Paula Menchen

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Born in: 1970,Hornchurch Essex, UK
Lives in: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Education: 1992 BFA Fine Arts, Otis Art Institute of Parsons School of Design
1990 Parsons School of Design in NY.
Describe your art in 3 words: Lush, fragmented and tactile
See More Work: https://www.paulamenchen.com

Blue Fields

"I am a visual artist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. My art process includes painting, printmaking, collage and installation art. Having majored as a painter in University, I use painting as a means of experimentation, exploring ways to capture the fluidity and energy of paint. I like to play with the ideas of vast spaces typically using landscape and seascapes."

What themes does your current work involve?
Ongoing themes I am investigating are questions of home, belonging; what is familiar and what is foreign, preservation and destruction.
Describe your creative process.
Mixing materials and ideas to develop a unique visual vocabulary I find the harmonious language between drawing, printmaking and painting. My process consists of researching all kinds of techniques on paper; stenciled, stamped, dyed and resist, creating a unique palette of color and textures. I build up multiple layers of paint, paper and cuts allowing for a spontaneous burst of hues vibrating to the surface.
What influences your work? What inspires you? Why do you make art?
Curiosity and the element of surprise! Blending mixed media painting and collages into a substructure of visual colors I deconstruct the surfaces in order to reveal a mesh of layers new and old. Overlapping and layering painting, printmaking and handmade paper to create an evocative layered work. These tactile surfaces create a visual tension between flat fields of color and textured patterns. With a love of paper, fiber and fragments I discover the intricacies of each piece reconstructing them into lush visual spaces.
What are your goals and plans as an artist in 2023?
I cherish the opportunity to have time to focus on my practice and ongoing research for my project “Landscapes”, “Still Life” and “Electric Fences and Stain Glass Windows”.
 I hope to have a solo show with the opportunity to share my work. I am excited for my upcoming Residency at Kala Art Institute AIR, Berkley, Ca. Residencies are magical time to delve deep within your work listening to your artistic voice and being inspired by new surroundings. There is a lot to look forward to this year!
What is the role of the artist today?
Pushing humanity forward, that is what the struggle is about as an artist. Unlocking human and creative potential to think, dream and then share these creative ideas with the world.  
What is good art? What makes a piece of art great?

Good art is art that connects with the viewer and make you think, it moves you and speaks to you in a way that is wonderfully surprising. Great art is art that you will never forget it stimulates all of your senses and captivates your imagination. It inspires you to want to create, it surpasses great and moves into marvelous and intoxicating. It embraces the soul and heart of humanity!

White Vase
Stained Glass Windows and Electric Fences
Still Life Flowers in a Glass Vase
Spring Yellow

 

This interview was published by Circle Foundation of the Arts. © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist

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Brian McClear

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Born in: 1963
Lives in: West Hartford, Connecticut, USA
Education: BFA from Columbus College of Art and Design
Describe your art in 3 words: Reminiscent, Approachable, Evocative
See More Work: https://mcclearart.com/

Riki - Oil 60 x 40 in.

Brian McClear is a representational artist who loves the interplay between form and texture. Exploring primarily still life and portraiture, Brian's work challenge the viewer to look beyond the surface whether considering everyday object or the people we meet.

What themes does your current work involve?
I am currently working on two concurrent projects—

Discards & Discovery: a series of oil paintings in progress inspired by found objects, paintings where seemingly unrelated objects are paired together to emphasize an unexpected commonality or imply an underlying meaning.

Ink & Oil: a series of portraits that explore people of all ages and walks of life that have chosen tattoos as their form of self-expression. These portraits seek to capture a gesture and mood that provide additional insights into the subject’s personality beyond their art. Simply put, canvases of people who are themselves canvases.

Both projects challenge the viewer to look beyond the surface — whether considering everyday objects or the people they meet.
Describe your creative process.
I love the spark of an idea. I'm exhilarated when I'm blocking in a new painting. I work from small loose thumbnail sketches and enjoy working things out on the canvas itself. I used to spend my days on a computer and my projects were very detail oriented. So, having the luxury to explore, and play with relationships while developing a painting is my favorite part of the process. I keep several canvases going at the same time, usually a portrait and a still life. When something isn't quite working and I'm not sure where to take it, I'll step to the other easel for a while. This keeps things fresh for me, and my time in the studio a gift.
What influences your work? What inspires you? Why do you make art?
Whether I’m painting a portrait or a still life, I’m fascinated by shape, texture and how things fit together. I’m that person that buys a rusted hinge because of its frozen shape or carries home a stone because of its feel in my hand. My studio is brimming with objects (junk) picked up along the way. And there they sit until something reminds me of an object found days or years before. Something draws a connection between two completely different objects. And when paired, it’s precisely those differences that emphasize a commonality or imply a new meaning.
What are your goals and plans as an artist in 2023?
Success at this point in my life, is the freedom to explore my ideas in ways that are meaningful to me. And if I’m fortunate, my work will be shared and become meaningful to others along the way.
How do recent advancements in technology affect your art practice? How may recent developments in Artificial Intelligence (image generator software) affect the definition of fine art?
Advancements in technology have made it easier me to share my work to a broader audience and and to participate in communities that support each other. Regarding AI, for me it comes down to the sincerity of creator of the work. A person that considers, that composes and explores versus a composition generated by algorithms, key word prompts and image scrapes.
What is the role of the artist today?
The role of the artist is to explore a personal, sincere body of work. If so, their work will find the the audience that is calmed, inspired, motivated, enraged by it.
What is good art? What makes a piece of art great?

