2023 Artist Interview - Linda Majewski

For our fourth interview of the 2023 Delaware Fun-A-Day, we talk to former Newark Arts Alliance Executive Director and paper artist Linda Majewski about paper-crafting, digital design / technology enhanced art, the importance of having a web presence, Delaware resources for artists and her TWO dual art businesses! Thanks, Linda!

We like to know how people are connected to Delaware -  are you a resident, born and raised? What brought you to Delaware Fun-A-Day (DEFAD)?

I first moved to Dover, DE in 1990 and after moving around the state, and out of state, I landed back in Newark in 2009. We’ve been here ever since. Although I was aware of it prior, I became more familiar with DEFAD when I was the Executive Director of the Newark Arts Alliance (NAA), as we served as a drop-off and pick-up point for participants' artwork.

You wear A LOT of different hats - and you’ve worn some very special ones here within the Delaware arts community - including, for a number of years, being the Executive Director of Newark Arts Alliance. It’s folks like you, who step into leadership roles, who help drive the arts onward and upward. We can’t thank you enough. So tell us a little about your roles and contributions over the years. Did you feel like you had a mission, and do you feel you accomplished it?

Thank you for your kind words! Prior to the NAA, I worked in disability inclusion and nonprofit management, particularly around volunteer involvement. While no longer employed in these fields, my life’s work stays with me. I’m now focused on the arts as the source of my income and I’m always aware of making my classes as inclusive as possible. I currently serve on the board of directors for two arts nonprofits. It makes me feel good to take what I learned in my professional life and help make the arts accessible in Delaware.

Photo courtesy of www.newarkpostonline.com

Along with all of the other important tasks you took on as a leader/director while you were at Newark Arts Alliance, in 2019 you also oversaw the design and implementation of a new website for the organization. This upgrade enabled new features and usability for the growing member community and its audience. In retrospect - it was crazy timing with the arrival of COVID in 2020! How vital (or not) do you think it is for individual artists and/or organizations to have websites, online shops, social accounts, etc?

I was glad the NAA had both an upgraded website to continue functioning online and had you (Meredith at Grunge Muffin Designs) to help them navigate the uncertainty of those times. Keeping a website up to date whether for yourself or your place of business requires a great deal of time. What you see on the website itself is the tip of the iceberg. There’s a lot of work required before the final stage of uploading information to your site. The cycle of gathering, formatting, and uploading content is ongoing in order to maintain an engaging site.

As people continue to shop over the internet, having an online presence can be important. How you choose to do that depends on your product, your purpose, and how much time and experience you have to make all the things happen.

Do you have recommendations for artists and/or organizations who are just now getting online with their work? Where do they start?

Websites, Facebook, Instagram—all of these platforms are tools. The first question to ask is, “What do I want this to do for me?” I’m a pragmatist at heart and know that if I don’t find it useful, I won’t use it. There are lots of reasons to put your work online—to share it with others, to sell, to use it to advertise your activities—and one is not better than the next. Just make sure you know why you’re putting in the effort and how you want it to work for you.

Once you’ve got your why, you can work your way back to make a list of everything you’ll need to get together. I highly recommend deadlines for accomplishing each task. Eventually is not a motivating timeline. And know when to seek out knowledgeable help. DIY is great but time is valuable and you only have so much.

Getting yourself out there as a full-time artist can be overwhelming and even pricey. As a Delaware artist with a wealth of experience working with nonprofits and applying for grants, would you care to share any resources or websites with the other participants?

Anyone in Delaware who is trying to make a living as an artist must get connected with the Delaware Division of the Arts. We are so fortunate in our state to have such a supportive and accessible state office of the arts. There are grants, fellowships, and the Artist Roster, as well as employment and artist opportunities on their website and on their events calendar, Delaware Scene. It can be intimidating to apply for a grant, especially if you’ve never done that before. Read all the requirements carefully. Have a question? Call or email! You’ll work with one of their great staff members who is there to help. Be sure to sign up for their newsletter.

Are there any groups you’d recommend for folks to explore in the tri-state area to connect with other artists and find their footing?

Last year I had the honor of holding an exhibition, Into a Paper Garden, with fellow paper artist Kelly Martin, at the Newark Arts Alliance. One of the best things about the NAA are the themed exhibition opportunities. Artists can submit 1–3 works for consideration, which is especially helpful for newer artists who haven’t yet created a body of work large enough for a solo show.

I’ve also been fortunate to have my work at The Palette and the Page in Elkton MD and as part of the 8th Annual National Juried Exhibition at the Oxford Arts Alliance in Oxford PA. And I’d be remiss as a board member if I didn’t mention that Jester Artspace, located in Brandywine Hundred, is looking forward to opening our doors by the end of 2023. Yet more opportunities for area artists!

Since 2020 you’ve been delving into and focusing on your own work as a full-time working artist. Tell us about Paper Greenhouse and working with paper as a medium.

I have loved working with paper since I was a kid. There was nowhere near the accessibility to all the kinds of paper the way there is today. My media were primarily construction paper and crayons, stuck together with tape or Elmers’s glue. When it was suggested a few years back that I find something to do just for me, not my job or caring for my family, I channeled that childhood memory and found hand-painted paper succulents. As an avid gardener, it was a match made in heaven.

Paper Greenhouse was born of the endless possibilities of paper in creating botanicals. I started out by hand-cutting each leaf, creating little plants, and potting them up individually. That eventually expanded into plantscapes in all kinds of crazy containers and eventually to designing and making paper flowers. I now use an electronic cutting machine as there is no way my hands would have survived all that cutting plus it was the only way to keep up with the volume of pieces needed to make multiples of each item to sell.

Poinsettie, Primrose, Succulent, Zinnia

What’s your favorite flower to make? It is possibly one of the flowers featured in the Paper Greenhouse logos?

Oh that’s a hard one. Each plant or flower has its own charms and some of my greatest satisfaction comes from figuring out the mechanics of recreating a three-dimensional object from what starts as a two-dimensional medium. Creating a nasturtium, both the flower and foliage, was a particularly difficult challenge. I was pretty pleased with the result!

My main logo features a succulent, which will always be a favorite as its how I got started with paper botanicals. My logo has seasonal varieties as well. The winter/holiday season logo is based on a poinsettia I designed to use for ornaments. It was the first time I incorporated vellum into a botanical, which opened up a lot of floral possibilities, so I’m particularly fond of that one too.

Your DEFAD 2023 project is going to be “exploring the world of arts and crafts made with paper as the primary medium. The possibilities are practically endless”! What do you think we can expect to see in your collection at the end of the month?

Ok, true confession time. I over-promised with that theme. It seemed like a good idea—open ended freedom, endless possibilities—but there’s such a thing as too open. I didn’t know where to begin. And of course, life intervened. Just the regular stuff like taking care of my family, working on my business, and promises of my time made to others. I thought about giving up my DEFAD project but decided, nope, I want to make something! We’ve all got obligations that keep us from our creative endeavors. The challenge is in understanding that setting aside time to create is a promise we need to keep for ourselves.

As a teaching artist, I spend most of my days creating projects for my classes. It’s been a long time since I sat down and came up with a project I wanted to make for myself. It has been inspiring to work with no other goal in mind than creating something new. So for DEFAD this year, I’m working with new-to-me paper and paints that I’ll eventually use to create components for a larger, future project. Practice makes progress! What exactly I’ll present at the “Big Show” is still in the works. I will say that it’s inspired by music and the beauty of nature in autumn.

Where can people connect with you to learn more about what you do? Can they try their hand at your craft under your instruction/guidance?

I have Facebook and Instagram pages for Paper Greenhouse, for the creative artist side of my life, and Marvelous Makers, which is all about my teaching artist business. I do my best to regularly post class information on the Marvelous Makers page, so I suggest going there to see what I’m up to.

Tell us about your newest venture, Marvelous Makers! What’s it all about?

I started Marvelous Makers in early 2019 to separate my classes from my artwork. While my art focuses on paper botanicals, we’ll try just about anything with Marvelous Makers! When I left the NAA in November 2019, I was already teaching classes and had all sorts of things planned for 2020. Well, we all know how that went. Even though it’s taken way more time than originally planned, I’m still going for it!

I teach regularly in the Maker Lab at the Route 9 Library, occasionally at other libraries, and have taught four Creative Aging programs, which is an initiative of the DDOA in partnership with Delaware Libraries. I’m looking forward to expanding my course offerings throughout Delaware and have a holiday card making class coming up in November at the Blue Ball Barn at Alapocas State Park.

The Fun-A-Day tagline is “Make Art Every Day”. With all that you do, do you think those are words that you in actuality live by? Seems like it!

I’m certainly involved in something related to my art-based business every day. My best days are those when I’m designing, making, and/or teaching. But somebody’s gotta do the paperwork; those taxes aren’t going to file themselves. Fun-A-Day has reminded me that the best way to stay creative for others is to be creative for myself. I hope to carry that forward.

You’re also the mom of a creative kid! Your daughter has taken many classes and camps over the years, with a keen interest in game design which is a cross section of art and technology. Can you tell us about what she’s been working on and your influence as an art-mom?

Oh geeze, now you’ve done it—let a mom talk about her kid. My daughter, Grace, has been dedicated to a career in computer game design since she was in the 4th grade. Unlike her mom, who has done a bit of almost everything, she’s been steadfast in that goal. Her focus is on world building, character development, and all the other writing that goes into developing a role-playing game. Last year she released a demo of her game, Silver Lining. I’m one proud mom!

Grace decided to take a year off after graduating from high school only to run smack into the pandemic. She was a great assistant once we returned to doing shows, helping me assemble flowers and accompanying me to events. Grace started attending college full time this fall and is working towards her degree in computer game design.

If I’ve been of any influence, it’s been that I’ve always tried to support her in whatever she’s been interested in at the time. While dance and soccer lessons didn’t last, technology and art classes did. Finding and encouraging her to seek out opportunities for exploring her interests has been instrumental in helping her find her own way.

Do you feel like technology-driven art is the way of the future, especially for younger generations?

Technology touches all artists, even those who think it doesn’t. It’s not just computers, it’s everything we use that isn’t our own bare hands! We use materials and tools that weren’t around even a few decades ago. I think there’s enough space for everyone who wants to be creative whether it’s by applying paint to a canvas; writing with a pencil, pen, typewriter, or laptop; or creating whole new worlds to explore online.

Modern computer technology allowed me to keep teaching art classes through the pandemic via Zoom. It expanded my audience, taught me all kinds of new skills, and opened opportunities I plan to continue incorporating into my expanding teaching business. Whether or not you need technology depends upon how you want to make art and how you plan to make a living.

Speaking of the cross section of art and technology… What are your views on AI technology being used to create/generate art? IS it art because it’s not actually human-made with human consciousness? It’s a tricky subject and not one that many artists are comfortable tackling!

I have very little experience with creating art with AI although I’ve found it incredibly useful to fill the role of a “personal assistant.” I’ve used it to draft class descriptions, lists, and other written materials that would take me at least a day to complete. Of course, I edit them to ensure accuracy and that the writing is consistent with my own voice (AI writes some terribly stilted prose), but it gets the basics done so I can go back to creating art.

I don’t think that using only AI to create artwork—something from nothing other than an idea—is a particularly creative endeavor. While we’re all inspired by something, it’s that human process of taking our thoughts and experience, then expressing them through art that makes our work original. There’s a lot of doomsaying about AI but it’s not going away and we need to learn how to make it work for us.

A great article about Linda courtesy of www.CaughtByDesign.com (click to read)

In some ways there’s been a Traditional Artist versus Digital Artists battle that’s been waging for a few years now since the wave of personal computers and tools like the MS Paint, the Adobe Suite, and Digital Photography entered the scene… but do you really think it matters how art is produced so long as art IS produced? Your art seems to pull a little from both worlds… so what’s your opinion?

I’m able to do things because of technology that I could not do otherwise. To start with, researching flowers and plants. With the internet, I can find photos of any type of flora, almost always from any angle. This is crucial to my ability to create realistic work. I don’t intend to copy nature; it already does a good enough job on its own. My work is inspired by nature and being able to see the colors, shapes, sizes, of anything I want to make is invaluable.

I design the components of my botanicals both by sketching and in Silhouette Studio, which is the software for the machine I use to cut the paper and cardstock I use, a Silhouette Cameo. I don’t think one method is more valid than the other but I suspect some people do. I know people who don’t consider photography to be “art” and cameras have been around for over 200 years. I say do what brings you joy and allows you to express yourself.

Where can folks see or purchase your work?

I’m not currently selling finished pieces. This year and at least the first half of 2024 are going to be devoted to expanding Marvelous Makers, getting my website up to speed, offering more classes, and doing a lot more online. There’s a special project I’m working on that I’m not quite ready to put out into the world. If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you’ll be among the first to know! I look forward to getting all of that launched so I can return to making art for exhibition. That’s the plan, at least. We’ll see what the fates have in store.

How can folks connect with you?

