

Squeegees of Spain by Pedro Mena

Pedro Mena (PM): San Francisco Bay Area. Off on Paternity Leave! Returning to teaching visual art shortly. Donated a piece for the upcoming annual HAPS (Haight Ashbury Psychological Services) Art Auction Benefit.

ST: Congratulations on your new baby! Having a new family member will put a special spin on things How has your art practice changed over time and does being an art teacher (and for the future- being a father) have an effect on your own art practice?  Please let us know what ages and where you teach.

PM: It has become more specific in addressing necessity. Yes! It has allowed for more patience and flexibility – and a new outlook on seeking and bridging ideas. Middle School, Burke’s, SF.

A peek into Pedro Mena's classroom

ST: From the looks of your classroom you definitely encourage all kinds of artistic practice- from visual to musical!  What do you hope to communicate with your art and with your teaching?  Are there any other artistic mediums you work with to help push your idea along?

PM: Excitement and Engagement. Anything and everything! Music, technology, storytelling…

ST: How old were you when you first started making art and who encouraged you to create?

PM: I remember the first time getting recognized for my drawing – it was in 1st grade. A classmate asked for a drawing of Spider-Man after seeing mine. I won 3rd place in a community coloring contest later that year. I bought a toy robot of Twiki from the Buck Rogers series with the $10 toy store gift certificate prize. My family encouraged me. I was surrounded with the paintings, drawings, and prints of my grandfather growing up. He encouraged me as well. 

ST: Who are some of your favorite artists and/or authors?

PM: My grandfather, Bolivar Mena Franco, El Greco, Andrea del Castagno, Velasquez, Max Ernst, Rothko, Forrest Bess, Philip Guston,Jack Kirby, Wes Wilson, ’80s Ashley Bickerton, Jonathan Lasker, Steve Dibenedetto (college professor), Lady Pink, Nate 1…too many to name! They’ve all brought static works to life. As for writers, Peter Guralnick can sure bring a biography to life.

Pedro Mena's Rock Benefit Merchandise

ST: I can see how your favorite artists have inspired you.  Your students are very lucky to have such an enthusiastic and caring teacher.  Thank you for sharing with Scribble Town and keep us posted on your upcoming auction and other benefit programs!

To read more about Pedro Meno’s tips on how to make Sticker Art please go to:
http://www.scribbleshop.com/content/sticker-art-pedro-mena 

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Scribble Town (ST): From across the Atlantic and all the up North I’d like you to meet Jaanika Peerna!  Jaanika moves with her art and her art moves her.  In any case, I think you will also feel the excitement and energy that her personality shines and her artwork shows.  Thank you Jaanika for taking the time and being with the Scribblers!

Jaanika Peerna (JP): I am an Estonian-born artist living in New York for many years now. I love to draw, make videos and installations that capture the processes in nature that are hard to see at times, whether it be evaporating mist, movement of wind or slowly changing light.

Maelstrom, pigment pencil drawing on mylar, 36x36", 2011 by Jaanika Peerna

ST: What are you up to these days? Please tell us if there is a particular project you are working on.

JP: I have an exciting project at hand right now: I am preparing for a solo exhibition in a very special location : a castle on a hill overlooking the Hudson River in NY state. I have the liberty to make drawings, video and light installations that specially relate to the location of the show. And here I mean the architectural space of the show and the magnificent surroundings of the castle. For example there is a round room in the castle which is going to have a video projection on the curved wall . And therefore the projected video is going to look like embracing the viewer entering the space. Since the castle is higher up on a hill there is plenty of wind moving around the castle and many of my drawings are going to be traces of air movements. There will be a light installation that relates to the light of dawn in the Hudson Valley as well.

Drawing with Ropes - workshop for families with Jaanika Peerna

ST: Wow! A castle on a hill! You will have to let us know when the show will allow visitors. How has your art practice changed over time?  For example, with medium, concept, etc.

JP: My art practice changes and evolves as I do all the time. Although I have always been interested in working with various media at the same time and I still do. I started out as a painter who also photographed. Then I continued mostly drawing and photographing. The next step was to use digital technology to combine my drawings and photos together. Once working in computers video entered into my work since I was interested in viewing processes in nature slowed down or sped up.  For example I would videotape long footages of ice banks moving on Hudson river which is famous for being the river that flows both ways. The two-way movement is hard to see with the naked eye,  but once I had an hour long footage sped up to be a 20 minute video the various movements of ice occurring on the river were easy to follow and wonder about.