What makes good music? Musicianship to be certain, but if that was all there was to it, we’d have the same play lists. Beyond the facility of the artist, to me, “good art” is art that makes me feel something; contentment, outrage, awe, reflection. There’s an honesty to the work, an underlying sincerity of intent.

Down the Rabbit Hole - Oil 60 x 40 in.
Hand of the Father - Oil 60 x 40 in.
Resetting the Clock - Oil 48 x 48 in.
Plumb - Oil 30 x 30 in.
Joelle - Oil 40 x 30 in.
The Forgiven - Oil 40 x 30 in.
Ideas in Waiting - Oil 48 x 48 in.
Closet Doors - Oil 48 x 48 in.

 

This interview was published by Circle Foundation of the Arts. © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist

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Petronilla HohenwARTer

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Born in: 1965, Waldkirchen, Germany
Lives in: Waldkirchen, Germany
Media: Painting, Drawing, Digital Media
Describe your art in 3 words: informal, expressive, visionary
See More Work: https://petronillahohenwarter.com

I joyfully surrender to the New | The Awakening 2022 - Mixed Media on Canvas, 150 x 120 cm

"ART is an EXPRESSION of the DIVINE. What is the true Value of Humanity? Is it still desirable to rediscover and integrate our Core Values into our Lives ? Back to your Roots - Stand up for Yourself is my Call and Statement to Mankind to awaken to the Value of Love that we were born with originally. It encourages and enables us to reach our full Potential. Allow Love to be your Essence. "

What themes does your current work involve?
This Piece is part of the Awakening Series, which debuted in 2021 during the Pandemic's second year. I'm talking about an evolutionary Consciousness Process in which Humanity is involved both consciously and unconsciously. It is an energetic Awakening into our spiritual-soul Existence that allows us to physically manifest our highest Potential and Superpower. I meditate and unconditionally surrender to this Source who resides within me; in this State, I perceive an Energy Field within myself that is more empowering, effective, and loving than my Mind and egocentric Thinking can ever be. This is the Source from which my Artworks emerge.
Describe your creative process.
To me the Act of Creation is related to a Energy as a driving Force that can be recognized in every single Work of Art in the Style of the Color I use, the Shape, the Line and Structure. My artistic Approach is informal , abstract, expressive and flows from within. When Painting on the Floor the Movement is similarly to a Dance. Artworks appear when I perceive them energetically in my Mind and see them visually in Front of my inner Eye. I don't sketch; instead, I prepare the materials and surrender completely and trustingly to the Flow of Energy and Transformation. The End Result is a vibrant, empowering, liberating, and contemporary Artwork.
What influences your work? What inspires you? Why do you make art?
Life in itself is a Source of Inspiration to me. In this Context, it is necessary to recognize and comprehend the Complexities of Mankind. These Insights I gain, along with the creative Process and my natural aesthetic Intuition, allow me to create a Space for the Viewer to rest in between all of the mysterious Layers with which we are confronted both inside and outside. The natural Beauty of our Human Selves is reflected more clearly in this visual Transformation. I started making Art because my Soul demanded it. In short, my artistic Development is a life-long Process that reflects on myself, the Human Universe, and beyond.
What are your goals and plans as an artist in 2023?
One of my artistic Goals is to raise Awareness about the Holistic Value of visual Art in Relation to Body-Mind-Soul Healing. My personal Interest and main Focus, in Addition to Marketing my Art, traveling, and expanding my Coaching Program, is developing new Artwork as Part of The Awakening Series. This Act of Creation empowers me and is the most important Part of my Life. Two solo Exhibitions are planned, as well as some other creative Ideas that I'd like to see realized.
How do recent advancements in technology affect your art practice? How may recent developments in Artificial Intelligence (image generator software) affect the definition of fine art?
Every technological advancement results in an increase in intellectual awareness. Graphic programs were already being used as a supplement to the analog creative process many years ago. AI is simply another tool that can be used to technically implement creative ideas. I doubt that artificial intelligence is the one and only future technology that will completely replace the artist, his uniqueness, and genius. But it is, among other things, one of those new ways to re-imagine analog art with AI - why not.
What is the role of the artist today?
There are two words that express this perfectly: Remembrance and Interconnectedness. So far, nothing has changed. An Artist is still a modern visionary who, using his own Language, holds up a Mirror to Society, revealing that Humanity has learned little from History. Because we are constantly exposed to Duality on this Planet, the Act of Creation is a Way to demonstrate and even shift Energies that are present in our World. Personally, I often wonder where the spirit of Love is on this planet where emotional Abuse, Power Plays, Suffer, Manipulation and Materialism are still used to compensate for a Lack of Love in one's Heart. Art depicts the Source of Love and Light that we seek.
What is good art? What makes a piece of art great?