Marvelous Makers: Facebook (@MarvMakers) and Instagram (@MarvMakers)

My website (coming soon): www.MarvMakers.com

Email: Linda@MarvMakers.com

Paper Greenhouse (it’s quiet in there for now but you’re welcome to have a look at all the pretty pictures!): Facebook (@PaperGreenhouse) and Instagram (@PaperGreenhouse)

2023 Artist Interview - Alexandra Duprey

For our third interview of the 2023 Delaware Fun-A-Day, we talk to mother and photographer Alexandra Duprey about documentarian-style photography, family and motherhood, setting goals and starting projects, art-making while parenting, resources for artists AND parents, and getting kids involved in the making process. Thanks, Alexandra!

We like to know how people are connected to Delaware -  are you a resident, born and raised? What brought you to Delaware Fun-A-Day (DEFAD)?

My family moved to Delaware the day before I entered 6th grade. I’ve lived here ever since.

My girls were taking a summer arts camp at The Art Studio where I found a flier for last year’s Fun-A-Day. I had initially thought that it would be fun for them to participate, but signed up myself and enjoyed the challenge. It had been so long since I had kept a regular sketchbook and it was nice to have a reason to sit down and draw every day. My project was a self portrait looking out of my own eyes-- drawn from my point of view-- it became a little like keeping a visual diary-- a snapshot of the happenings of my day.

When asked to describe yourself, you wrote “If one word were to describe me, it would be that I am a maker”. Wow! It’s a perfect word and it resonates with so many folks who find their way here to Fun-A-Day with our motto “Make Art Every Day”. Tell us what being a maker means for you.

I enjoy the process! And I enjoy learning new processes.

We love how you find and infuse artistic expression into the norms of everyday life (even at times in the mundane)... it lends a sense of romance and whimsy to one’s own life… Do you feel this outlook was a product of your upbringing? Was it nature or nurture?

My childhood was spent outside-- playing in the woods, wading in creeks, painting with crushed berries, and reading in willow trees. I have an active imagination that was nurtured by nature!

How do you feel your varied interests and skill sets have informed your work as a photographer?

My love for fiber arts means that I delight in textural detail and colour (it also means that I give great styling advice), I have an intuitive understanding of light and line from my art school training in observational drawing, dancing as a child has given me an eye for poetic gesture, and my empathy allows me to photograph my subjects compassionately and gives me the grace to be able to call it (I’m not going to force anything-- If a kid is done, they are done).

How did you come to open your business, Moon Bloom Photo? What made you become a family and motherhood photographer? Was it your own experiences with pregnancy and motherhood that drove you down this avenue or was this your area of interest long before?

After I had my last baby, I didn’t want to go back to my 9-5 and I couldn’t afford the childcare to do so anyway, so I decided that I would use my photography skills to create a business that was aligned with my passion for pregnancy, birth, and motherhood.

I have always been artistically curious about what it means to be a woman. I think I initially gravitated towards traditionally female and domestic art forms because of this-- my artistic interest in motherhood is simply following my natural progression through life.

Images of mothers with their children are timeless-- think of renaissance paintings of the Madonna and Child, the work of Impressionist painter Mary Cassatt, Dorthea Lange’s “Migrant Mother”-- these images are a hundred or hundreds of years old and are still relevant today. In my client work, I hope to create artwork that is authentic to the individual mother’s experience, but resonant with the universal truths of what it means to be a mother. I hope that any mother could look at one of my images and see themselves in it.

My favorite way to photograph families is in the comfort of their own homes! I am always striving to capture what is real.

We’d be remiss in not asking you about your own children who are clearly one of your inspirations… How many children do you have? Are they participating in Fun-A-Day with you? And since the Maker’s Month is in October, we have to ask, is your one daughter’s name, Lenore, from the Edgar Allan Poe poem of the same name?

I am a mother of four. My oldest is named after the tragic lost love in Edgar Allan Poe’s, “The Raven”.  My three year old and 9 year old are participating in Fun-A-Day this year. My son, Bard, is drawing a monster a day (so far he has made a “Lava Teeth Monster” and a “Box Monster”-- both are terrifying-- be warned!) and my daughter, Sloane, will be making a treasure map over the course of the month. 

Tell us a little about the birth photography process and how you got started. It’s such a  beautiful but intimate art form, so we’d imagine it was a little intimidating when you first got started?

As far as birth photography goes, I didn’t even realize that birth photography existed until I was pregnant with my third baby and stumbled on powerful images of birthing women on the internet. I asked my sister to take photos for me during that birth and realized for myself what a valuable tool those images were for processing the events of such an out-of-body experience.  During my maternity leave, I signed up for the Birth Becomes You certification program and began studying. At that time, I was working as an auction house product photographer, so I had an understanding of my camera and I had given birth several times so I understood the birth process. The education through “Birth Becomes You” prepared me for being a part of a birth team, how to navigate extreme low light situations with and without flash, ethical concerns, and how to build birth photography into a business. I have been developing those skills ever since. 

For a typical birth, I go on-call at 38 weeks and stay on-call until there is a baby. That means that even if they call me at 3am, I will answer my phone, grab my camera bag, and hop in the car to drive to their home, hospital, or birth center. I meet them at their place of birth when they are in active labor. I document labor, birth, and those first few hours postpartum. I cry every time!

The first birth I photographed was for an old friend-- I am so grateful for her trust in my ability and openness to allow me to share her birth story with others. 

What is it about the documentarian style of photography that calls to you? Would you say it’s similar or dissimilar to photojournalism?

I have to say that my in-home sessions are not purely documentary. I will go into people’s houses and turn off lights and open blinds, or direct family’s into pockets of pretty light in their homes. I will tidy side tables… What I don’t do is pose people or tell them what to do. I like for interactions to unfold organically.

My birth photography is completely documentarian. I do not move or touch anything. I won’t even talk to a laboring mom unless she’s chatty or seems to need a word of encouragement.

That being said, I have a frame of mind that I am always looking for that image that tells the whole story-- for a photojournalist, this would be the photograph that would end up published in the paper (for a portrait photographer it would be the one that ends up framed on the wall). I am a storyteller and whether that is the story of the birth of your child or the story of what a typical Sunday looks like in your house right now, the way I work is the same-- there is the big picture, and then all those tiny details.

Have you shared your work with any publications?

A photograph of mine “Birthday Bath” was recently featured in a juried gallery exhibit on Parenthood-- I was so tickled when I heard that it was chosen. It’s a self-portrait of my sons and I in the tub-- it happened to be my baby’s first birthday. My work has also been featured in Shutter Up and The Photograp[Her] Magazines.

Do you have any photo equipment and photo editing tools to recommend to folks? Or possible educational/training avenues folks should consider taking?

I would say that I learn by doing, and consider myself intuitive rather than technical. But intuition can only get you so far. When I started working at the auction house as a product photographer, I was hired with zero studio experience-- I took a deep dive into learning settings, off-camera flash, and software. Being a member of PPA at that time (and reading all the manuals for my equipment) was a truly invaluable resource for me.

When I first started branching out into portraits with Moon Bloom, I had to learn how to be present with my subjects-- to observe and predict moments as they unfold so that I could be ready to capture them. I strive to capture genuine emotion and connection, and this is something that again, I had to learn by doing. I am naturally a very introverted person so interacting with strangers was challenging at first. Before every session I would be a mess of nerves-- your subjects can feel your anxiety and this makes them anxious which, in turn, makes it hard for them to relax and open up in front of the camera-- not great for emotive work! But the more I went out and photographed people I didn’t know, the easier it was for me to get out of my own head and overcome my social anxiety. Now getting to know people is one of my favorite parts of being a photographer. I have learned that I am not very good at small talk and I don’t try to be-- I like to connect with people in a deep way. I am there for them in the sanctity of their homes and birth spaces-- they have to trust and feel comfortable around me. If you want to photograph people, I think that working on your social skills is very important. A photographer and their subject work in collaboration with one another. You are making art with a living being with feelings, insecurities, expectations, traumas. I try to respect that.

Another valuable learning tool has been listening to podcasts. I especially like “The Beginner's Photography Podcast”. The host, Raymond Hatfield, interviews industry leaders in all different fields of photography who talk about their journey to success-- each journey is unique as is the individual’s definition of success. His questions are usually from a beginner’s perspective which would be helpful to anyone just starting out.

Unraveled Academy, which is an online subscription of courses with behind-the-scenes footage, was also really helpful-- watching other photographers interact with their subjects, and then viewing their editing processes and the final images they produced gave me a clear idea of how I wanted to make portraits.

Another resource that I have been leaning heavily into, especially during times when I am feeling uninspired, is checking out photography books from the Library. I have recently borrowed Annie Liebovitz’s “At Work”, Vivian Maier: “The Color Work”, “Portraits from a life: Lee Miller”, and “Face: the New Photographic Portrait” by William A. Ewing. I love reading the story behind an image-- it’s a great way to spend an evening flipping through an artist’s retrospective or a curated collection of contemporary work from a variety of artists. My biggest recommendation is for the beginner portrait photographer to stay far, far away from instagram. If you feel the need for inspiration, turn to photographers that are making fine art work.

You have several fun passion projects… “Sunday Morning: The Family Bed” is one of them, which features photos of real families co-sleeping. Can you share some details? And are you seeking more participants?

When I was growing up, my mother had a 5X7 black and white photograph of our family sleeping together framed on her bedroom wall. I was always struck by that photo-- so small, its subject matter so mundane- but displayed so proudly. As a mother with a co-sleeping family of my own now, I finally understand why that image was so important to my mom. One of her favorite axioms is “this too shall pass”, and she reminds me of this whenever I call her up to vent about the trials of the day-- one day the crick in my neck, the 3am kick in the gut, and the baby in my armpit will just be a memory of this season of my life. A photograph is a tangible memory. One day, my family bed will be but a memory and I am glad that I have my own photograph to remember this time by.

In this social media age, we see a lot of examples of lifestyle photography that takes place in the home, and even in one of the home's most intimate rooms-- the bedroom. But in those photos, the beds are neatly made, the pillows are plumped, and no one gets under the covers.

With “Sunday Morning: The Family Bed” I am currently pursuing a series of photographs of real co-sleeping families, in their beds, as they are when they wake up in the morning. My hope is that this body of work will help to normalize co-sleeping. These photographs are taken from an aerial perspective in a documentary style. No styling, no primping, no prompting-- just the real and the raw. In order to make these photographs, I need trusting families who feel as passionately about their sleeping arrangements as I do! I need to be let into their homes, at about the time that they would normally be waking up, but not getting up out of bed. (this tends to be very early for co-sleeping families which often means a start time before the sun has risen). At the agreed upon time, I will text them to let them know I've arrived. Sometimes the door is left unlocked and I get a text back that reads, “let yourself in the bedroom at the top of the stairs, second door on the left”. Sometimes, the person who lets me in is a partner who just slips right back into bed for the photos. I did have one dad that let me in, but he hung out in a chair while I started taking the pictures. I asked him very quietly if he wanted to get in bed, but he was like,”no, I’m covered in chicken shit” and declined. I bring my own step ladder, set it up beside the bed and shoot down on the family. Then I will leave. The whole process takes less than 15 minutes. I have photographed families in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland for this project. The one requirement I have would be that there needs to be enough light to shoot by, if a family sleeps with black out curtains I have to pull them back enough to allow light in to take a picture. If there is no natural light, I need to turn on a hallway or bathroom light. I never use flash. This has really stretched my technical ability and equipment. For a while I was feeling frustrated with the quality of the images I was producing, but I have come to accept that for me to be as unobtrusive and authentic as possible this is how the pictures have to be made.

This project is still active. I live in Wilmington, DE. I am limiting this to families who live within a 40 mile radius. There is no monetary compensation for participation, but I do provide high resolution digital downloads of all the images that I capture. If you are a co-sleeping family and would like to participate, you can submit and application here: https://www.moonbloomphoto.com/model-search

Creative ideas and making comes naturally to you in a way that it doesn’t for a lot of people. How does making play a role in your everyday life with work, family, friends, etc? Do you have advice for how folks can start to tap into their creativity and alter their view of the world around them?

I think that daily practice, and challenges like Delaware Fun-A-Day, are a great way to start. Also keeping materials close at hand and accessible for when the creative urge strikes, I always keep a knitting project in the car to work on when I am a passenger and one by my seat on the couch. My sketchbook is in my daily backpack along with a few micron pens. When I wake up with words in my head, I write them down.

I recently read Elizabeth Gilbert's book, “Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear”. In it she talks about letting go of the things that are holding you back from making your best work. The fear that you are talentless (if I let this fear take over I definitely wouldn’t have chosen to paint my project this year). The fear of what others will think of your work. The fear that someone might steal your ideas. Maybe you are afraid that you won’t have enough time or resources to develop your ideas. You are afraid you have started too late in life. You are afraid of your work being too personal and exposing intimate parts of yourself to the world… The list goes on and on.

My advice is to just get over it. Pick up a paintbrush if you feel the urge to paint (even if you think you suck). Have you always wanted to learn guitar? My dad started taking lessons at 58. You just have to get over the fear that is holding you back.

If you are feeling uninspired and in a creative rut, or that life has become too mundane, my advice would be to tap into your senses. Let’s consider dinner prep. You are cutting a red bell pepper. Take in the pepper’s vivid colour-- do you notice a tinge of orange or maybe a tinge of purple? When you cut the pepper does it make a sound? How about if you snap a piece that you have cut in two with your hands? Feel the bumpy inside of the pepper-- it’s so different from the smooth exterior-- take a moment to appreciate the difference. Smell and taste the pepper-- does it smell exactly like it tastes? I think that by regularly checking in with your senses, you are able to experience the world in the way an artist experiences it. And maybe that might lead to some art making!