About 4 years ago a new medium entered my palette: working with light, which is an amazingly powerful material itself. It literally draws forms and textures out for us to see at every given moment of our lives. So why not to use it as a main material for making art? I have an installation where I use three strong directed lights programmed to dim and brighten very slowly. By brightening each light creates shadows of strips of paper attached the a wall (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKYYed_SsjQ)

The latest addition is live drawing performances where I collaborate with dancers and musicians where a new drawing is born in front of audience just like here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VelbpQi9be0

Kvelstein Performance by Jaanika Peerna

I am happiest when I can use all different media together in one exhibition. It seems like I have always been interested in subtle and sometimes more rapturous changes in nature but  the media I use to create my work have expanded. Drawing stays at the core of my practice though.

ST: I feel so many different things when I see your artwork.  I wonder what you hope to communicate with your art?

JP: I hope after experiencing my work people would perhaps start looking at nature with more attentiveness and curiosity. I hope to slow down people’s minds and eyes in order to see more and expand ones vision that way. Sometimes it is about the quality of seeing not about the quantity of objects we encounter. Small wonders are around us at every given moment!

ST: Now that I know more about you and your history with art making I’m curious to know about how you found this form for self-expression.  How old were you when you first started making art and who encouraged you to create?

JP: I must have been drawing a lot and with much interest because my parents who are not artists  put me into a special art school from the age of seven. I remember loving the fact that I could create whole worlds by drawing. It seemed so freeing and full of endless possibilities specially in the context of  the Soviet occupation my little country of Estonia was under at the time. Later on when I moved from Estonia to the USA and my English was about 5 % of what it is now, drawing turned out to be one of my survival tools in the new strange country I found myself in. My English could not even get close (and still does not) to expressing what I wanted to say whereas my abstract line drawings seemed to penetrate deep into people’s hearts and minds and cross all political and geographical borders. Once again drawing was freedom and my most innate language for me.

Puff 8 by Jaanika Peerna

ST: Your artwork looks very energetic and active to me.  Can you tell us something about how you get yourself into a creative mindset- where to find that inspiration.  Is there a special place where you like to make your art?

JP: As my work often stems from the processes in nature daily walks and hikes outdoors bring a lot of energy into my work. While outdoors I gather impressions, take photos and videos,  dance with the winds and can watch for light shifting on waterfront for hours. Once in my studio many of those experiences and recordings work into my art. Before I start working on a drawing I often sit in silence for a while as of letting the winds that moved me outdoors to come upon me and then later on move my pencils around on the paper. I almost become a medium for creating the work rather than being fully in charge what the work will end up looking.

ST: Jaanika has shared an art project with Scribble Town called ‘Drawn by Wind’. Please go to  http://www.scribbleshop.com/content/jaanika-peernas-drawn-wind-art-activity.

JP: Keep the element of PLAY in your projects. Play means keeping your activity open ended, experimental and fun for as long as you can. Sure, at some point there is a need to close in and focus yourself in executing a chosen path but until then keep in flowing in unknowing…  There are too many tasks and activities in our lives that are linear and geared towards a specific goal anyway. So take the chance to play whenever possible!

You can see more of my work at my website at www.jaanikapeerna.net and follow my newest projects at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jaanika-Peerna/31631189862?ref=hl

ST: Thank you Jaanika for all the inspiration you have given us!

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Scribble Town (ST): Let’s move to the New Year with Kristine Marsh’s animations! Thanks Kristine for being with us today!

Kristine Marsh (KM): Hello! I’m a full time illustrator and designer who specializes in creating original artwork for children’s media using a variety of styles. I graduated from the School of Visual Arts in 2010 with a BFA in Cartooning. Afterwards, I started my own business called Knightingale Studio. We are a small design group that does animation, illustration and graphic design work in addition to creating original content. My work has appeared across a range of commercial platforms including books, games and apps. In my down time I enjoy cooking and relaxing with my loving fiancé, Eric and our adorable corgi, Colonel.

Munch Friends by Kristine Marsh

ST: It sounds like you are surrounded by love I can see that in your super cute illustrations and animations. Where are you and what are you up to these days? Is there a particular animation you are working on?

KM: I currently live in NJ and aside from freelance I’m developing two animated series concepts titled, “Samurai Chinchilla” and “What’s for Lunch, Munch?” You can find out more about the first at www.facebook.com/samuraichinchillaseries. I hope to launch a Kickstarter campaign within the next month in order to fund a short animation showcasing the world and characters. Keep in eye out!

