A brief interview with 2016 Open Studio Tour artist: Michelle Dickson.
Michelle Dickson in her studio.
Can you tell us a little bit about the work that you do in your studio?
I work in sculpture and drawing simultaneously, allowing them to inform each other, investigating the same concepts in distinct ways. From the moment they are created, they have both a physical presence and a growing absence, simultaneously existing and deteriorating in form. There’s an ephemeral aspect to it. It’s fragile—like memory. My drawings incorporate both collage and printmaking. My sculpture is formed from a combination of found natural materials like driftwood along with plaster, wax, and oil paint. Using layers, I allow some details to come through while others are obscured and buried. I work intuitively without much pre-planning: I make something and respond to it, adding on and then taking away, building up and concealing. I’m comfortable taking risks and never let the fear of ruining something stop me from experimenting. This is combination of curiosity as well as a desire to confront and accept uncertainty, which is a core idea expressed in all my work.
Neither Mine Nor Yours, 3 by Michelle Dickson
A brief interview with 2016 Open Studio Tour artist: Dottie Campbell
Artwork by Dottie Campbell
Can you tell us a little bit about the work that you do in your studio?
Since I capture photographs outdoors and develop and print them in another space, I use my studio to review photographs and group them into collections. My photographs are large in size and it’s great to have good lighting and enough space so I can stand back and review the effect of the print to see whether I’m happy with it.
I also use my studio space to work on other ways to use my photographs. I cut my prints into shapes and construct collages from them; I apply various artist materials on top of the ink surface of the prints to create mixed media artworks; I create three-dimensional forms using the natural curl of the photographic paper; I experiment with unique display ideas for photographic work.
Artwork by Dottie Campbell
In making my Blooms, I am inspired by form and volume and how far I can push that to make a piece that is still wearable in either an everyday context or for a special occasion. I love generous use of rich materials whether they are larger pearls or onyx beading or several layers of tiny seed beading, the layering of texture over the primary volume and form.
Most of my metalwork is done by electroforming and its creative process is opposite to my fabric work in that the texture usually takes first consideration with form and volume following after. In designing this work, I try to focus on personal nostalgia and specifically the way we collect tokens or specimens – sand, shells, pebbles – to remind us of places or people. In creating custom portable objects with a client’s personal specimens, they can share their stories about their tokens as they wear them, rather than having these natural elements sitting in a jar on on a shelf located where little conversation takes place. My production work typically focuses on textures and shapes found in marine life and abstracted to varying degrees.
A brief interview with 2016 Open Studio Tour artist: Kathy Strauss
Kathy Strauss in her studio.
I love the immediacy of monotypes, and I love making block prints and then seeing how many variations on each of the same print I can make by the addition of embroidery.
A brief interview with 2016 Open Studio Tour artist: Lania D’Agostino
Artwork by Lania D’Agostino
With the sculptures I need to have the direction and intent of the work first but with the paintings they are a direct painting process that is more of a spiritual journey. I usually learn their stories after they are finished.
On one end there is the sculpting studio where I do my large sculptures and life casts. This is also where we build the figures for the museum industry and all the Star Wars mannequins. This area has casts of body parts, molds and tools.
There is the inventory area that has many life size sculptures stored along with a large collection of mannequins (which are used for my business). There are many unusual and vintage mannequins which are just a bad habit.
At the other end I have a spacious painting studio that is overflowing with paintings and small sculptures. My painting area reveals my process with years and years of stories on the walls.
For anyone planning a visit to my studio they will want to bring a camera and know it will probably not be a quick stop.
“Knowing” show at gallery
A brief interview with 2016 Open Studio Tour artist: Lyndie Vantine
Sluice by Lyndie Vantine