Here in 2023, women everywhere seem to be drawing lines between the Slow Living movement and the Girl Boss movement - but you seem to be doing both! Your ability to romanticize your life coupled with your incredible work ethic seem to be in tandem… but what do you think? Should lines be drawn or should women aspire to do it all?

Life balance is something that I have lately been struggling with-- ever since I started Moon Bloom actually. I throw myself wholly into anything I do and my business is no exception.

Although I am still in “growth mode”, my intention is for Moon Bloom to provide my dream lifestyle for my family. I want to be able to be home and present for my children as they are growing up, and I also want to have the flexibility to explore my multi-passionate creativity whether or not these interests tie into my photography work. I have that clear vision in mind and I am always working towards it. 

My parents each make a vision board for the new year-- I am always amazed at what having clear goals in mind has brought into their lives. It’s a practice that I want to adopt myself. 

In personal descriptions of yourself, you talk about motherhood molding who you are today, and even how you can do just about anything with your kids on the hip or breast. Do you feel that parenthood forced you to slow down (in a good way) and adapt your style or preferences to ones that are “easier” to do, or more accessible, for example while breastfeeding? Any maker recommendations for other parents who may be feeling “constraints” on their creativity because of their little ones?

I became a mother very young in life (I had only just turned 21 when I had my first). And although photography has been a constant creative outlet for me, I have dabbled in many other art forms over the years. I have always included my children in these explorations of different media.

In 2015 I painted a poolside mermaid mural on our garage. I involved my kids in that mural as much as possible-- What colour should the mermaid’s tail be? What sea creatures are going to be her friends?

There was a period when my daughters were young that I was creating garments, wearable art essentially, with nuno felt, a technique of felting wool and silk fibers together. I was repurposing vintage saris into woolen vests and jackets. The process is a very physical one. The fabric is felted together through agitation so I would have to bundle the piece I was working on and roll it back and forth or step on it for over an hour, then rinse and scrub it on a washboard till it shrunk to the desired size and thickness.

My girls were right here with me, playing in the soap suds, jumping on my felting bundle, arms deep in the wash tub splashing each other. I have always felt very strongly that if we show the joy, fun, and togetherness that can be experienced while doing hard work, then the hard work becomes joyful, full of fun, and something we do together.

It’s very easy to set my three-year-old up with a knife and cutting board to chop vegetables that I will be using as ingredients to make dinner (I view cooking as a creative outlet and try to share that joy as much as possible with my kids). If I hear “I’m bored” I can send the bored one outside with scissors to cut some roses to make a floral arrangement. If I am sewing, I will have my kids make small stuffies with the remnants or keep the little guys busy with arranging the scraps that are too small to use into pictures on the floor-- I have worked at my sewing machine while nursing my babies many times.

Breastfeeding is a way I can get things done, I could wear my baby and feed them hands-free while grocery shopping or vacuuming-- it also means that I get more sleep. Lately my 20 month old is teething so I have been doing a lot of photo editing while he nurses for comfort.

As far as advice, I feel that all artist-parents must go through their own creative parenting journey. Include your children as much as they want to be included in the processes that you are working with. Kids learn so much about the materials and techniques we use just by observing us work-- they also learn the value in having creative pursuits.

My 12 year old has been eagerly accompanying me on outdoor photoshoots and I love to take her along with me. She’s great company in the car and so helpful with small children. When she is tagging along, it usually means that couples can get some photos together of just the two of them without worrying about their toddler wandering off-- she’s able to entertain the little ones for me-- oftentimes couples haven’t been photographed together just as a couple since their weddings.

How did you come upon the inspiration for your 2023 Fun-A-Day project “Dream Pool” and the idea of “painting rocks with memories/dreams and placing them underwater in a pool that you have to look down into to view”?

My “dream pool” concept is a good example of having an overly ambitious idea, and having to scale it back due to time constraints/ability to source materials- I think I am putting this one on the back burner for next year! For this year’s Fun-A-Day,  I knew that I wanted to paint. Painting is something that I have never felt like I was very good at and it is a medium  that I want to get better at expressing myself in. What better way than to paint every day for 31 days!

For the project that I am working on now-- tiny paintings of tornados-- I stayed with the concept of dream motifs. Tornadoes have been a part of my dreamscape since childhood-- especially at times when I feel like there is an area of my life spinning out of control. As a mother, I am often sheltering my children in these dreams. Sometimes, I simply ride my bike around my decimated hometown. At other times, I stand in awe at a safe distance. I think that tornadoes are both beautiful and terrifying. 

In Cecil County, MD, just over the border from Delaware there is a movement called “Cecil Rocks” where painted rocks are hidden throughout the county and to find them is good luck. Have you thought about what you might do with your Fun-A-Day project after the show?

I am inspired to paint rocks with my kids now and hide them despite changing my project! We found a painted rock on a trail once in New Hampshire and it made our day.

Do you feel that art making should ultimately serve a purpose and be functional in some way? You seem to gravitate toward making things that will have utility or meaning beyond the aesthetic and ornamental. We’d love to hear your take on it.

I’m not going to say that beauty for beauty’s sake is not a valid pursuit. Or that conceptual art is crap because its purpose is intellectual rather than practical. One of my college professors makes conceptual rulers and measuring implements that are impractical and unusable in every way but I can still appreciate them. (If you are curious you can view them here: http://www.ricksalafia.com/)

I can only speak to the way I like to experience art. I would so much rather have something in my hand than just hanging on the wall. My favorite coffee mug is hand-thrown, my favorite sweater is hand-knit, and I love to cozy up under hand-pieced quilts. I am a very tactile person.

When I was making jewelry, which is a purely ornamental art form however, I used to think of each piece I’d work on as being imbued with power-- like an amulet. I like the idea of crafted items taking on the essence of the maker.

Anything else you’d like to share or enlighten us with?

I just want to say that I am so grateful for this opportunity to speak about my passion for motherhood and art-making-- thank you!

For any readers that are interested, I have also been creating a comprehensive resource of local providers and small woman-owned businesses that serve new and expectant parents. I have been interviewing experts on topics that range from perinatal mental health to pelvic floor therapy, homebirth, and tarot and motherhood with new articles being published on a monthly basis. If anyone is in the midst of pregnancy or postpartum you can find these resources here: https://www.moonbloomphoto.com/resources

Where can folks see your work or connect with you?

You can view examples of my work at www.moonbloomphoto.com
And on Instagram at @moon.bloom.photo
I am also on facebook @moonbloombirthstories

2023 Artist Interview - Danielle Gaines

For our second interview of the 2023 Delaware Fun-A-Day, we talk to hair stylist Danielle Gaines about her ink pen doodles, starting something new, setting goals and sticking with them (like marathon running), and of course, the art of hair. Thanks, Danielle!

We like to know how people are connected to Delaware -  are you a resident, born and raised? What brought you to Delaware Fun-A-Day (DEFAD)?

I was born and raised in Delaware. A friend of mine Beca Sanchez was the one who told me about Fun-A-Day back in 2019.

This will be your 4th year participating in DEFAD! This year will also be the 3rd venue that you’ve joined us at for the show. The first two years you participated (2019-2020) were physically held at the Center for the Creative Arts in Yorklyn, DE, followed by the virtual year in 2021 which was all alone, and this year the show is in Newark, DE. Tell us about your past experiences with participating in DEFAD.

My first year participating I volunteered to help set up, that year will always hold a special place in my heart. It was so cool to spend that much time being with the other artists' work. You can really feel all the different personalities! Looking back, the second year was crazy because that was one of the last times we were all in a crowded public space before the world shut down due to covid!! I was grateful we were able to be there physically not knowing what the future would hold.

What ultimately made you “take the plunge” and sign-up for your very first Fun-A-Day?

I won’t lie, I was a little scared to sign up the first time. It is intimidating to put yourself out there like that for everyone to see when you just make art for your own satisfaction. I enjoy a challenge so I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and signed up.

What do you look forward to about participating this year? Do you think that your kids or other family members may start to participate alongside you in the future?

I’m looking forward to the same thing I am always looking forward to, the variety! It blows my mind how we are all given the same parameters but there is never a duplicate amongst us!! It is so fun to see how everyone's minds work to create their own interpretation of the instructions. My oldest daughter Vanessa Gaines signed up for the first time this year! I guess I am also looking forward to doing this alongside her this year!

Have your children ever been the subject of your artwork? If so, how do they feel about it? For example, do they pose for you, or give you ideas/suggestions?

Last time I participated I used photos to make sketches of my youngest daughter who was just a baby at the time as well as my oldest grandson. My children are always an inspiration to make art.

Do you have any advice for other participants about how to juggle Fun-A-Day while also managing work, family, and friends? What works for you?

The best advice I have is start a little early or produce a little extra to give yourself a buffer. It is easy to think you’ll spend a certain amount of time working on your art but life can get in the way. Also give yourself grace, maybe you don’t complete a full piece every day, that is ok too. Another thing that works for me is keeping it simple.

Speaking of finding a work-life balance as a hairstylist, mom, and Fun-A-Day participant and trying to find time to “do it all” - you’re also a runner! You’ve run and completed A MARATHON?! That’s a huge accomplishment that takes almost daily running practice to prepare for - not only so you can run that distance but also so you can finish in a certain amount of time. Way to go! Do you think that your discipline as a runner has helped with your discipline with doing a month-long daily art-challenge like Fun-A-Day?

I am a very goal oriented person. I thrive when I have a mission I am trying to accomplish. Completing that marathon is definitely at the top of my list of my proudest moments. I never saw myself as being able to run that long of a distance but all it took was willpower and training, both physically and mentally! Being goal driven while also being a busy mom/business-owner/student means I have to have good time management. Time management is important in making sure you stay on track with your art for Fun-A-Day!

You’ve described art as being just a hobby for yourself, but you also make art everyday already as a professional hair stylist… Do you classify something as “art” when it meets a certain criteria or is in a specific medium? The definition of art can be very subjective - we’d love to hear your thoughts on how art is defined or what you consider to be art in your life.

I agree I do make art everyday with my profession, it’s probably one of the reasons I feel like I’ve never worked a day in my life! If I step back and look around me, I find a way to make art every chance I get in a multitude of different ways. For me I view it as more of a hobby because I’ve never crossed over into attempting to sell my physical art or creative services(outside being a hairstylist). I was never formally trained beyond the high school art classroom and I recognize there’s artists who have poured all their time into their craft so I suppose I support them by leaving the monetizing space for them. The world is full of beauty and pain, color and darkness… to me life is art. It doesn’t have to be on a canvas or in a sketchbook, but when it is, that's a human channeling that life art inspiration into a concentration of the emotion and vision life gives them so it can be shared and that’s beautiful!!

As a certified Devacurl hair stylist you have expertise with cutting and styling curly hair, and there’s so much fun you can have! You also do beautiful colorful hair. So have you ever participated (or thought about participating) in a hair show or hair competition, for example, like this? What about using hair as the focus of a future Fun-A-Day project?

I have never considered participating in anything like that since I was in Hair school many years ago. I took part in an updo competition, it was fun.

We love your doodles! You seem to prefer working with micron ink pens and you play with shape and form a lot. At least 2 of your past Fun-A-Day projects have centered around using these pens to make abstract works. When did you start exploring with your doodles? Are you consciously making these doodles or do you make them while you’re multitasking (such as while talking on the phone, or waiting for something)?

I stumbled on my doodles and the pens just by chance. I was trying to get back into making art and found myself drawing lines and shapes and them turning into actual pieces. So as I leaned into that I found the pens and quickly fell in love with how they work with my doodling. I love to sit with headphones on and just go into a flow state but I pretty much take my sketchbook with me everywhere so if an opportunity presents itself to put pen to paper I take advantage of it. Sometimes it’s fun to sit in chaos and let the calm of doodling take me away.

Some of your doodles have so much flow and movement to them that they remind us of hair… Is there any connection there? Could hair be a possible subconscious inspiration that’s carried over into your doodle work?

That very well may be possible. I often see water in them. I also feel there’s something mathematical about them. No matter how they turn out they all start the same way… a blank mind and a simple flow of subconscious.

If you don’t mind - tell us about your heart-shaped color wheel tattoo and the meaning behind it. It’s beautifu!l It’s a tattoo that many other artists would envy. Color wheels are definitely a fan favorite among artists and can take so many different forms.

In 2019 my previous business partner and I opened Meraki Hair Studio. Our logo was the color wheel in the shape of a heart. Meraki is no longer, we have gone our separate ways but I’ll be forever grateful for that part of my journey!

Anything else you’d like to share? Maybe where folks can book a hair appointment with you to get an awesome cut and color?

I’m super thankful for being able to be a part of this event for another year. If anyone is interested in my hair services they can check out my online booking site www.daniellegaines.glossgenius.com

2023 Artist Interview - Marcie Tauber

For our first interview of the 2023 Delaware Fun-A-Day, we talk to glass artist and First State Craft Guild President Marcia Tauber about glass fusing, staying creative and productive through the pandemic, the First State Craft Guild, and art exhibit venues throughout New Castle County, DE. Thanks, Marcie!