Samurai Chinchilla Poster by Kristine Marsh

ST:  There are many things for all of us to look forward to! With all of these current goodies in the works can you tell us how has your art practice changed over time? What kind of animation or art did you start out doing and where has that taken you?

KM: I actually entered SVA as a traditional animation major. It has actually been my dream since the 6th grade to be the creator of an animated television series. When I was really young, I did what most kids do: Draw my favorite characters from my favorite cartoons! I drew Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Cardcaptors, a lots more (I actually really loved Kids WB!). To this day I still say that I developed a knack for adapting to different styles by do so. Once I got to art school, it really pushed me out of my comfort zone in a lot of ways, but it taught me to experiment with different techniques and forced me to look at elements of design in a new way.

ST: Kristine, you just proved that dreams do come true! That in itself is such an inspiration for us to all just continue with what we have fun doing. Are there any other artistic mediums you work with?

KM: For mediums, I do a lot digitally these days, for the sake of time and efficiency. I use Adobe Illustrator almost exclusively, with a little bit of Photoshop. When I work traditionally I like to experiment and I often mix media, like pen, ink, brush, marker, colored pencil and watercolor.

Pirate by Kristine Marsh

ST: Is there a particular animation technique you like to create with? Does the story follow the technique or vice versa?

KM: My goal with my art is actually quite simple. To me, I see art as a very powerful medium and I always strive to create artwork and stories that makes a positive impact in peoples lives. Hope, Unity and Love are actually the core believes of my studio as well. I believe firmly in the aspect of family and friends, taking care of and giving to those you care about and who need your help. For me, art of course is a form of self-expression, but more important I see it as an opportunity to speak into people’s lives and leave them with something encouraging and I hope that that same perseverance will spill over in the life of another and so on.

ST: We all have mentors, who are some of your favorite artists? If so, how have they inspired you? It’s always nice to be aware of what about their artwork touches you.

KM: Some of my favorite artists and directors include: Makoto Shinkai, Hayao Miyazaki, Bill Presing, Peter McCarty, Anne Pätzke, Sean Galloway, Luigi Lucarelli, Jen Corace, Mary Blair, MEOMI honestly there’s just too many to name! And I discover new favorites online all the time! But the things that always catch my attention: Color, Composition, and Character! I’m a big fan of a really simplistic style, but I’m also a big fan of beautiful line quality and color. These are all things that inspire me and challenge me in my own art as well.

Ashby by Kristine Marsh

ST: I know what you mean when you say there are just too many to name!  It’s the same with crafts and art projects. But out of all of them do you have one craft, piece of art, or art technique you can share with our Scribblers for them to make at home? Perhaps give advice on how our Scribblers can start making their own animation at home.

KM: A quick bit of advice: I love looking at kid’s drawings and hearing them talk so passionately about their ideas. Never let go of that enthusiasm for creating new things! As you get older, it’s easy to get bogged down, you start comparing yourself to others and not everyone may like your ideas. It can easily become more about technique (which is still very important) and less about the concept. But keep plugging forward, learn, absorb and experiment, don’t let go of that boundless creativity! May you stay inspired all your life and always keep drawing by hand!

ST: That’s amazing advice, Kristine!  In short- let’s keep our ears, eyes, and heart always open for the creativity to flow. To learn more about Kristine Marsh please go to www.kristinemarsh.com or email her at Kristine@knightingalestudio.com. Thank you for being with us!

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Hi Scribblers,

The holiday season is here!  It’s a favorite time of the year for me, crafting, baking, decorating, holiday parties and shopping, shopping, shopping!!

Shopping, Shopping, Shopping!!!

Tomorrow evening is the beginning of Hanukkah. It’s the Festival of Lights and one of the most fun festivals of the year for kids! Even if your family isn’t Jewish, your young Scribbler can enjoy learning about this major winter holiday.

Hanukkah lasts for 8 nights. For each night of Hanukkah, families light one candle in the menorah. The ninth candle in the middle is used to light the other candles.

Build a Menorah

With our downloadable craft page, your Scribblers can make their own Menorahs! Click on the picture for a printout. Color and glue on a new candle for every night of Hanukkah!

For the perfect gifts for your little Scribblers, please visit Scribbleshop.com.  We’ve got a large selection of toys, games and crafts by your favorite brands, like Melissa & Doug, Alex toys, Klutz, Crayola and so much more!!  All at great prices and FREE shipping too!

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season. Happy Scribbling!!!

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