It's somehow very subjective to talk about good and great Art. As we know from Art History there are plenty of Art Masters, which had an Impact on Mankind. To me , a great Work of Art reveals its Spirit entirely, which moves through Space and Time. It has a deeper Impact on the Viewer and invites them to engage in Dialogue. This can happen in various Ways. If an Artwork endures even without the Artist and requires no Explanation because it is breathtakingly extraordinary, it has an Effect beyond Space and Time and will be remembered as a Work of Art for future Generations.

Cosmic Soul Dance und die Liebe erblüht | The Awakening 2022 - Mixed Media on Canvas, 100 x 140 cm
The Golden Hour of Delight | The Awakening 2022 - Mixed Media on Canvas, 120 x 150 cm
OH YES and Life is a joyful Pilgrimage | The Awakening 2022 - Relief on Paper on Wood 100 x 80 cm
The Spirit of Light is awakening within | The Awakening 2021 - Mixed Media on Canvas, 100 x 140 cm

 

This interview was published by Circle Foundation of the Arts. © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist

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Jingfeng Li

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Born in: Liaoning Province of China
Lives in: Beijing, China
Media: Painting, Drawing, Ink Drawing
Education: Graduated from the Decoration Department of LuXun Academy of Fine Arts in Shenyang, China.

Encounter - Pen and ink on paper, 55.5 x 75.8 cm

Jingfeng is a painter who focuses on pen-and-ink drawing. He likes black and white tones; he loves realistic expression techniques. The real and natural expressions moved the pictures he visited. Art is endless and he always on the road of exploration.

What themes does your current work involve?
My themes are very broad, and what can move me is what I want to express.
 
Describe your creative process.
The creation of the process is relatively simple. The pen, paper, and ink are drawn on the paper through the density of the pen lines to draw layers and spaces. My pen-and-ink paintings drawings start from the local area and gradually expand outward. This requires the ability to control the overall painting.
What influences your work? What inspires you? Why do you make art?
Influenced by my elder brother at the age of 7, I started to learn to draw. In middle school, I went to night school to learn how to draw. Later, I was admitted to the Luxun Academy of Fine Arts to study. I have always been in awe of nature, and nature has brought me I have unlimited imagination, and I respect the touch brought by reality, so I like to use realistic expressions to truly reproduce what I see. I have been exploring in the field of pen-and-ink painting until now. It is really laborious to draw realistically with pens. But its form of expression is different. When you finish a painting every time, although you are tired, you are still very happy. This is the magic of pen-and-ink painting.
What are your goals and plans as an artist in 2023?
I don't have any plans. The art of painting is not a fast-food culture. Although the technology can be improved quickly, aesthetics and self-cultivation are the result of slow comprehension and personal experience in life. Art has no artistic conception, I can only say that I am still on the way of exploration.
How do recent advancements in technology affect your art practice? How may recent developments in Artificial Intelligence (image generator software) affect the definition of fine art?
I personally think that artificial intelligence can meet the needs of ordinary people or businesses. The thoughts of artists cannot be replaced. Every artist has his own judgment and thinking. Artificial intelligence naturally has its uses, but it cannot replace my thoughts and it will not affect the exploration of pen-and-ink drawings.
What is the role of the artist today?
Although art cannot be eaten, a high-quality life cannot be separated from art. Art is a product of the spiritual level, and life cannot be without art. I don't know what role an artist plays in life, because I don't make a living by painting, but I know that when I paint a good work, it will also touch the people around me, and I will be touched by nature and life, which is what I think an artist should do.
What is good art? What makes a piece of art great?

A good artwork first moves the painter himself. The painting must have depth and thoughtfulness, and the work will resonate with the viewer. Everything from composition to modeling to tone should be carefully study, so that the viewers will remember the appeal of the work after watching it.

 

This interview was published by Circle Foundation of the Arts. © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist

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