We like to know how people are connected to Delaware -  are you a resident, born and raised? What brought you to Delaware Fun-A-Day (DEFAD)?

I had lived all of my life in various parts of New York State before moving to Delaware in 1986. In 2020 I learned about DEFAD, and thought it would be a great way to motivate me to focus on my glass work every day for a month. It worked!

This is your 3rd time participating in DEFAD. As a glass artist, how do you take on a project like this and keep it manageable throughout the month? We’d love to hear about your process for Maker’s Month!

Though the objective of DEFAD is to create a piece each day during the month, as a fused glass artist, it is not effective to run the kiln daily with a very small quantity of glass in it. At the beginning of the month, I decide on my ‘theme’ (this year’s theme is ’In the Garden’), determine how each piece will be displayed (in 4 x 4 frames) and purchase the display components. Throughout the month I cut and fuse the glass, trying to run the kiln when it is relatively full. The finished pieces are assembled when the firing and other preparation work is complete.

In fact, your 1st time participating with DEFAD was in 2020. COVID first hit the U.S. right as the physical show that year was coming to an end and many of us donned our face masks for the first time when we came to re-collect our projects from that show. The 2nd time you participated was in 2021, which was our virtual year. This year things are relatively back to normal - however - like most working artists in our community - you’ve seen the landscape of exhibiting art change as a direct result of the pandemic. What were your experiences with exhibiting artwork over these past few years? Did you find creative ways to work around the challenges that COVID posed to still get your work out there?

For me, the biggest challenge that COVID presented was the absolute lack of creativity that I experienced, at least during the first year of the pandemic.The inability to travel to see family, the death of my mom, the isolation and the overall anxiety were crushing, and I really had no interest in creating. Fortunately, those feelings eventually subsided and I was able to find working with glass as a calming and positive factor in my life. I also learned enough from You Tube to dabble with watercolors, something I had always wanted to learn. My submissions for DEFAD 2021 were glass pieces and corresponding watercolor ones, and was the only display I had during the pandemic.

As a society we’re still navigating the devastation that COVID has foisted onto the world, and all the harm and heartache it has caused. Despite the damage, a few silver linings emerged when it came to the digital world and finding new ways to stay connected with one another. You uniquely had a former career in Information Technology. What is your perspective on the intersection between the digital world and art? Do you feel the arts community has evolved? And if so, was it for the better?  

Sadly, I think the pandemic expedited an already existing transition from seeing and purchasing art in person, to seeing and purchasing art online. Anyone who has attended art shows in the past 20 years, can see the decrease in attendance and purchases since that time. This is likely to benefit those outlets who have a large online presence to the detriment of the small local artists.

Do you feel that virtual/digital art exhibits and shows are as impactful and profitable for artists?

As I discussed above, I feel that virtual/digital art exhibits are far less impactful and profitable for artists. Beyond the obvious issue that seeing art in person has an emotional impact that a digital display does not, digital displays require photographic equipment and skills, along with the ability to position the virtual display in a place so that the audience can find it. These present challenges to small artists.

In 2019 you founded and became the president of the First State Craft Guild, the Delaware chapter of the Pennsylvania Craft Guild. Tell us more about this non-profit and great group of artists and how folks can join.

The Guild is made up of a wonderful group of local crafters. Some are master artisans who make their living by making and selling their wares.  Many others are hobbyists who enjoy discussing and learning crafts with like-minded folks.

Founded in Delaware in 2019, the FSCG is a non-profit organization which encourages and promotes the practice of fine craft and art, provides educational opportunities for the public through shows and fairs, and preserves and advances our creative culture through crafts.  Lots of additional information can be found on our wonderful website (created by Grunge Muffin Designs!) at www.fscraftguild.org/about-the-guild.  As a chapter of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsman, membership is handled through their website (pacrafts.org) 

Because of the timing, COVID delivered an initially crushing blow to the First State Craft Guild. The pandemic struck just as the group was forming and forced the members to adapt and find new avenues through which to stay connected. Can you tell us about how the guild continued to meet? What successes and/or challenges did you find in your leadership role while trying to navigate such a unique situation?

Since the First State Craft Guild was a one-year-old organization when the pandemic shut everything down, we are very pleased and proud of the fact that it is still an existing organization. During the pandemic, we continued to meet monthly, via Zoom. This allowed us to have virtual tours of our members' art spaces, virtual instructions in techniques provided by our members, and a virtual forum for discussing craft. While not all members were comfortable with a virtual meeting, or the logistics of using the tools, we persevered. The pandemic definitely put a damper on our goal of building membership. However, our monthly in-person meetings have resumed and we plan to increase our community visibility and membership in the upcoming months and years.

Time is so precious, especially when a person wears many hats and juggles being an artist, arts advocate, non-profit board member, spouse, etc. How do you manage it all while protecting your time to be able to marinate in your creative process and actually make new work? Do you find that your best ideas come while on-the-go?

I have the great fortune of being retired from my previous ‘day job’ in Information Technology, allowing me time to enjoy my glass work, my participation with the First State Craft Guild, and my favorite job of being Grammy to my two young grandchildren.

As the saying goes - inspiration, like lightning, can strike at any time. You once stated  that you first found your inspiration for your glasswork while you were remodeling your kitchen… Tell us about it. Did you just go for it? And was this your first time working with glass?

Many years ago, I purchased the house we currently live in, and the kitchen was in desperate need of remodeling. The money ran out before I was able to put a stained glass panel in one of the cabinets. After a year or two where the frame remained open (allowing the cat access to the inside of the cabinet!), my husband suggested I take a stained glass class and make a panel myself. As a result, a lovely stained glass panel eventually filled the frame in that cabinet. I fell in love with the medium of glass, and never looked back.

How have you evolved your skill and craftsmanship over the years when it comes to working with glass? What tools did you use or avenues did you take to strengthen your abilities or expand/broaden the scope of your work? For example, it looks like you also learned metal-smithing and electrical work to bolster your projects.

Once I started working with glass, I discovered glass fusing, where glass is combined and shaped at high temperature in a kiln. I took a local fusing class and was hooked. My husband, who is my biggest supporter, along with several other family members, bought me a kiln as a surprise birthday present. Over the years, I added a wet tile saw, a flat lap grinder, a  glass ring saw and a sandblaster to my tool set. I’ve continued to take glass classes, both online and in person over the years, to expand my techniques. I have also taken a few welding classes so that I could incorporate metal into my work.  

Glasswork, particularly stained glass, can find its way into so many different styles of home decor. Do you find that you gravitate toward a particular styling or influence in your work? For example, new-age versus modern versus victorian. Where do you envision your work ultimately “ending up” as you create it?

Stained glass does tend towards a more traditional style, which is perhaps why I’ve concentrated more on fused glass which tends towards a more contemporary style. Ten or fifteen years ago, I could not have predicted what my work would look like today, so I really don’t have a vision of where I may go in the future. I find I focus on one technique or style for a period of time, then move to a different one, as it captures my interest.

Thinking again back to 2019 you created these beautiful mounted glass pieces that were commissioned to be used as the Governor’s Awards which were then presented during the biennial Delaware Arts Summit in celebration of the 30th Year Anniversary for the Delaware Division of the Arts. Tell us more about this project. Have you had other projects quite like it before or since then?

I was honored to be asked and very much enjoyed making those pieces for the Governor’s Awards. I had displayed my deep bowls, or Calderas as I call them, at the Division of the Arts Mezzanine Gallery, so I chose that style for the awards.  Each Caldera was made by taking a round piece of clear glass, and covering it with hand-pulled threads of glass, which were kiln-fired into place. Then the piece was slumped (kiln-shaped) into three successively deeper ceramic molds until it achieved the desired shape. (Photo below by Joe delTufo, Moonloop Photography).

I have been honored to have also worked with the Delaware Small Business Administration for the past 10 years, making between 9 and 20 awards for each year's winners.  

Your work has been on display throughout Delaware - at the Wilmington Siegel JCC Art Space, the Delaware Division of the Arts Mezzanine Gallery, the Delaware Archives, etc. What can you tell us about these spaces (or other spaces you’ve discovered)? 

In addition to those you’ve listed, my work was displayed at Buena Vista Conference Center. Each of these places provides a wonderful venue for local artists to display their work, allowing it to be seen by varied audiences.

DEFAD attracts creative folks and makers across the spectrum in terms of age, skill, and art medium. As someone who is so active in the arts community, particularly here in Delaware, where should folks turn, other than DEFAD, to get started? What advice can you impart for those who seek to aspire to your level of skill and showmanship? Any steps that you would recommend for folks to “skip” in the name of advancement?

I think a good place to start is the Delaware Division of the Arts. They provide grants to artists and art organizations, along with assistance and information. I’ve been a recipient of these grants which have allowed me to take classes to learn new skills. Of course the First State Craft Guild is a great place to meet other artists and get information and lots of support.

Where can people see or purchase your work?

My work will, of course, be on display at the upcoming DEFAD display in November. For the holidays, I will be participating in the new Brandywine Holiday Festival of the Arts at the Chase Center on the Riverfront December 16-17. And I display annually at the Hockessin Art Show, Feb 23-25, 2024 at Hockessin Memorial Hall.

2022 Artist Interview - Kirsten Ashley

For our ninth interview of the 2022 Delaware Fun-A-Day, we talk to artist and Delaware City Library Assistant Director Kirsten Ashley about the library, Delaware City Day, alternative art venues, demons, ghosts, and *creepy* art. Thanks, Kirsten!

We like to know how people are connected to Delaware Fun a Day - are you a resident, born and raised? Or do you live in a neighboring state? What brings you to participating in this event?

I have been living in Delaware for the last 11 years. Over that time, I was happy to see the local arts scene blossoming with Bellefonte Arts, Oddball Art Hall, the events at Talleyville Frame Shoppe and Gallery, and the Wilmington Art Loop. 

If I’ve counted correctly, this is going to be your fourth year participating in DEFAD! You started participating back in 2015 and you’ve joined us off and on over the past 7 years. So in your opinion, what is the best month in the year for the DEFAD “Maker’s Month”? Tell us what gets you motivated to take on a DEFAD project?

Yes, this is my fourth challenge with DEFAD. I love getting out of my comfort zone as an artist and create around a theme for a month-long challenge. It’s also called a challenge for a reason. It’s difficult to create that much work! February is the least stressful month to create for it’s brevity. Creating in September for an October show is the most fun for me, as that’s Halloween season and allows for fun themes.

Your 2022 project theme is “Demon A Day” and you’re creating your own interpretation of demons from various cultural mythologies each day. What cultures did you feel most influenced by as you worked on your project?

I’m an avid lover of storytelling. Folklore and mythology are the building blocks of modern stories in art, books, and media. I like pulling from traditional mythology from various cultures and playing with those ideas in my work.

Which is your favorite demon? Are you strictly influenced by ancient folklore demons from older texts, or also by pop culture demons like those in anime/manga, or film?

I don’t think I could choose a favorite demon! Although I am inspired by the story of Lucifer as a fallen angel and Lilith as the first woman in Jewish texts who rebelled for not being treated as an equal. I’m a big proponent of rebellious, independent thinkers.

You’ve described your artwork as creepy, but I also feel like you have more sub-themes such as body-positivity, feminism, nature, and fantasy… What can you tell us about your favorite subjects and themes? Where do you draw your inspirations from? Do you draw from the world around you or mostly from the stories/films you explore?

Yes, I pull from all those areas. As with many artists, my work is all a part of my inner world. I tend to unintentionally pull inspiration from everything around me. I’m constantly taking photos from nature for future art reference, whether it’s a gorgeous full moon or a strawberry-colored sunset. I, of course, pull inspiration from vintage Halloween, Victorian, and Rococo aesthetics. The body positive figures come from wanting to represent people with bodies like mine. I also pull from books and music. In fact, my art handle Ugly Stepsister is a reference to Gregory Maguire’s Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister.

Your fashion is amazing! You often match your art displays and booths. But like with any aesthetic, there are so many niche subsets in goth culture. I couldn’t possibly list them all but some of my favorites are pastel goths and victorian goths. Do you have a go-to style or preferred niche? And is it actually intentional that you match your art or just a happy coincidence? I think many of us artists *want* to match our art, but either due to time, money, motivation - we often look very different from it.

Thank you! I love alternative fashions from goth, punk, and experimental artistic subcultures. I’ve been most inspired by the older 80’s/90’s era “romantic goth” fashion. I’ve been drawing female figures since I was a little girl, and I drew what I thought was most eye-catching. Over time, I have rolled in what I refer to as “librarian chic” and vintage 1920’s-1950’s era fashion to the way I dress, and you can see that in my work. So my art actually gave me an outlet for my love of fashion and led me to embrace the fashion looks and style that I love. 

You’ve explored some of the very cool *alternative* art venues in the Delaware area including Talleyville Frame Shoppe, Bellefonte Arts, Oddball Art Hall, and others… Do you think it’s about time we put together a “creepy” art tour in the area? And if so, could you envision yourself leading such an endeavor? The August-October months would make for a perfect Halloween tour season…

I never thought of a creepy art tour, but I absolutely would be up for something like that in Delaware in the future! If any venues are interested in something like that in the future and are reading this, feel free to reach out to me!

Speaking of Spooky Season, do you yourself believe in ghosts? And if so, do they ever influence your artwork?

Ghosts are fun to imagine in the way of white sheets with eye holes cut out, a sad Victorian woman in tattered clothing, jangling chains, etc. However, I think if ghosts are real, it has more to do with a transference of living energy to an ethereal energy. In much the same way alien life probably exists, just not in the way of little green men. Ghosts are also great metaphors for death, mourning, change, or dark romance. In that way, ghosts do inspire my work.

As the Assistant Director of the Delaware City Library, has the local town or surrounding area influenced any of your artwork yet? There are many “creepy” and haunted locations just nearby including the very haunted Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island. Any ghost sightings or ominous feelings?

There are many haunted areas in Delaware City. In fact, DC has its own ghost hunting group, the Delaware City Ghost Hunters. In fact, we have hosted them a few times in October library programs. Personally, I have experienced some strange things in the library, which is in an old schoolhouse building built in the 1930’s.

Do you think the Delaware City Library would ever host a “Haunted Art Show & Book Reading” full day event? I see a possibility for collaborating with the town for a ghost tour, and local authors for book signings/readings, and artists for spooky art. With an artist like you on the inside, it would make the event extra special - what do you think?

I would love to do something like that at the library! As the adult programs coordinator, I have a monthly art program I run that has been going strong for about 6 years. I know we have some budding and prolific artists in the area. So we’ll see what the future brings us!

Speaking of your role at the Delaware City Library, you gave out free art kits in June in preparation for Delaware Fun-A-Day and even set up drawing stations for the challenge throughout July for participants. That was really amazing, and helped make the challenge even more accessible for folks. Can you tell us more about the library and the programs that they offer there?

Yes, we did, and it was successful on our first try facilitating Fun-A-Day for the community. We gave out 35 free art kits to teens and adults during the month of June. Our library Director inquired about getting involved, and I was able to use my prior knowledge as a participant for Fun-A-Day to come up with handing out kits. We specifically wanted to give out all the supplies needed to create for all 31 days of the challenge, which can sometimes be a barrier for those who don’t have the budget for art supplies. Our Director Loree created drawing stations for younger kids to participate in July, and we saw many kids and families utilizing them.

We have plans to facilitate the next Fun-A-Day challenge! Regarding the library in general, we are a small-town library with a small, but dedicated staff. We host story times, teen cooking programs, art programs for all ages, including my adult fine art program Art in the Library, and various other music, local history, and STEM events. We have a kids area and a newly opened Teen Room with gaming stations, VR, and, and a maker space. I’m very proud to be a part of the library. You can keep up to date with what the library does by visiting www.DelawareCity.lib.de.us

The Delaware City Library has so many art programs for kids, teens, and adults, and they tie in with literary themes throughout the month, which is really exciting. For folks who are a little hesitant to make new connections, do you have recommendations for how they should start to explore the library?

The great part about a public library is that it can be as hands on or hands off as you’re comfortable with. You can stop by the library to quietly browse books and media. You can ask for assistance from library staff if you would like more information on our programs or services. We often have what is called passive programming, which is a great way to get involved in the library. Those programs are things like scavenger hunts, magnetic poetry, or other interactive things you can do by yourself. Check the library website for what we’re doing each month. We do hope you take the plunge and attend a traditional program like a story time, teen program, or informative program.

Delaware City Day is a fun local community event in October. There’s a parade, lots of vendors and information booths, dining, and some shopping, and other fun happenings. Have you gotten to go yet? And if so, is there anything you’d want other folks to know about it? If you haven’t been do you think you’ll go and check it out?

This year Delaware City Day is on October 8th. It will be the first one I’ll be helping out with as a library staff member. Our Director Loree joined a planning committee, and she’s facilitating making the day a success. It’s a huge city-wide event that attracts a big crowd. The library will be open that day, and we will offer some games for those to come in to get out of the heat or cold (whichever comes our way in October) and relax away from the crowd.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I would just like to thank you and the volunteers at Delaware Fun-A-Day for great experiences.

Where can people see more of your work?

To purchase my work, they can visit my retail space at Bellefonte Arts, located at 803-C Brandywine BLVD in Wilmington. For online orders they can visit my Storenvy Online Shop. To view my work and updates on shows, vending spots, and projects: 

Website: www.UglyStepSisterArt.com

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/StepSisterUgly 

2022 Artist Interview - Lynne Robinson

For our eighth interview of the 2022 Delaware Fun-A-Day, we talk to artist and PAWS for People Director Lynne Robinson about alcohol inks, art space accessibility, studio tours, and pet therapy. Thanks, Lynne!

We like to know how people are connected to Delaware Fun a Day - are you a resident, born and raised? Or do you live in a neighboring state? What brings you to participating in this event?

I am a Cecil County resident now, but an import from Delaware where I lived for about 20 years but was born and raised in Havertown, PA.

This is going to be your second year participating in DEFAD. 2021 was our virtual year and that was your first time participating with us. Now in your second year of participation, in 2022, you will be joining us in person. How well (or not well) do you think our virtual year went? And how do you think it will compare to being a part of the big show in person? Are you excited?

Yes, I am excited. It’s really neat to participate in a “grand scheme” type art show. Virtual made last year’s show possible, so that’s the good part. Virtual, on the other hand is 2-dimension and on a screen. Art needs to be viewed from all angles and in person to get the full experience. I’m really happy that this year we can be in person.

You work predominantly with alcohol ink, an art medium that attracted many first time creators who had never before really “tried” artwork before because it’s a forgiving medium that is based in experimentation. Is alcohol ink your first experience with an art medium, or did you work with other art mediums previously? What is it about alcohol ink in particular that you find attractive?

Alcohol ink is my choice of mediums for the color and the excitement of not really knowing how the end result will be. I have experimented in most of the current media and found them confining, where the inks present infinite possibilities. I started with a few drops of color on ceramic tile and played around with coasters and trivets, etc. But you can have just so many coasters and trivets so I added working on Yupo paper, took a turn with metal work crating necklaces, and now I’ve moved heavily into working glass on glass.

When I sit down in my studio to do a little creating, I never know what I’m going to end up with so I just keep adjusting the colors and the alcohol and the techniques I’ve learned over time and pour my heart into the piece right along with the pouring of the inks. My finished pieces are always a surprise and have become quite popular with folks that view my work.

You speak very light-heartedly about your work and seem to approach it in a very playful way. Do you find that working in alcohol ink has a therapeutic effect on you as a person by evoking feelings of joy or relief? We’d love to know how your art makes you feel, and if you didn’t have your artwork, what else would bring you joy?

Inking is very therapeutic. Since I have no goal, no “I want this to be a painting of a fields of daisies” type of expectations, the process becomes the joy and the colors become my guide. I am not doing this to support myself financially – it’s a “let’s try it” experiment that has become my outlet, my joy, and my personal expression – assisted by brilliant colors. So the color is crucial and working with a certain technique that merges into another technique which merges into something wonderful to look at is all therapeutic. The inks got me through Covid and have become a way to release anxiety and just sink into the fantasy world of creation.

How many exhibits do you typically participate in a year? Do you think it’s important for artists to participate in many shows with many groups or to focus on fewer but well-attended shows with a consistent group? If you don’t have a specific answer, that’s ok, but you’ve exhibited a lot and for both new artists and well-seasoned pros, it’s nice to hear from a fellow artist about their experiences.

I used to be quite active on the exhibit scene, however I have found it more and more physically taxing to do all the prep and lugging and setting up and taking down needed to show my work at fairs and festivals. This year I have been felled with a severed tendon in one leg and resulting debilitating pain in the opposite hip from compensating for the hurt leg, so I physically cannot do the same things I used to do. Bummer. BUT with art, there are many other ways to share work, sell work, and donate work – so I’m now looking for alternatives – open houses in my studio, teaching classes on line and in my studio, smaller shows that are less demanding, and having my artwork displayed in places like the The Drip Café and Jerry’s Artarama.

What can you share with us about your experiences over the past year in regards to physical accessibility to art and exhibit spaces? You’ve been to some venues that don’t have great access for folks with a physical injury or disability. If the director of one of these art exhibits were reading this interview right now, what advice would you give them in regards to this issue? Speaking as an artist and a director, how can they give better access to artists who want to participate in these events but who also need better access?

Ah, a question that has become dear to my heart due to obvious physical issues I explained earlier. I think the best thing the exhibit folks can do is to make it clear that there is handicap accessibility for artists to set up and show – that means nearby parking, that means having a booth that you can drive up to unload, that means just acknowledging that the artist might need some help unloading or packing up. Just the gesture of being aware that someone might need a little extra attention would go a long way.

Tell us about the non-profit PAWS for People, and your role as the Executive Director there. How has PAWS impacted your creative life and influenced you in commitment to following your joys and passions.

I am the proud founder and executive director of a local non-profit organization that is committed to provide individualized therapeutic pet therapy visits for those in the community who are in need of some extra love or attention or comfort. PAWS started out with 21 therapy teams and 10 places to visit. In our 17 years, we have grown to over 650 therapy teams and over 200 places to visit (before COVID hit). We are building back to those numbers quickly and I’m proud to say we did survive Covid due to the creativity and hard work of my staff and the therapy teams that worked virtually.

PAWS is all based on the awareness of the need in the committee for a gentler way to help folks and the amazing ability of pets – dogs, cats, and bunnies – to bond with people and provide that warmth or distraction or motivation that they need. This is very fulfilling work and yet there was still a part of me that needed to be expressed and finding alcohol inking when I took a class out of curiosity, that has helped fill the remaining part of my need for creativity and “drawing outside the lines”.

You have a really great home studio, with fabulous lighting, overlooking a sweet little lake just beyond your backyard. Do you have any practical advice for other artists about creating a space in their home or apartment? What was most important to you as you were preparing your art space?

Light, light, space, and light. I started working in my home office and found it too confining. I then moved to my dining room because the space was better but it’s so dark, I felt like a monk in the dark abyss. It finally dawned on me that with a little rearranging of the furniture on my sunporch, I could have space and light (and look out at trees and the lake at the same time.) It took a while for me to transfer all my STUFF but I’m now totally moved into the sunroom and very happy there. Extra supplies and starter kits and completed pieces waiting for a new home have all been relegated to a basement rec room, but the supplies and frames I work with are close at hand in the studio.

How do you feel about studio tours, and at-home art exhibits wherein you invite either friends and family or the general public into your personal art space? Are you for or against it? And have you ever done an at-home art exhibit before?

I am all for studio tours and home exhibits as I mentioned earlier these are easier for me to deal with physically. You don’t get as much exposure, obviously, but this year some other artists in my neighborhood (Glen Farms) are going to do a Holiday Art Loop and that should be very doable physically and a lot of fun. We will each be drawing our own crowd of admirers and might meet some new enthusiasts. The Loop will be Sunday, December 4th and we have 3 artists so far and are hoping for others in the area to join. You can consider this an invitation – please call me 410-398-1711 – if you are interested in participating in the Holiday Loop.

Are there any art organizations that you are a part of that you would like to share with us today? And if so, what are some of the opportunities you have found being a part of these organizations?

I belong to:
Cecil County Arts Council
Newark Arts Alliance
First State Craft Guild (a chapter of the Lancaster Craft Guild) 

I love being connected with these art organizations because I get to meet new artists and share ideas, I can find out about local art exhibitions to either show in or just attend to view, and it helps me get my name out there.  And the people are really helpful and nice to work with.

Your 2022 project is titled “Just A Peek”, which will be framed pictures made up of tiny" peeks" of a larger patchwork quilt. The “peeks” will be created with alcohol ink on yupo squares recreating the designs and patterns of the larger quilt. So my question is, have you tried quilting before? It’s always fun when one art medium influences another, so I’m curious to hear about the inspiration that sparked your project idea.

Yes, I’ve had my turn with fabric and squares and trying to make quilts. I have found that it’s the colors of the material I really like and sewing a straight line for more than an inch is just not my thing. Love the finished product – it just won’t be done by me!

When the show is over, will this new collection made for Delaware Fun-A-Day be available through your Dragonfly’s Wings online art shop?

Yes – but it’s very different from my usual work. Maybe that’s a good thing and I’ll venture into yet another way to use alcohol inked works.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Sure – just a word to a person curious but hesitant about alcohol inks. Go to Jerry’s Artarama and buy 4 alcohol inks colors you love and make sure one is gold or brass (metallic). Get a tile and start to play with the colors. Watch what happens when they mix and mingle. Then look carefully when it’s dry – notice the pigments have separated and all kinds of colors and shading and design will have appeared unexpectedly. You’ll be hooked. Have fun! Or call me for a lesson – we’ll have fun together.

Where can people see more of your work?

Online in the Dragonfly’s Wings Online Art Shop.

The Drip Café in Hockessin and The Drip Café in Newark. Seeing my work on someone else’s walls is so gratifying. Otherwise, besides a couple of shows I’m doing this fall – Elkton Arts Festival, Newark Arts Alliance show ‘Spirituality’ happening right now, a PAWS for People online art auction in November, and a Holiday Open House “Fair Hill Art Loop” in December. But if you want to get the full experience of the breadth of my work, please come to my studio in Glen Farms and enjoy a sampling of all the types of inking I do.

2022 Artist Interview - Vivienne Cameron

For our seventh interview of the 2022 Delaware Fun-A-Day, we talk to artist and art educator Vivienne Cameron about continuous learning, Delaware arts organizations, STEM, urban sketching, and plein air painting. Thanks, Vivienne!

We like to know how people are connected to Delaware Fun a Day - are you a resident, born and raised? What opportunities have you found being in the Delaware Fun-A-Day exhibit?

I used to bring my parents to New Castle to sit in Battery Park and watch the ships. I kept thinking, “I just love it here, I should buy here…” So in 2007, I did.

This is going to be your SEVENTH year participating in DEFAD - in a row - since 2016! Can you describe your favorite past Fun-A-Day project?

Favorite, hmmm. I think I enjoy the process. I’ve enjoyed all of them.

At least 2 of your past projects have been inspired by Asian culture. For your 2021 project titled “31 Chinese Paintings for the Year of the Ox” you set out to complete a shuǐ-mò (水墨, "water and ink") painting a day. And for your 2019 project titled “Art with an Asian Flair” you set out to complete 28 small works on paper. Please elaborate on this inspiration and how they’ve impacted your artwork, and if you’re comfortable, please share about your personal connection with these cultures.

I studied Chinese brush painting under Josephine Tsai (Dancing Brush Studio) for about six years. I think it’s beautiful. There is an energy and a simplicity to the paintings. The Year of the Ox paintings were a challenge because they were small. I included some calligraphy with those, little proverbs. My 2019 project ended up being little origami kimonos. I think they looked good because they were all different, but uniform. I did not enjoy making 28 origami kimonos. It was too repetitive. I did end up incorporating them into work for another show, though.

You are both an artist and an art educator, awarded at different times with Excellence in your field. You have a bachelor’s degree in English and a Master’s in Education for Technology & Art. And as you know, within the Arts Community there is a whole spectrum that creators fall into from having no formal education to very high levels of education. What practical advice, if any, would you like to give to folks in our arts community who are facing that tough question of whether or not they should pursue an actual art degree or certification? If not a classic degree, do you recommend any sort of other training or joining of guilds / organizations?

I would say do what you love. If you like to make art, then make time for it – even if it’s just a few minutes a day. Connect with like-minded people. Look for opportunities to make art. If you want a career in art, you’ll need that degree, but a degree costs a lot of money. There are lots of ways to make, share, and sell art without putting yourself in debt.

We are very lucky to have a vibrant arts community and the support of the state in Delaware. DEFAD organizers have continuously and tirelessly worked to make art accessible for everyone, both through their work with Fun-a-Day and also in their day jobs. The Newark Arts Alliance is a fabulous resource for artists, providing you with the opportunity to show and sell your work. Jester Artspace has all sorts of workshops and opportunities to work with other artists. Urban Sketchers meets every month to sketch together. It’s free, supportive, and fun.

First of all - thank you for your service as a teacher to our communities. As a teacher who works with folks in K-12, are there any projects or activities have you had students do during your years of being an educator that have inspired you? And do you recommend folks to participate in a daily practice like Delaware Fun-A-Day?

Thank you!  My master’s thesis was about bringing fine art into the regular ed classroom.  I developed an artist of the month program. We studied the artist and then viewed works by that artist each of the 180 school days.  By the end of the year, students could look at a work they had never seen before and identify the artist. I tied it into poetry as well, introducing them to Wordsworth and Mansfield. By taking less than 10 minutes a day, they amassed a significant body of knowledge that they could apply in other settings.  

STEM is becoming increasingly more important to incorporate into school systems, and as an educator who was a part of so many of these STEM programs, can you tell us about how these areas of study can also contribute to and impact a creative career?

The Engineering Design Process is applicable every day in everything we do, from cleaning our bedroom to creating an art project or coding a video game. Art is problem-solving. Art requires perseverance. STEM teaches you both of those things.

You’re one of the founding members “Urban Sketchers Delaware” which is a chapter of Urban Sketchers international, dedicated to fostering a community of artists who practice on-location drawing. This group meets on the 2nd Sunday of every month, alternating counties in Delaware. Please tell us a bit more about this group, who can join in, and what made this such an important initiative to start in the state of Delaware.

Anyone can come and sketch with us!  All skill levels, all ages, all people are welcome.  We set up meeting spots on the second Sunday of every month at noon.  There is nothing to join, no fee to pay, you just check Facebook to see where we’re meeting and show up with your sketchbook!

We are unusual because each USk chapter usually represents a city.  We felt that Delaware was small enough to have one chapter for the state and that it would be more inclusive that way.  The goal is to travel to a different county each month and sketch places that you might not otherwise know about. It’s nice because it gives you the safety and comfort of being in a group instead of heading out alone somewhere. Google Urban Sketchers Delaware to find out where we are this month. 

Did your involvement with Urban Sketchers Delaware play a direct influence on these past Delaware Fun-A-Day projects of yours? Or vice versa?
2020 – “29 Loose Landscapes” A collection of loose landscapes in watercolor and mixed media.
2018 – “ Be the Light” 31 5x7 lighthouses in various media.
2017 – “30 Small Landscapes” 30 small (4x6) landscapes.

I think those shows all took place in the winter, so I was working from reference photos that I had taken over the years.  Urban Sketching takes place on location, not from photos, so no, they weren’t related to USk.  The loose landscapes would have been experimental. I’m always striving to loosen my work and Fun a Day is the perfect opportunity to play with something new.

What is it about plein air painting / drawing in particular that calls to you? And do you perform plein air painting all year or only at certain times? How do you recommend folks to begin this practice?

I belong to a number of plein air groups. I think I’m in love with the idea of it. In reality, I think my studio work is much better. I very much enjoy painting with company.  My suggestion would be to grab a friend and find somewhere nice to sit outside and paint. No painting friends? Come out and sketch with Urban Sketchers.  We meet 12 months of the year.  During winter months, we sketch together indoors.

Can you describe the meaning having an art practice has played in your life?

You will definitely see improvement if you paint/draw/make daily.  It’s very easy to get caught up in life and then realize that you haven’t made art in weeks.  Something like DEFAD or Figuary or Inktober gets you in the habit of making every day.

I like to work toward a goal, so I look for opportunities to do that. I like to find juried, themed exhibits and then try to figure out what medium would best express that theme. While I’m working I am completely focused. I’m not thinking or worrying or bored or mindlessly eating.  I’m just in my happy place.  Since I am a very driven person, art gives me needed downtime.

Do you find yourself using DEFAD as a testing ground for new directions your professional work is going? Or do you use the month- long challenge to produce more work that fits within your current cannon?

I think the key word for me is FUN a day.  I aim for a theme that I can easily produce and that will give me a cohesive project on the other end. 

Anything else you’d like to share? We know you’re a part of many awesome groups and organizations, so if you’d like to share any in particular to other participants I’m sure they’d love to know them!

Come sketch with us at Urban Sketchers Delaware! Support Jester Artspace and the Newark Arts Alliance, and of course, Delaware Fun-A-Day (DEFAD)!

Where can people see or purchase more of your work?

Next month I’ll have work at the Swarthmore Library 121 Park Avenue, Swarthmore, PA

Instagram: @vcameron4203

2022 Artist Interview - Caity Serva

For our sixth interview of the 2022 Delaware Fun-A-Day, we talk to artist Caity Serva about working with mixed media art, gouache paint, rescue animals, D&D, cosplay, and crochet. Thanks, Caity!

We like to know how people are connected to Delaware Fun a Day - are you a resident, born and raised? What opportunities have you found being in the exhibit?

I grew up in Bear and went to undergrad at University of Delaware (UD)! I have family in the area so even though I'm living in North Carolina, Delaware feels more like home. I first participated in DEFAD in 2018 and have wanted to participate every year since but have always been too busy. This year the show aligned with my break from school so I jumped at the chance to participate again!

This is going to be your second year participating in DEFAD. Your first year with us was in 2018 when our venue was The Delaware Contemporary. What can you tell us about your first time participating in that show versus now, four years later gearing up for your second show? Do you feel like you approached this year differently either in your mindset or in your preparation to start making art? What brought you back to DEFAD?

A lot has changed in my life, not least of all my approach to art. The first time I participated in DEFAD, I was finishing up my undergraduate degrees and this year I'm working on finishing my graduate degree as a Physician Assistant. In 2018, I took a more academic approach to trying different media and improving my skill. This year was more about having fun. I've been so busy with grad school and wanted an excuse to paint something I love!

Your 2018 project was called “Media Exploration” and you described it as a motivation to use some of the materials that you bought over the years but never got around to using. You also talked about exploring your go-to art medium more in depth. As a fellow mixed media artist I really felt this on a personal level too. So I’d love to hear how it went. Did you accomplish the goals that you set out to do with that project? Would you recommend other folks do the same? Why or why not?

I think every artist should try as many art supplies as possible. It's amazing how differently I approach the exact same piece with different art supplies and it teaches me a lot about my gaps in knowledge and ability. There's a lot to be learned from being bad at something! Plus, it's fun to just feel like a kid with a brand new box of crayons every once in a while.

Now in 2022, your project for this year is “Animals in Gouache” and you’re painting shelter animals in the Delaware area. All of your paintings will be for sale at the show to benefit a local animal shelter! It sounds amazing. What brought you to this subject matter, and to this particular cause? Are you a dog mom? We love to hear more about your pup(s) if you’d like to share!

I am extremely passionate about animal rescue! This month I celebrated 5 years since adopting my rescue bunny, who I am mildly obsessed with. I plan to rescue lots of dogs and cats in the future, but for now I foster when I can and volunteer at my local shelter. I've always primarily painted animals, so I thought highlighting the adoptable animals in the DE area would be a fun idea for a DEFAD project, and hey, if I can raise a few bucks for a rescue organization, that's even better!

I think we all have to know - are you open to folks reaching out to you for pet commissions?! Or do you prefer to determine your own subject matter? There’s no wrong answer, as this is a classic art community question… do we let customers dictate the direction of our work, or not. What are your feelings?

I'm always flattered when I'm asked for a commission but right now I'm only taking small-scale crochet commissions, such as dice dragons. I take a great deal of care with all my painted commissions, and I'm just not able to dedicate the required time between studying, clinical rotations, and life!

The photographs that you’ve shared during Maker’s Month use some of your art supplies as details or props around the artwork itself. There are so many art supply options out there. What tools, supplies, or brands did you use for this year’s project? Do you have any local art supply stores or online retailers that you would recommend to folks? Help point us in the right direction!

This year, I mostly used Arteza gouache, which is a great low cost option for those just getting into gouache! It's re-wettable (not all gouache is) so you can leave it dried up on your palette and use the same glob the next day, which was perfect for this project! I always have my Posca pens handy for fixing mistakes, adding fur texture, or to loosen up my style. As for brushes, I used the same two cheap brushes for the entire project, one filbert, and one round.

I'm not sure about local shops, but I'm a big fan of Make and Mend, an art supply thrift store that sells gently used supplies online. It's a great place to find mixed media materials and to feed my yarn addiction.

Can you share what it’s like working with gouache paint? It seems like most folks in the painting community start with acrylics or watercolors, and then graduate to oils, gouache, etc. Did you start with a different type of paint and then move onto gouache? Tell us more about it and your experiences working with it so far.

I started with acrylic paint as a teenager and used it almost exclusively for years. I tried oil paint for the first time in college and liked it, but I get frustrated with the long drying times. I absolutely HATE watercolors, and I knew gouache was similar to watercolors, so I resisted trying it for a long time. I don't remember what finally pushed me to try it, but it was love at first sight. You're able to get smooth washes, like with watercolors, but it's opaque, meaning you can build up layers and get fun textures. Plus, it has the most beautiful matte finish and pairs perfectly with Posca pens (my other favorite medium). I prefer re-wettable gouache over acryl gouache. My favorite brands are Arteza and Turner design gouache.

From exploring your social accounts, and reviewing your past DEFAD project, it’s obvious that you’re a talented crocheter as well. Most notably you have a series of mini dragons that hold D20 and smaller dice. Are you yourself a D&D player? If so, can you tell us about your character? How has D&D influenced your artwork?

I do play D&D! I started about 4 years ago and have been playing with the same group of friends since! We're currently playing The Ghosts of Saltmarsh in which I'm playing a firbolg druid. The dice dragons came out of a love of D&D and wanting to merge my hobbies. They are a ton of fun to make, who doesn't want a cute plushie dragon guarding their dice?

Funnily enough, I taught myself to crochet only a few months before my first DEFAD project and I presented a few of my first crochet projects during that show! My love of crochet has exploded since then!

Smaug dragons, Shire landscapes, sleeping Hobbits, Horses, and Forests… these are just some of the recurring themes in your artwork. So tell us which of the LOTR (Lord of the Rings) books or films is your favorite and who is your favorite character? Do you identify with their personality?

I love many fantasy franchises, but for some reason, LotR is the only one that has compelled me to make fan art. The books and movies hold a special place in my heart. My favorite of the three is definitely Fellowship of the Ring, I love the Shire, which you can probably tell from my fan art. Obviously the best character is Samwise Gamgee, he's the underdog holding it down for everyone in the series.

If you found the Ring of Power, like Sméagol/Gollum did… would you have kept the ring of power and used it to master all art mediums? One ring to rule them all…

I think Sauron would probably want me to paint portraits of his orcs which I would find endlessly boring. However, if Theoden would like me to paint all the horses of Rohan, I'll be there.

Has cosplaying, and creating cosplay outfits strengthened your talents as an artist in other areas of your craft? And do you have any practical advice for setting and keeping “goals” for completing projects, especially to our younger creators who are just starting to discover the direction they’d like to head in?

It has! Costuming and cosplay are very different applications of artistic skill, and I'm always happy to add one more thing to my repertoire.

My advice? Just make something! It doesn't matter if it's good, just make something. Do you know how many paintings of mine haven't made it to the light of day? Lots! The important thing is that you're making something. A great way to fight art block is to intentionally make something ugly. It forces you to get out your art supplies, make yourself laugh, and remind yourself why you like this whole art thing in the first place.

Is it even important to have a creative “direction”? Speaking as a mixed media artist, do you think that folks should find an artistic lane and stay in it, or do you think artists should experiment and keep experimenting wherever their interest takes them?

I think social media has given us the impression that we all need to make art that fits into a singular style so our feeds look tailored and cohesive. I'm not trying to be a social media tycoon or beat the algorithm, I just like making art and sometimes sharing it. I feel like my style changes daily and I just go where my paints take me on that particular piece. Granted, I'm an art hobbyist not a professional and things are very different if you're trying to make a career out of art.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Please pet your dog/cat/bunny/horse/chicken/lizard/etc for me.

Where can people see or purchase more of your work?

Instagram: @cservart
Etsy: Shop Online
Mercari: Shop Online

Instagram is the place I update most frequently. You can always reach out to my DMs to ask if a piece is available! Right now I'm mostly selling on Mercari (link in my Instagram profile) but I'm working on updating my Etsy page, follow my store by the same name, cservart, to get updates!

2022 Artist Interview - Leslie C. Leach

For our fifth interview of the 2022 Delaware Fun-A-Day, we talk to artist Leslie C. Leach about her past DEFAD experiences, photography, and rock music as inspiration for her art. Thanks, Leslie!

We like to know how people are connected to Delaware Fun a Day - are you a resident, born and raised? What opportunities have you found being in the exhibit?

I have lived in Delaware most of my life, so raised and returned but not born here. I have enjoyed the opportunity to express my creative side. Maybe something more will come about in the future.

This is going to be your FIFTH year participating! Can you describe your favorite past Fun-A-Day project?

I think the 2018 exhibit at the Delaware Contemporary. First, it’s an amazing venue! I had spent a long car ride conjuring up ways to incorporate a character I had drawn when I was a teenager. I had no name for him back then but now I call him Calm Dude. He’s a small round meditative fellow but my ideas for the month got him into many interesting situations.

You’ve been with us now for 5 years as a participant and your first year was when we were exhibiting at The Delaware Contemporary, followed by two years at CC Arts, and then Virtually in 2021 for your fourth year with us… so tell us honestly, which was your favorite exhibit space? And how do you feel about exhibiting in person with your artwork versus exhibiting virtually? Is there an advantage to one over the other or are they equally good options?

The Delaware Contemporary, see #2, was my favorite because it’s a great place. My mom was an artist and she would have been tickled to see my work on display there. I prefer the “live” in person exhibits more than the virtual. I spend a lot of time on the computer and virtually for work so it’s nice to be out and about. The virtual was a little longer exposure but I am not sure how many people went back to it, after the first month.

Tell us about the successes or struggles you found back in your first year as a Delaware Fun-A-Day participant. Your first project with us in 2018 was titled “Memory Stamping” and your project description was “It will either be stamped art from different types of stamping materials, such as potatoes or Styrofoam”. Was this a difficult first project?

Well, it was not working for me, so I change it! I had some simple ideas and then didn’t get further along with where I wanted to go with it. I decided to change to my Calm Dude and was glad I did. I may experiment with stamping at some point. Stamping with potatoes and other objects is great fun.

How have you grown as an artist over the past few years? Not just while participating in this art challenge, but in your day-to-day creative life as well? Is there any wisdom you feel you can impart on people who are just starting their creative journey?

I’d say that just pushing myself to do art, be creative, think outside the box and don’t be concerned about perfection has helped me grow as an artist. I am taking the time to step back and look at things in new ways.  I think everyone can be creative, whether it’s cooking, raising kids, crafting merger agreements or drawing, painting, or photography.  Everyone can write letters, they are just shapes, and connected shapes.  Try messing about with decorative letters and words if that feels comfortable.  It may open the door for you.

You’ve explored other mediums, but photography seems to be your main means of artistic expression, specifically photographing smaller details that interest you. Do you think that’s an accurate statement? And if so, what is it about found objects and smaller details that calls to you? Is there a hidden truth you’re seeking?

Yes, photography is my main form and has been a favorite since I was a kid. People have praised my photos and it has reinforced my love of it. I earned my degree in photography but chose a different career path years ago. It’s hard to say why I prefer close-up photography. I do remember when I got my first 35 mm and zoom lens, it was just cool. I tend toward graphic design and shapes rather than portraits. I was able to take a landscape photography class this summer and it re-opened my eyes to other possibilities.

In photojournalism, they teach you to get into the habit of keeping your camera with you at all times so that you can take a photo with only a moment’s notice if need be. Do you always keep your camera handy with you at all times?

I wish I could say yes, I have the 35 mm camera with me all the times, but I do use my camera on my phone a lot.  Hiking on weekends allows me to find great things to capture.  I have somewhere in my bag, a clip that enables you to clip your big camera to your backpack strap or belt.  You’ve rekindled my interest in grabbing the big camera again!

How do you feel about using a “professional” caliber camera versus using a cellphone to take photos? Do you think it matters when it comes to art?

I think any way that you can capture what it is that you want to capture, the tool that you have at hand works the best.  I was able to snap pictures of butterflies recently because my cellphone was in my pocket.  If I had to get the big camera out, focused etc. I may have missed the pic. 

Because of the advances in technology, cell phones can be great for art, and computers to manipulate photos. I love found art too so any tool that helps your vision along is valid in your process.

I LOVE the idea of your project this year “Captured Lyrics” where you took photos or made mixed media pieces hoping to give new meaning to favorite lyrics… so tell me, what’s your “type” of music? Do you have a favorite band, or a go-to music style that gets your creativity going? Give us all some recommendations of what we should be listening to these days!

I’m a rock and roll fan and enjoy a variety of bands. I was listening to Greg Lake’s Still…You Turn Me On which is a beautiful song, and his voice was soulful.  He wrote the song when he was 12 and went on to record it when he was in Emerson Lake & Palmer. I knew of him and the band but hadn’t really listened carefully to the words.  He sings “…someone get me a ladder.” and it made me laugh.  Who sings about a ladder? So, I decided to look for different meanings to lyrics that are in songs that I hear. I’ve found a few and stretched a few. I enjoyed adding a bit of humor to it.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I was surprised and pleased to see my photos from the 2020 show be part of the promotional piece for the 2021 show! I really appreciate all the work that you go through to get Fun A Day to fruition!

Where can people see more of your work?

At the moment, Fun A Day is the only place outside of home. I am @lesliebard on Instagram. I’m a work in progress so maybe next year I’ll have my social media set up for public display.

2022 Artist Interview - Brandon S. Boas

For our fourth interview of the 2022 Delaware Fun-A-Day, we talk to DEFAD’s own Technical Director Brandon S. Boas about his 11 years of event support, the importance of education in the arts community, mental diversity, and his new “Glitch” series. Thanks, Brandon!

We like to know how people are connected to Delaware Fun a Day - are you a resident, born and raised? What brings you to this event?

I’ve never officially been a resident of Delaware, but I’ve been right next door to it living in Cecil County. Although when it comes to Delaware Fun-A-Day, I’ve always been involved with it since it’s inception, 11 years ago. Whether it was as an art subject, participant, organizer, or technical director behind the scenes, it has been one of the longest running events I’ve consistently been with throughout the years.

This is going to be your FIFTH year participating in DEFAD, but you’ve been a fan and a supporter of the event since its inception! Can you describe your favorite past Fun-A-Day project that you’ve completed? And can you describe your favorite DEFAD project that you’ve seen in all these years?

It’s been a whirlwind of projects, but I would have to pick my “Familiar Faces” exhibit from DEFAD’s 2nd year in 2012. It was a project where I took photographs of historical buildings in Cecil County and gave them each a personal name. I feel historical places are valuable to understanding the past, but we as a community don’t identify with them like we do with each other. Hence the reason I gave them names and mini stories to go with them for that exhibit.

As for my favorite DEFAD project, I’m honestly incredibly biased with this one, but during the first year of DEFAD, my wife Meredith S. K. Boas’s project was “Beard A Day”. It was a project that involved putting me into several different Cosplays or working with me as the model to exemplify and showcase the many wonders of my beard. From dressing up as a Sea Captain, a Leprechaun, a Safari Adventurer, and many more characters. Meredith even made a peculiar abstract art piece involving ping pong paddles with a hair ball made of my beard hair, it was truly a spontaneous idea that was fun to be a part of.

You’re actually the husband of Meredith S. K. Boas, who is the longest running participant of DEFAD! This event began in 2011, just a year after you started dating Meredith in 2010. Meredith hasn’t missed a year yet, and this is her 11th year of participation, and it’s currently her 4th year as a Lead Organizer of the event. You’ve seen it all, and you’ve had the unique opportunity to see the event from all angles - so tell us - what are the highs and lows of this style of community event?

Has it been that many years already? That caught me by surprise, as I also think Meredith has led more years than just four (time flies when you are having fun). When it comes to the highs of Delaware Fun a Day, there are too many to count. Being able to bring an artistic exhibit to the community that anyone can participate in is truly heart warming. You get to see all of these families from toddlers to elders participate. For some it’s entertainment, therapy, or a way to socially connect. This event embodies the definition of community.

As for lows, I would have to be honest and say securing venues for the event. We’ve been lucky for many years throughout this journey to always find a wonderful place to hold it, with some being places we held it many years in a row. However, with time moving forward, managers/owners/employees being shifted within these venue spaces, and the evolving scenarios that alter the path we might be familiar with, it continues to be modified and tested throughout time. It’s one thing to sound the horn for all of our amazing artists to start their projects, but it’s another (and usually months of work and build up) to get the venue secured.

To be or not to be - that is the question. What if Delaware Fun-A-Day had never come to be? How do you think that would have altered your life, or your life with Meredith? Has it brought more joys or more challenges? What would you change about this event? Do you think that DEFAD is impactful and is it important for it to continue?

That’s a pretty loaded question, but you are lucky I’m a talker. If DEFAD would had never come to be, I believe that would have left a gap for artists wide open - with nowhere to advocate and display. Most gallery spaces are curated, juried, and have limitations, which ostracizes the many talented artists/creators that we have in our area that don’t fit a certain “norm”. If it hadn’t been DEFAD I would hope that something similar had come to be or that someone’s energy for the arts (maybe even ours in all honesty) would have brought an event with the same drive and goals.

I think that Meredith and I, without this event, would have eventually created our own community one way or another. Both of us have always been huge advocates of creative communities and bringing them joyful events and opportunities.

Overall, I believe DEFAD has brought more joy than challenges. Some years were harder than others, while some scenarios are also harder mentally. But to see the community come together and enjoy something that we all made together always takes away any stress or feelings of hardship.

After 11 years, what changes I would like to make? I always stick with the idea of “go big or go home”. I would love to see DEFAD become an event that is not only created all month long, but showcased all month long. I’d like to see it incorporate workshops, panels, and other activities that would create it into more of a convention for the community than just a one-off exhibit. We have the opportunity to create something great and the community that is talented enough to bring it to the table, so that change would be fantastic, but not easy.

I believe DEFAD is more impactful and important to the community and artists than we even know. I’m thankful to see the growth of the event over the past near-decade. I’ve heard stories of triumph, growth, excitement, resolve, and many others. For all of those reasons and more, including just being able to story tell our own lives to each other and share the passion of art, I believe it is important that this event continues.

Tell us about your favorite past exhibit year. You’ve seen all of our exhibit spaces both in person and virtually. Do you think the show performs better in person or virtually? Tell us a little about the experience of getting the opening reception ready to be live on Youtube during the 2021 virtual year.

The second year was likely my favorite venue, as it was literally in a gutted out floor of a building on Market Street in Wilmington, Delaware. It was stripped bare so we were allowed to literally do whatever we wanted as organizers, participants, and an audience. The whole floor was going to be fully renovated once the show was out of it. It just had that grunge aesthetic to it and truly was one of the most laid back and fun spaces to showcase work. No rules!

As for overall exhibit year, I would have to say the one we were able to squeeze in right before the pandemic was my favorite show. We had so many artists, with all of them being excited about returning to the Center for the Creative Arts, as it is a huge space that when curated accordingly, can show so much of the venue and artists work in a safe space. We also were able to pair with some local eateries and breweries for food, have a few musical performances, and an amazing DJ at the show. Luckily, that show went off as everything started shutting down for the pandemic and it was arguably the best overall put together show.

With that being said, shows absolutely do better in person. Being able to meet, share, document, and be surrounded by others who shared the same goal of trying to get done a piece of artwork a day, sharing stories on triumphs and tribulations throughout the process, and the many reasons can’t be told any better than in person. The virtual exhibit still went extremely well and had a large attendance though.

As technical director, is was fun to run the show virtually from start to finish without any hiccups or issues. We got to record wonderful Zoom interviews with other community organizers and artists before the live show to showcase other spaces throughout Delaware that are ready to help the community grow like Newark Arts Alliance, Center for the Creative Arts, Jester Art Space, and the Route 9 Library Maker Space.

Overall, the virtual show was awesome and went without a hitch, as it had a ton of other behind the scene things that we needed to take care of like switching scenes and videos on our digital broadcast studio, doing live raffles on the show to send out prizes and other items, as well as constantly being in conversation when we were live without missing a beat, and also being able to moderate the YouTube chat and channel.

You’re currently the director of Interactive Media Productions at the Cecil County School of Tech, you’ve taught at Wilmington University, Salem Community College, and Cecil College in the fields of Digital Media, Game Design, Video Production, Web Design, and related fields - it’s safe to say that you put a value on technology and how it plays an integral part in the creative field - so tell us how those various disciplines have impacted your approach to creativity. What area of expertise is your favorite? How have you incorporated that knowledge into your projects?

I would say that I’m technological “tinker”, one that believes we can find many solutions through using our minds and being able to apply them to work one with technology. I think the part that brings me the most joy when it comes to technology is that I always feel it’s challenging. Constantly evolving, growing, learning new tools, new features, - it all keeps you on your toes. It’s constantly solving problems with your own education, critically thinking, and it’s a ton of fun for me.

It doesn’t matter if I’m taking a photo, manipulating a photo, designing a website, or any other scenario (I’ve worked with applications than I can count), the idea of breaking down problems and finding solutions helps me grow into an even better person and professional.

I started in video production and I’ll always have a soft spot for it. I feel you have to bring together all of the things you learn, across disciplines in the world of interactive media to stay informative and enticing. Having photography skills, Adobe Suite knowledge to make marketing assets, website building skills, and knowing video editing - all works together. Here’s the insider scoop for anyone reading this interview - no matter which discipline you’re in when it comes to interactive media, all of these things meld together and make you a Swiss Army Knife in the world of multi-media production. You’re all the tools and skills in one!

I incorporate all of my knowledge into being a technological tinker and problem-solver to bring out the best going into a project for my clients or students. Having the knowledge to help a person, a business, or anybody that needs help with interactive media is something I’m excited to continue to then turn around and help others grow personally or professionally. It’s the biggest reason I continue being a teacher after already 13 years and counting in this career.

What are some programs that you would recommend to participants to take if they were seeking certifications or more “professional” tutelage? Do you have tools that you would recommend for folks to use or training avenues you think folks should explore?

Becoming an Adobe Certified Professional showcases that you understand the suite and would allow you to prosper if given a job or task within that software. Adobe Certified Professional includes Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Animate certifications, which I would highly recommending striving to achieve whether it be the ones you are most interested in or all of them.

For beginners (those that have LinkedIn accounts) I would advise them to take the Skills Assessments that LinkedIn offers. That shows potential employers and clients that you understand those programs. Although these assessments are not in depth like the certification test, they still put the participant under pressure with a time limit and quickly having to answer questions correctly while they are being compared to others that took the assessment. Only the top 20% earn the badge, so it allows you to gauge and understand where you need improvement. 

For professional tutelage, I recommend going to your local community college and taking some classes within the field of study you want to partake. Whether you are out of high school or been out of school for a while, it never hurts to go back to learn more. Also look at community partners, organizations, and companies that hosts workshops, a lot are free!

Lastly, your library is a great answer. Whether it be checking out some books with your library card, using their computers or maker labs, taking a workshop - your local library will always be a great place to grow.

Do you encourage your students to participate in Delaware Fun-A-Day? Do you recommend for kids or teens to do daily practice of working on their creative endeavors?

My students are encouraged to participate in Delaware Fun a Day every year, yet this time around was a bit harder since they are all on Summer break currently. When it’s during the school year, my class usually comes together to pick a theme and each student as well as teacher and support staff, creates work that we submit into the exhibit.

I have told my students many times during our class lectures and capstone assignments that daily practice is important. Whether it be doing a self evaluation of your current work with precise criticism, trying to add a new tool to your skills bank, or just expressing yourself whether it be a mini sketch or a project that takes weeks, it is always important to organically grow yourself as an artist. Yet I also tel my students it is important to take breaks as well, the mind needs time to rest and recuperate to see the work they are completing clearly and to their growing standards.

(left) Sheila works in the Grunge Muffin Designs studio (right) Meredith & Brandon are husband and wife.

You’re also a co-owner of Grunge Muffin Designs, a multimedia studio that you own with your wife Meredith. The studio offers creative visual services for businesses and professional individuals who may need branding, web or graphic design, commercial illustration, social media, or video production, to name a few - you’ve helped to work with a lot of artists and arts organizations over the years… What are the three things that you think are the most important for folks to consider when they start on the path to becoming a full-time professional art business?

I only get to name three things? Trick question right? This might be the hardest question to answer yet because honestly there are so many possibilities. So let me try my best to give three that are the most valuable.

Creating a brand for yourself. Any business that is successful has an identity, one that people will know exactly what they represent when they see the brand design, logo, or anything related to them. So make sure you have a brand in place that you can promote and grow from.

Make sure to be yourself. The world can be suffocating sometimes when it comes to how we are suppose to present ourselves and how to act. There are ways to look professional and still be yourself - so make sure not to lose yourself in the shuffle. One easy way to stay happy is to not hide the real you.

Have great Customer Service. You need to drum up business, network with others within your local area, network through the web with your contacts - but always be your brand, yourself, and tie them together when you are presenting yourself. You got the brand and you are out there with confidence being yourself, but now you got to bring it on home with treating clients with respect and care.

How about when it comes to Artsy and Techy kids - what do you recommend for these younglings? You teach summer camps throughout the Maryland and Delaware area for kids in both art and tech disciplines, often combining those skill sets together. Do you have recommendations for guardians of these kids about how they can get them involved in different avenues of learning beyond the regular school day?

Summer Camps will always be valuable for these students. It gets them out and about and puts them with their peers to grow socially. When it comes to continuing education I always point students toward high powered software that is free to download and safe. When it comes to the Adobe Creative Cloud, there are also more than I can count free programs that have the same tools and options the Creative Suite has.

When it comes to Summer Camps, I would also point back to your local library. Today’s library is super modern, filled with technology, but also classes, workshops, and groups that can be empowering for teens and kids especially. Libraries are community-focused, and have sections and rooms for specific ages like children, teenagers, and adults. They can access everything they need to be entertained or motivated.

Lastly, I would try to set a schedule with your child or teenager to have “activity time” at home. Whether it’s learning something from YouTube or the family working on something art related together, it would give a safe zone and comfortability for the child to grow their creativity.

As a pro-gamer, an educator for kids 11-17, and an active arts community member, do you think there is value in allowing kids to just “play video games all day”? How can this enhance or hinder creative thinking and personal growth?

I didn’t sign up for the gaming questions! Feel like I’m being fully interrogated, but it’s all fun and games. The truth is kids can learn a ton from video games that have been cited before. Whether it be a game that includes puzzles that they have to problem solve and critically think through, a fast paced war game they have to improve their hand eye coordination and reflexes to become one of the best players,  or even them being on an Esports team where you have to break down strategies and ways to outwit your opponents, there is a ton of value in playing video games.

Yet, all good things can be overdone and gaming is on the same paradigm. What I believe is important when it comes to gaming is to make sure the player is engaged in ways that help them grow skills and traits in ways we don’t necessarily accompany with playing video games. Most of the times, we are under the assumption that every game in the world is allowing players to wreak havoc in a virtual world, but there are so many games that truly can help build positive traits and skills.

For example, a lot of children in the current generation are starting to interact with others through creating content through playing their video games. We’ve seen an influx of those who have a harder time with social communication and being themselves express who they truly are through this idea of playing a video game, having fun, and sharing their excitement and experiences with one another. Again, you can point out the negative aspects of what streaming services like YouTube Live or Twitch has caused, but if done accordingly and safely with parental guidance, playing video games and creating content is a form of art and entertainment that can pay dividends you wouldn’t have ever considered.

Tell us a little about mental diversity in the classroom and working with many kids on the spectrum. Are there any techniques you can share with folks here in our community about how to address some of the more challenging aspects of working with these kids? What are the rewards of making a positive impact on these kids and creating a safe space in education for all?

Being in education for close to a decade and a half, I have worked with over five hundred students that were on the spectrum whether it be Aspergers, Autism, or ADHD. When it comes to working with these students, the first thing you have to understand is what disability are they dealing with and how it hinders their ability to learn. This is most important because you are not going to be able to teach something as you have and everything fall into place, but instead you have to put your heart and soul into finding the way you can teach these students that impacts them positively.

Don’t ever give up on these children or students, as they are incredibly talented, bright, and amazing. You give them your full energy and attention when they need help to learn and before you know it, they are helping everybody else in the classroom. So yes, you will need to identify what their disability is impacting and what processes and solutions you can enact to break down that barrier to help them understand. It’s truly enlightening to learn how you show the care to these students by going the extra mile for them and what it means to them. Some of my best students of my career have had multiple disabilities, but you give them the time and they give back the world. At the end of the day, the students I work with are all kids/teenagers, which they need to be shown that no matter the stakes or scenarios ahead of them, can in fact be conquered with a great work ethic, knowing how to adapt material they are learning to understand it more clearly, and how to turn that into the amazing work they dish out for the world to view.

The rewards of creating a positive impact on these kids and creating a safe space in education for everybody is simple; they turn into individuals that show a new found confidence and that not a thing is going to stop them from reaching their goals. They become the winners of society, being able to tackle problem after problem with methodical thoughts that will eventually lead them to solutions. Overall, they are turning into the most respectable people in our community because they were taught that being different or having to learn a different way than most won’t stop them and that there will always be somebody that can help. I’ve seen many of my prior students at this time get the careers they wanted, with some of them emailing me back and jokingly telling me “Mr. Boas, I’m making more than you now”. Yet, that’s usually followed up by a heart felt message that pulls on my heart strings about their time in the classroom and how much they’ve grown up and learned during their time in my room.

Lastly, it is important for us as a community and individuals to accept those on the spectrum, as they are truly some of the most caring and intelligent people you will ever have a conversation with or meet. I can’t express how much it means for these students to be able to show who they truly are and instead of being disciplined for something that isn’t an issue, that they are allowed to have these quirks and feelings in a safe space play out so they can learn and grow from it. Like I said, it’s truly a beautiful thing to see these students grow up and not be afraid of the world as they may have once been.

Lastly, tell us about your 2022 project “Glitch A Day”. It’s very cool and different. Can you also tell us a little about the process of making this series? 

Glitch a Day is a project that initially started as a lesson plan for my students to follow along and learn several different effects that we could create in Adobe Photoshop from scratch. Making an image look like it was glitched out was one of the techniques that was on my plan to teach and it became one of the most favorite ones that each of my classes have liked to do.

I figured it was time to bring the special effect to a different approach in story telling. From this, Glitch a Day (also known as Glitch in the System) was created. Whether it was me trying to tell a story of technology failing, an issue in our current world/political environment, or sometimes just random bits of information, all of my work somehow related to something “glitching” and creating interference, issues, or things we can’t comprehend. From water being dropped onto a computer’s motherboard, communications between a space station and it’s pilots being interrupted, the voting procedure and fraudulent activity that some have spoken about, pollution in the environment, and many other topics far and wide going from minor failures to what could be systematic failures, are shown throughout this exhibit. Sometimes you might get something weird, like a birthday cake celebrating when I was born, which initially I was to be named John, but a last minute decision glitched me to the name of Brandon when my parents couldn’t agree on if I should be “The Third”.

When it comes to the process, I start by coming up with a topic I want to dissect whether it be something simple or complex. From there, I would start to think about which photos I would need to showcase the overall rhetoric of the situation through imagery, but also making the idea of it all glitch. By adding photos into Photoshop, I would then duplicate the layers and start to add an effect to the specific layers that would turn off certain color channels on that layer and once moved, would create a layer of color missing from the original image that I could now start to cut out, piece together, and move throughout the overall composition.

From there, I would sometimes add multiple color blend layers together through the effects panel to create more vivid or saturated compositions. There are even times I would grab some texture images and use blending modes to bring the pieces together in harmony, so they feel they are stitched together in the composition. As I went on with this project, you can tell my messages, ideas, and the images got more complex and rather sometimes on the level of absolutely being bombastic. Almost like I’m saying as these things continue to add on to each other, the overall system and things involved are crumbling quicker than we can fix.

It’s truly amazing where how one lesson plan that my students fell in love with has become something bigger than I ever imagined, but I’ve had an amazing time finding an artistic outlet that I’ve ignored for far too long that needs to continue being shown in the future.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Absolutely. My company website is www.grungemuffindesigns.com

Delaware Fun a Day is an amazing organization. Please follow their social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Autism Speaks is a great organization if you would like to donate to help the autism community.

Where can people see more of your work?

Instagram: @jipperymccloud

Facebook, just my name (Brandon S. Boas)